Dodge News: Rumorpile: Dodge Viper Resurrected from the Dead, Once Again

[William Maley]

Last year, the final Dodge Viper rolled down the Conner Avenue assembly line. The vehicle would once again enter the history books as one of the maddest sports cars. But a new report says the Viper will be making a comeback, albeit with some major changes.

Car and Driver has posted their '25 Cars Worth Waiting For: 2019–2022' piece and the Dodge Viper is on the list. The new model will retain its front-engine, rear-drive layout and spaceframe with independent suspensions front and rear. Extensive use of aluminum and carbon fiber will help keep weight down. 

One disappointment for Viper fans is the new model not having a V10. Instead, FCA is developing a new aluminum-block V8. A 550 horsepower naturally-aspirated version will serve as the base, with a more potent 700 horsepower supercharged variant to follow. A manual transmission of some sort is expected.

Car and Driver predict that Dodge will show off the Viper at next year's Detroit Auto Show - which marks the 30th anniversary of the introduction of the original Viper. Production is expected to begin in late 2020 beginning with the convertible. The coupe is expected to follow a few years later.

Car and Driver is quite confident, going as far to say "trust us: A new Viper is happening." We need some more evidence and possibly some spy photos before we hop aboard this train.

Source: Car and Driver

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[David]

Cool, I wonder what else is helping with R&D as the cost for such a limited production run car is gotta be high. 🤔

[Robert Hall]

There was some buzz a while back about a 2 seat Maserati sports car under development, with an EV version...I could see maybe a new platform being developed with a couple of models at a couple brands.   I could see the V8 being part of a next gen replacement for the Hemi with a variety of applications.   Or maybe this is just more random 'future product' stories that go nowhere from Sergio & co...

Edited May 26, 2018 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[daves87rs]

This wouldn't surprise me.....the fans have been bugging them again......

[aurora97]

FCA needs to make the effort to keep the Viper/Charger/Challenger/etc. product line relevant with new and fresh offerings.  The basic platform dates back to Mercedes days and the Demon while clever was just a one trick pony. Please, Serge, find a way to share the Viper with the rest of the Italian models.  They can still retain their European beauty while we can keep our American muscle.

[Suaviloquent]

I want to see an electric Viper because that car has always been a mad cat to handle and imagine if they found a way to let a 1000+ hp and tq electric motor and batteries in the back of the next SOB in this line let loose.

 

worth watching the rubber melt as it rips the goddamn earth off the ground, madness.

 

Oh well 😔 

[ocnblu]

9 hours ago, Suaviloquent said:

I want to see an electric Viper because that car has always been a mad cat to handle and imagine if they found a way to let a 1000+ hp and tq electric motor and batteries in the back of the next SOB in this line let loose.

 

worth watching the rubber melt as it rips the goddamn earth off the ground, madness.

 

Oh well 😔 

No way

[Robert Hall]

12 hours ago, Suaviloquent said:

I want to see an electric Viper because that car has always been a mad cat to handle and imagine if they found a way to let a 1000+ hp and tq electric motor and batteries in the back of the next SOB in this line let loose.

 

worth watching the rubber melt as it rips the goddamn earth off the ground, madness.

 

Oh well 😔 

The AARP crowd that bought the past Vipers would freak out at the idea of an electric Viper...

[balthazar]

10 hours ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

The AARP crowd that bought the past Vipers...

Poked around, because something about this felt counter intuitive.

Found a 2014 Viper Owners Assoc. forum poll of how old Viper owners were at their first purchase. While not necessarily empirical, the 157 people who responded had an average buyer age of 34 years old. In fact, 49 respondents were in their 20s.

Viper is not a car for middle-aged cruisers, it's too unpolished & challenging.

[Robert Hall]

Anecdotally,  the Vipers I saw at car shows in Arizona inevitably had drivers that appeared to be around 60 or older.    Maybe it's a Scottsdale thing.

Edited May 29, 2018 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[ccap41]

On 5/29/2018 at 7:49 AM, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

The AARP crowd that bought the past Vipers would freak out at the idea of an electric Viper...

I think you're confusing Corvette buyers and Viper buyers... 

13 hours ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

Anecdotally,  the Vipers I saw at car shows in Arizona inevitably had drivers that appeared to be around 60 or older.    Maybe it's a Scottsdale thing.

Well, most people there are retirement age anyway so...