Pilot

Anfang des 21. Jahrhunderts, in einer amerikanischen Großstadt: Der hochbegabte schwarze Wissenschaftler Julian Wilkes erhält von der Polizei den Auftrag, ein High-Tech-Auto für den Kampf gegen die immer mächtiger werdende Unterwelt zu entwickeln. Wilkes kreiert die „Viper“ – einen Sportwagen der Superlative, der sich zur mobilen Megawaffe verwandeln kann. Doch offenbar gibt es keinen geeigneten Fahrer dazu – bis man auf Michael Payton, Kopf einer Autobande, stößt.

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