Very sad the Viper was part of what got Chrysler rolling back in '92.

It's very hard for a business model to justify a car like the Viper. It's more than just a production car to be sold and profit and loss to be calculated. It's a halo car and does more for the brand to sell other models and stay in the press and in car magazines than it's overall bottom line may show.

I admire the Viper and while I've been a Chevy Corvette guy through the battles I still would live to have one. It will certainly take some of the Z06/ZR1 fun out of the mix because the Viper is a true competitor.

This news isn't as bad as the F-body's demise but close. :sad:

 

Oooohhh, that sucks.

But I'm sure the numbers case against it is strong. Especially since it was hinging on two Chrysler sister cars. That's just stupid when the bread and butter cars are floundering. I wouldn't be suprised if this is largely due to someone's hubris, it managed to be competive with a small amount of resources, then somebody decideded to turn the volume all the way up, and now it's obvious how much sense it doesen't make.

 

Hate to see it go but Chrysler needs to get back to producing high volume econoboxes to offset all of the hemi gas guzzlers they are cranking out.

 

Think of how much brand recongition it brought though. Ask someone about a dodge and they'd say viper, or RAM. Ask someone about a kia and they go WTF?

 

I'm not doubting that.

I'm saying the case for a "Chrysler" Viper, which is what the Firepower would have been, was always dubious. Best case scenario is it erodes Viper's market share, worst case, and more likely, scenario is that it becomes another Crossfire which no one takes seriously in the segment and has to be discounted to move units.

Had they not built the case on two platform mates, at the very least they may have been able to keep Viper going as a small operation the way it has always been.

 

There will be another Dodge sports car that goes head to head with the Vette, etc.

BUT

It will be much less expensive to produce than the Viper.

I have no details, but if I had to guess... I bet it'll be built at Brampton on the same production line as the next-gen LX cars.

 

Last i heard the little 2 seater they had talked about was going to FWD (AND FAILURE!).

 

That's not the one I'm thinking of. That car was never going to challenge the Vette; it was more like a funky (and cheaper) Miata/Solstice alternative.

 

You are correct, but can they make the Challenger to a halo car? I think they could try. It might work as well, be cheaper to make, have a higher volume etc, basically, be the Mustang for Chrysler.

 

I guess you are talking about something similar to the Firepower, but on a different chassis? Is there anything you know, or can say, about the power plant if it will be a V8 or V10?

 

I remember reading in a magazine ( can't remember which one) about a Dodge Demon concept that was a 2 seater roadster. It mentioned the Miata and Solstice as competitors, so not sure if that is what he's talking about?

 

I weep. That is all.

 

I don't, and even if I did, or thought I did, it wouldn't be worth much at this stage. Everything at Chrysler is in so much flux that it's hard to tell what's really going to happen.

 

It's not. Demon is part of the small-car program. I'm talking about something more like the Firepower that is loosely derived from the next-gen LX and can be built on the same (highly flexible) assembly line. I know some work has been done in that direction, I know it makes sense both from production efficiency and price point perspectives, I know SOMETHING is coming, I am making a semi-educated guess that that's where they're going. Would be a Hemi and/or V10-powered car priced competitively against the Vette.

But again, with things in such flux in Auburn Hills, it's hard to say which programs are going to make it right now.

 

Wow, that is really dissapointing. I don't think I ever thought I would see the day that the Viper would be killed. With all of the product reshuffling and culling, Chrysler looks in bad shape.