Dodge Viper STAYS!
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From: The Golden State
Dodge Viper STAYS!
Another strike against the sky-is-falling crowd. Surprised that it hasn't been posted.
Dodge Viper SRT10 stays at Chrysler
Conner assembly plant in Detroit saved from closing in Dec.
Alisa Priddle / The Detroit News
Saturday, July 11, 2009
There is no killing the Snake.
The new management at Chrysler Group LLC has decided to keep building the iconic Dodge Viper SRT10, meaning the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit won't be shuttered in December, as had been planned.
The Viper was to slither into extinction, having failed to attract a buyer after more than a year of trying and eliciting bids of as little as $10 million for the division that makes a 600-horsepower rocket with an 8.4-liter V-10.
Chief executive Sergio Marchionne and his new management team have been conceiving a future product plan to better define the Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Mopar brands.
The Viper's future was first on the agenda, and the new team decided the Dodge halo vehicle should stay, a spokesman said.
The first Viper concept was introduced in 1989 at the Detroit auto show, to much public clamor. Three years later, production began at the New Mack Assembly Plant in Detroit with an aluminum V-10 from the Mound Road plant.
In 1995, assembly moved to Conner Avenue and the engine followed in 2001. The specialized workforce has assembled, almost by hand, more than 25,000 Vipers, at times alongside the Plymouth Prowler roadster.
The Prowler was discontinued, but the Viper proved timeless, with sales spiking every time the automaker tried to kill it.
"The Dodge Viper has successfully captured the hearts and imagination of performance enthusiasts around the globe," said Mike Accavitti, head of the Dodge brand.
"The ultimate American-built sports car with its world-class performance will live on as the iconic image leader for the Dodge brand."
Conner assembly plant in Detroit saved from closing in Dec.
Alisa Priddle / The Detroit News
Saturday, July 11, 2009
There is no killing the Snake.
The new management at Chrysler Group LLC has decided to keep building the iconic Dodge Viper SRT10, meaning the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit won't be shuttered in December, as had been planned.
The Viper was to slither into extinction, having failed to attract a buyer after more than a year of trying and eliciting bids of as little as $10 million for the division that makes a 600-horsepower rocket with an 8.4-liter V-10.
Chief executive Sergio Marchionne and his new management team have been conceiving a future product plan to better define the Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Mopar brands.
The Viper's future was first on the agenda, and the new team decided the Dodge halo vehicle should stay, a spokesman said.
The first Viper concept was introduced in 1989 at the Detroit auto show, to much public clamor. Three years later, production began at the New Mack Assembly Plant in Detroit with an aluminum V-10 from the Mound Road plant.
In 1995, assembly moved to Conner Avenue and the engine followed in 2001. The specialized workforce has assembled, almost by hand, more than 25,000 Vipers, at times alongside the Plymouth Prowler roadster.
The Prowler was discontinued, but the Viper proved timeless, with sales spiking every time the automaker tried to kill it.
"The Dodge Viper has successfully captured the hearts and imagination of performance enthusiasts around the globe," said Mike Accavitti, head of the Dodge brand.
"The ultimate American-built sports car with its world-class performance will live on as the iconic image leader for the Dodge brand."
keeps the corvette on it's toes. 
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From: Roseville, MI, USA
that is just what I was thinking.
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From: FL/MI
Ferrari was all about not racing against Viper, much less Corvette.
No subsidized Italian car will sport a non-Italy sourced engine. It ain't gonna happen.
Prodrive did a great job with the 550 Ferrari effort. Ferrari Spa wanted not part of it. FIA and ACO wnated Ferrari back in in a big way. Ferrari wasn't going to chance it, althought the might have felt they could kick the Oreca Viper to the curb. When GM jumped in to the GTS class, Ferrari wanted deniability. Prodrive is that good. Ferrari got a freebie. This is absolutely my own, totally uneducated opinion. I presume this without any knowledge other than personal conjecture...
GT2 is going to be fun. It will take a bit of work in that class for GM to compete. If the money spigot is left open, Ferrari will see the Ford ordeal all over again.
If I was in charge GM would sign Tomas Enge to drive for Corvette. Mika Salo definately helps the Risi team effort. Enge can hand Salo his ***, and Salo is a frickin' rocket boys. Enge is that much better.
Last edited by 1fastdog; Jul 13, 2009 at 03:37 PM.
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From: Albany, NY
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,713
From: The Golden State
Viper has lasted nearly 20 years being something above Corvette. Not quite being a rarified exotic, but most certainly not being driven by volume the way Corvette has, and being priced well above Corvette.
Viper IS NOT a volume, value priced Corvette, and should never be.
Viper is essentially a street legal, no compromise RACE CAR!
It has no automatic transmission.
It has no power everything.
It puts passenger comfort 2nd behind functionality.
Most important of all.....
.....30+ percent of it's buyers are NOT women the way Corvette is overall.
If you want to sissify the Viper (and make it go the way of Pontiac... the number 1 brand with female buyers), then that's a lonely road to take.
Viper (as is with the entire Dodge brand... the number 1 brand with male buyers) is all about testosterone, hot door seals from the exhaust pipes passing underneath nearby, barely being able to hear the stereo at full volume due to the loud engine, and having a car that has mega capability but at the same time, willing to bite your *** off if you get too careless.
Viper isn't a pretty boy Corvette in a pettycoat crusing the Castro district in San Francisco on a Friday night, it's petrol, exhaust fumes, and a show-me-what-you-got attitude on a race course.
Save the Vette as a 350, 370, or 3-whatever-Z competitor, or the car everyone wants when they grow up, the kids are through with college, the house is paid off, the 401k is secured, and there's a few grand left layiong around to get that sports car they wanted since they were a kid, and are only taking their cars out on pampered drives on the weekends.
Vipers are for serious drivers who actually use a track (most Viper owners actually take their cars on a race course.... fact).
Viper isn't a Corvette...... nor should it be.
Last edited by guionM; Jul 14, 2009 at 12:52 AM.
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Posts: 1,808
From: FL/MI
Primarily I feel the Viper stays with Chrysler because the money they could get for it is small in the grand scheme of things. There is no real gain in selling the project off. It wasn't meant to make money in the first place. It would have been a stupid move to sell a known name with equity on the cheap.
I think much of the reason the Viper dropped in sales was the toning down of the styling. The Z06 had a lot to do with sales erosion as well. IMO, the restyle hurt it's appeal in a bigger way.
I think much of the reason the Viper dropped in sales was the toning down of the styling. The Z06 had a lot to do with sales erosion as well. IMO, the restyle hurt it's appeal in a bigger way.
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Posts: 1,512
From: Miami, FL, US
Vipers...
lol.... one bit me hard last night... I was on my way to a photoshot driving my camaro.. and here comes this newer Viper... gets just in front of me and took off.. i wasn't even gonna try.. for many reasons.. but wow that thing moved!!!
lol.... one bit me hard last night... I was on my way to a photoshot driving my camaro.. and here comes this newer Viper... gets just in front of me and took off.. i wasn't even gonna try.. for many reasons.. but wow that thing moved!!!
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,698
From: USA
The thing is..Corvette is a sell contained, profitable business...I doubt Viper is. I think at minimum it should have a volume platform mate.
To be honest, I would have alot of negative, not so nice things to say about Viper if it took that path.
Viper has lasted nearly 20 years being something above Corvette. Not quite being a rarified exotic, but most certainly not being driven by volume the way Corvette has, and being priced well above Corvette.
Viper IS NOT a volume, value priced Corvette, and should never be.
Viper is essentially a street legal, no compromise RACE CAR!
It has no automatic transmission.
It has no power everything.
It puts passenger comfort 2nd behind functionality.
Most important of all.....
.....30+ percent of it's buyers are NOT women the way Corvette is overall.
If you want to sissify the Viper (and make it go the way of Pontiac... the number 1 brand with female buyers), then that's a lonely road to take.
Viper (as is with the entire Dodge brand... the number 1 brand with male buyers) is all about testosterone, hot door seals from the exhaust pipes passing underneath nearby, barely being able to hear the stereo at full volume due to the loud engine, and having a car that has mega capability but at the same time, willing to bite your *** off if you get too careless.
Viper isn't a pretty boy Corvette in a pettycoat crusing the Castro district in San Francisco on a Friday night, it's petrol, exhaust fumes, and a show-me-what-you-got attitude on a race course.
Save the Vette as a 350, 370, or 3-whatever-Z competitor, or the car everyone wants when they grow up, the kids are through with college, the house is paid off, the 401k is secured, and there's a few grand left layiong around to get that sports car they wanted since they were a kid, and are only taking their cars out on pampered drives on the weekends.
Vipers are for serious drivers who actually use a track (most Viper owners actually take their cars on a race course.... fact).
Viper isn't a Corvette...... nor should it be.
Viper has lasted nearly 20 years being something above Corvette. Not quite being a rarified exotic, but most certainly not being driven by volume the way Corvette has, and being priced well above Corvette.
Viper IS NOT a volume, value priced Corvette, and should never be.
Viper is essentially a street legal, no compromise RACE CAR!
It has no automatic transmission.
It has no power everything.
It puts passenger comfort 2nd behind functionality.
Most important of all.....
.....30+ percent of it's buyers are NOT women the way Corvette is overall.
If you want to sissify the Viper (and make it go the way of Pontiac... the number 1 brand with female buyers), then that's a lonely road to take.
Viper (as is with the entire Dodge brand... the number 1 brand with male buyers) is all about testosterone, hot door seals from the exhaust pipes passing underneath nearby, barely being able to hear the stereo at full volume due to the loud engine, and having a car that has mega capability but at the same time, willing to bite your *** off if you get too careless.
Viper isn't a pretty boy Corvette in a pettycoat crusing the Castro district in San Francisco on a Friday night, it's petrol, exhaust fumes, and a show-me-what-you-got attitude on a race course.
Save the Vette as a 350, 370, or 3-whatever-Z competitor, or the car everyone wants when they grow up, the kids are through with college, the house is paid off, the 401k is secured, and there's a few grand left layiong around to get that sports car they wanted since they were a kid, and are only taking their cars out on pampered drives on the weekends.
Vipers are for serious drivers who actually use a track (most Viper owners actually take their cars on a race course.... fact).
Viper isn't a Corvette...... nor should it be.
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Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 666
From: Stockton, Ca. USA
To be honest, I would have alot of negative, not so nice things to say about Viper if it took that path.
Viper has lasted nearly 20 years being something above Corvette. Not quite being a rarified exotic, but most certainly not being driven by volume the way Corvette has, and being priced well above Corvette.
Viper IS NOT a volume, value priced Corvette, and should never be.
Viper is essentially a street legal, no compromise RACE CAR!
It has no automatic transmission.
It has no power everything.
It puts passenger comfort 2nd behind functionality.
Most important of all.....
.....30+ percent of it's buyers are NOT women the way Corvette is overall.
If you want to sissify the Viper (and make it go the way of Pontiac... the number 1 brand with female buyers), then that's a lonely road to take.
Viper (as is with the entire Dodge brand... the number 1 brand with male buyers) is all about testosterone, hot door seals from the exhaust pipes passing underneath nearby, barely being able to hear the stereo at full volume due to the loud engine, and having a car that has mega capability but at the same time, willing to bite your *** off if you get too careless.
Viper isn't a pretty boy Corvette in a pettycoat crusing the Castro district in San Francisco on a Friday night, it's petrol, exhaust fumes, and a show-me-what-you-got attitude on a race course.
Save the Vette as a 350, 370, or 3-whatever-Z competitor, or the car everyone wants when they grow up, the kids are through with college, the house is paid off, the 401k is secured, and there's a few grand left layiong around to get that sports car they wanted since they were a kid, and are only taking their cars out on pampered drives on the weekends.
Vipers are for serious drivers who actually use a track (most Viper owners actually take their cars on a race course.... fact).
Viper isn't a Corvette...... nor should it be.
Viper has lasted nearly 20 years being something above Corvette. Not quite being a rarified exotic, but most certainly not being driven by volume the way Corvette has, and being priced well above Corvette.
Viper IS NOT a volume, value priced Corvette, and should never be.
Viper is essentially a street legal, no compromise RACE CAR!
It has no automatic transmission.
It has no power everything.
It puts passenger comfort 2nd behind functionality.
Most important of all.....
.....30+ percent of it's buyers are NOT women the way Corvette is overall.
If you want to sissify the Viper (and make it go the way of Pontiac... the number 1 brand with female buyers), then that's a lonely road to take.
Viper (as is with the entire Dodge brand... the number 1 brand with male buyers) is all about testosterone, hot door seals from the exhaust pipes passing underneath nearby, barely being able to hear the stereo at full volume due to the loud engine, and having a car that has mega capability but at the same time, willing to bite your *** off if you get too careless.
Viper isn't a pretty boy Corvette in a pettycoat crusing the Castro district in San Francisco on a Friday night, it's petrol, exhaust fumes, and a show-me-what-you-got attitude on a race course.
Save the Vette as a 350, 370, or 3-whatever-Z competitor, or the car everyone wants when they grow up, the kids are through with college, the house is paid off, the 401k is secured, and there's a few grand left layiong around to get that sports car they wanted since they were a kid, and are only taking their cars out on pampered drives on the weekends.
Vipers are for serious drivers who actually use a track (most Viper owners actually take their cars on a race course.... fact).
Viper isn't a Corvette...... nor should it be.
