Chrysler's "Project Genesis": Viper Death Put on Hold, Moving?

[V1P3R]

lol, writing to them is pointless... I mean it's like writing to Gates.

 

[superberkut]

Now if they have a 4cyl in the new Challenger, that would be quite sad but putting in a V6 wouldn't be a bad thing...

Given the 4-cylinder option, perhaps, but to put in a V6 when the more obligatory V8 awaits would have just been insulting. But then the Prowler did reasonably well despite having one.

 

[buickgnx88]

Well like I said nothing wrong with a 6 cylinder when the original Challenger came with a slant-six and people bought them up, and that was when there was no high fuel costs! In any case, I was saying about having the 6 as standard for the base model while still having the V8 for the higher trim levels.

 

[YSSMAN]

The Viper Lives (Elsewhere!)

The Dodge Viper has been Chrysler's halo car since it was introduced back in 1992, but times are tough. Faced with the fact that it might not be able to continue making the brutish sports car, the Auburn Hills-based automaker is reportedly considering doing something that's never been done before by a domestic automaker (as for as we know): selling the Viper's future to a third party. Automotive News quotes Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli saying, "We have been approached by third parties who are interested in exploring future possibilities for Viper." Nardelli claims that whatever happens, his company will work to make sure the best interests of Viper fanboys are served and that Chrysler would continue to offer "operational and financial" support for the car if a transaction takes place. We're honestly a little stunned that Chrysler would consider such a drastic action, though if it means the Viper won't be sacrificed at the altar of economic woes, we're all for it. On the other hand, how does one separate Dodge from the Viper? Can you imagine Ford selling the Mustang to ROUSH or GM selling the Corvette to Lingenfelter? Chrysler has not identified any of the Viper's suitors, so rather than a familiar tuning house, it could also be a conglomerate of investors or another automaker. Is a Viper sold by another brand still a Viper?

Letting a third party handle the Viper with a modest amount of Chrysler financial backing seems like a reasonable way to make sure that; A) The car continues to be sold, B) The car continues to bring the fight to the Corvette and other European supercars, and C) That the car may have an opportunity to grow/change and become something better.

Its an interesting story that could have a very interesting end. I just hope that the Viper sticks around for a long, long time.

 

[Jim Prower]

Dunno about this one. Could see the car dooming the company who attempts to sell it. Then again, it does sell at an okay pace, so it may be a good thing. Roanoke Chrysler will definitely be looking at this with interest.

I might ask, though, Why haven't the redundant products (Nitro, Commander, Aspen, etc,) been axed yet?

 

[Philly]

I have a feeling that this will either see the current Viper in production for a very, very long time with few updates or continuing the project will just bankrupt whatever small company tries to buy it.

 

[YSSMAN]

The key is that while a small company may buy it, Chrysler will continue to financially back the program... Albeit in a very small way. Its certainly a better way to approach it than Ford's "fire sale" of Aston. Despite the fact they continue to own a small amount of the company, they left everything else to the investors, who are now turning to Mercedes/AMG to do more development on the car.

 

[Prosthetic]

Go Viper!!!!

 

[V1P3R]

This sounds pretty awesome. As long as I think about it like how the AC cobra was born and came here, I'm all in. I've always like the Viper and I wouldn't miss the Dodge part all that much although it makes me sad to think about it's journey to this point.