The ultimate weapon against crime, the Viper Defender is the city's only hope to stop a crime syndicate, the 'Outfit', from destroying the city. However, the Viper is just too fast and too powerful for all the police officers recruited to drive it.

City Commissoner Strand (Jon Polito) is desperate to get the Viper on the road. He plans on using the Viper's crime-fighting abilities to bolster support for his campaign to become mayor.

After stealing a satellite, Michael Payton (James McCaffrey) flips his black Dodge Stealth in a spectacular crash. Strand hears about the accident and has Payton pronounced dead at the scene. Payton is the best getaway driver the Outfit had.

Commissoner Strand orders that Payton's memory be erased and his appearance altered. When Payton awakes, he is told that he is a police officer named Joesph Payne Astor.

Once Joe gets behind the wheel of the Viper, it is obvious he has the skill to handle driving the car. Under the supervision of the Viper designer, Jul

Joe's former partner in crime (Jason Carter) is sprung from prison by the Outfit in order to locate the Viper.

An artificial heart that will save the life of a young girl is stolen.