Dodge Viper Returns Summer 2012
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Dodge Viper Returns Summer 2012
Chrysler to resurrect Viper
High-profile American-made sports car to return in 2012 after production hiatus
Chrysler Group LLC plans to bring the iconic Dodge Viper back to its lineup in the summer of 2012.
The all-new Viper will be a 2013 model.
The Auburn Hills automaker ceased production of the all-American sports car last summer after 18 years.
There has been speculation since then that the hiatus would be short-lived and Chrysler would bring the car back.
Ralph Gilles, head of the Dodge brand, confirmed the Chrysler board has given the Viper final approval and development is on schedule.
The new Viper "is not based on anything else," he stressed, countering speculation that it will share underpinnings with Ferrari or the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, given the partnership of Chrysler and Italy's Fiat SpA.
The car has its own underpinnings and while there is some similarity to the 8C, an overlay of the two vehicles shows their proportions to be quite different.
"Where the cabin is, relative to the wheels, is unique," said Gilles who is also head of design. "The Viper cabin is very rearward and the hood is very long. Few cars in the industry are designed with those proportions anymore."
The Viper will not get a Ferrari engine, but Gilles did not rule out a new engine for the car, which previously had a 640-horsepower V-10. "There won't be a part of the car that's untouched," he said.
Fiat, he said, will lend expertise in dynamics.
"We will use their expertise to open the performance envelope in the Viper," Gilles said. "Fiat has an awesome ability to tune cars. I want the new Viper to be a more forgiving car to drive and accessible to more people. We've never had stability control on a high-performance car, which is about to happen on the new car."
The lack of stability control and a powerful engine made the Viper a unique American sports car in the eyes of many.
"Dodge used the Viper better as a halo vehicle for the brand than Chevy ever did with the Corvette," said analyst Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics in Birmingham.
The Viper also was the genesis of the performance SRT lineup that boosted Dodge's image, he said.
Dodge celebrated the final year of the Viper with a series of limited-edition models. The last one rolled off the line July 2 at Detroit's Conner Avenue plant.
High-profile American-made sports car to return in 2012 after production hiatus
Chrysler Group LLC plans to bring the iconic Dodge Viper back to its lineup in the summer of 2012.
The all-new Viper will be a 2013 model.
The Auburn Hills automaker ceased production of the all-American sports car last summer after 18 years.
There has been speculation since then that the hiatus would be short-lived and Chrysler would bring the car back.
Ralph Gilles, head of the Dodge brand, confirmed the Chrysler board has given the Viper final approval and development is on schedule.
The new Viper "is not based on anything else," he stressed, countering speculation that it will share underpinnings with Ferrari or the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, given the partnership of Chrysler and Italy's Fiat SpA.
The car has its own underpinnings and while there is some similarity to the 8C, an overlay of the two vehicles shows their proportions to be quite different.
"Where the cabin is, relative to the wheels, is unique," said Gilles who is also head of design. "The Viper cabin is very rearward and the hood is very long. Few cars in the industry are designed with those proportions anymore."
The Viper will not get a Ferrari engine, but Gilles did not rule out a new engine for the car, which previously had a 640-horsepower V-10. "There won't be a part of the car that's untouched," he said.
Fiat, he said, will lend expertise in dynamics.
"We will use their expertise to open the performance envelope in the Viper," Gilles said. "Fiat has an awesome ability to tune cars. I want the new Viper to be a more forgiving car to drive and accessible to more people. We've never had stability control on a high-performance car, which is about to happen on the new car."
The lack of stability control and a powerful engine made the Viper a unique American sports car in the eyes of many.
"Dodge used the Viper better as a halo vehicle for the brand than Chevy ever did with the Corvette," said analyst Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics in Birmingham.
The Viper also was the genesis of the performance SRT lineup that boosted Dodge's image, he said.
Dodge celebrated the final year of the Viper with a series of limited-edition models. The last one rolled off the line July 2 at Detroit's Conner Avenue plant.
http://detnews.com/article/20101201/...#ixzz16rY8f4oP
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So apparently this is for summer 2013 instead of 2012. Images have already leaked.
I still don't understand why people disliked the "cartoonish" viper. The RT/10 was a legend and icon that revolutionized, redefined, saved, and flipped the American automotive industry and put America on the map of exotics. I don't realize HOW people don't like it, especially when the new one looks like some Honda S2000.
Look at this sh__.
2011 Viper:
Hood opens like a regular car.
1992 Viper:
Cool as f___, makes owners want to leave it open and show off.
Self explanatory.
The original emblem is badass it even has a fun memorable name "Sneaky Pete"! Throughout the years it gets progressively worse... "Stryker"? Oh how creative... Because snakes strike... yeah...
I still don't understand why people disliked the "cartoonish" viper. The RT/10 was a legend and icon that revolutionized, redefined, saved, and flipped the American automotive industry and put America on the map of exotics. I don't realize HOW people don't like it, especially when the new one looks like some Honda S2000.
Look at this sh__.
2011 Viper:
Hood opens like a regular car.
1992 Viper:
Cool as f___, makes owners want to leave it open and show off.
Self explanatory.
The original emblem is badass it even has a fun memorable name "Sneaky Pete"! Throughout the years it gets progressively worse... "Stryker"? Oh how creative... Because snakes strike... yeah...
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2013 SRT VIPER
sounds like some nice performance improvements and interior improvements..
exterior (front end mainly) looks PUTRID in my opnion.. needs the 'viper' face.... at least some angry looking headlights.. WAHH
looks like for the headlights they took some 'wrong' cues from alfa romeo o.O
sounds like some nice performance improvements and interior improvements..
exterior (front end mainly) looks PUTRID in my opnion.. needs the 'viper' face.... at least some angry looking headlights.. WAHH
looks like for the headlights they took some 'wrong' cues from alfa romeo o.O
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Thanks for the update 01importshark 
Yeah it looks bad, but not overwhelmingly bad, but the original will always be the real true Viper. It kind of reminds me of a mix between the Ferrari 599 and a Saleen S7. The design is way overdone. I do however like it better than that "Honda 2000" it replaces.
Yeah it looks bad, but not overwhelmingly bad, but the original will always be the real true Viper. It kind of reminds me of a mix between the Ferrari 599 and a Saleen S7. The design is way overdone. I do however like it better than that "Honda 2000" it replaces.
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New vids
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5be1jsJGgQA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jh0zaRDH8Y
+ Nice to see the curves coming somewhat back. I LOVE curves (which is why I love airlines). I HATE lines.
- Front lights should be horizontal. Right now they look like some Prelude, or Corvette...
-Too much bare plastic in the grille. WTF happened to one-piece bumpers?
-This LED DRL kraze needs to stop.
-Rims aren't wild and daring enough. They look too ordinary. The original Viper was anything but ordinary, clearly an answer to the ZR1. They should stick with the formula and avoid copying.
-Where's the convertible? The GTS was a later edition. The convertible should be number 1, not number 2.
-The new Viper logo suxks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5be1jsJGgQA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jh0zaRDH8Y
+ Nice to see the curves coming somewhat back. I LOVE curves (which is why I love airlines). I HATE lines.
- Front lights should be horizontal. Right now they look like some Prelude, or Corvette...
-Too much bare plastic in the grille. WTF happened to one-piece bumpers?
-This LED DRL kraze needs to stop.
-Rims aren't wild and daring enough. They look too ordinary. The original Viper was anything but ordinary, clearly an answer to the ZR1. They should stick with the formula and avoid copying.
-Where's the convertible? The GTS was a later edition. The convertible should be number 1, not number 2.
-The new Viper logo suxks.