Dodge Viper will stay with Chrysler
The Viper will stay in the Chrysler family.
Chrysler Group said today that it is no longer trying to sell its Viper sports car business, which it put on the block last summer in an attempt to raise cash and stave off bankruptcy.
Industry-watchers had speculated in recent weeks that Chrysler’s new owners, Fiat of Italy, would opt to keep the hand-built super-car in its lineup, at least for the time being. That, and the fact that no viable buyer emerged, may have pushed Chrysler to hang on to the Viper.
That’s good news for fans of the distinctive growler, which, according to one press report, holds the unofficial sports car lap record at the Nurburgring course in Germany of 7 minutes, 22 seconds.
Viper sales slumped badly in 2007 but rebounded strongly last year after Dodge put a new 8.4 liter V-10 engine under the hood. Last year, Dodge sold 1,172 Vipers, which have a starting sticker price of around $88,500, although sales slumped 48% in the first half of this year amid a general collapse in auto sales.
“The Dodge Viper has successfully captured the hearts and imagination of performance enthusiasts around the globe,” said Mike Accavitti, head of Dodge. “We’re extremely proud that the ultimate American-built sports car with its world-class performance will live on as the iconic image leader for the Dodge brand.”
-- Martin Zimmerman
Photo: Chrysler Group
What would we tell the children if the Viper were discontinued?
Posted by: thecanimalshusband | July 11, 2009 at 06:58 AM
That FIAT 500 Convertible is surely an out-of-the-park home run for FIAT/Chrysler in about 18 mos time from now.
Rumored for assembly at Chrysler's Belvedere, Illinois assembly plant, beating the Mini's price by thousands by assembling in The States looks to be a master-stroke that the imported Mini will have difficulty competing with.
And the 500 is a real neat design, inside and out. I rented one in Europe, you wouldn't believe the room, actually- and a whole lot of fun to drive in the mountains.
http://fiat2america.blogspot.com
Posted by: FIAT 2 America | July 11, 2009 at 07:27 AM
The viper can survive.It needs a complete re-design and new marketing strategy.The corvette is less money and is a superior design.Good Luck
Posted by: Steven | July 11, 2009 at 08:19 AM
The Viper is "the ultimate American sports car? Please. It's a crude brute with a low tech V10 based on a truck engine. Sounds like it too. Completely out of sync with the times, irrelevant to anyone except a few enthusiasts. If you're looking in that market segment, a ZR1 Vette will eat the Viper alive. Come on Fiat. Bring us something like an updated Alpha Spider. That's what I call a real "sports car".
Posted by: jmsent | July 11, 2009 at 08:22 AM
The GOP's "trickle up" policy has guaranteed that a large segment of American consumers have the disposable income and wealth to spend on toys in all retails markets. The divide is wider than ever.
Posted by: TerrifiedCitizen | July 11, 2009 at 04:01 PM
jmsent, the Triumph TR3/TR4 had engines based on a tractor engine, not even a truck engine. And if they aren't real sports cars, what is?
btw it's spelled "Alfa" not "Alpha".
Posted by: arf! | July 12, 2009 at 10:40 PM
Alpha Syder is NO American sports car.
Posted by: kooo | July 13, 2009 at 10:02 AM
That's awesome, the Viper is an awesome car, and it scores pretty well with the critics. http://motormouths.com/car/dodge/viper
Posted by: MMSteve | July 13, 2009 at 10:54 AM