It's Alive! Chrysler Decides to Give Dodge Viper SRT10 a Second Chance

Here's some good news for muscle-car enthusiasts. The Chrysler Group announced today the company has decided to continue production of the Dodge Viper SRT10 after all. Following several failed attempts to sell off its Dodge Viper business unit, the Detroit automaker had originally made plans to cease production of the V10-powered sports car in December, 2009. Since the introduction of the first generation Viper in 1995, Dodge has built more than 25,000 Vipers.

"The Dodge Viper has successfully captured the hearts and imagination of performance enthusiasts around the globe," said Mike Accavitti, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dodge Brand. "We're extremely proud that the ultimate American-built sports car with its world-class performance will live on as the iconic image leader for the Dodge brand."

Powered by an 8.4-liter V10 with 600HP that launches the sports car from standstill to 60 mph in under 4,0 seconds, the 2009MY Viper is offered in both coupe and convertible configurations with prices in the U.S. starting from $91,220.

11 Comments

Anonymous » July 10, 2009

I have always liked the Viper. I hope that Chrysler reinvents its Viper to cost less and be able to go neck and neck, it does but it has to be cheaper in price, with another auto American icon Chevy's Corvette.
Anonymous » July 10, 2009

WOULDN'T it make since for Dodge to offer various products based on the Viper? For example, a slightly more simple looking Viper that still captures the raw Viper essence, with let's say a 5.7L Hemi V8 at a much more affordable price. You know, much like Porsche does with its 911 without diluting the nameplate. no?

Jorge
Anonymous » July 10, 2009

600HP only from a 8.4L engine!
This is the reason the viper failed!
Anonymous » July 11, 2009

I think chrysler/dodge detunes the vipers 8.4L engine to keep the costs down and to make it a little more conservative for the roads.
Anonymous » July 11, 2009

I'm so glad Chrylser has kept the Viper. It's their halo car and a ripper at that. We always hear about how amazingly fast a Corvette ZR1 or Nissan GT-R is around the ring, but everyone seems to forget that the fastest production car around the ring is the 2009 Dodge Viper SRT-10 ACR with a time of 7:22.1. I don't class the Radical SR8 as a car, sorry. It's just an open wheeler with guards over each wheel. So for me the Viper is still No.1 at the ring. I wish Chrysler offered the Viper here as part of their factory lineup including the Challenger. Instead we get the rubish crap from the Chrysler lineup in Australia.
Anonymous » July 11, 2009

Anonymous #3: You do know about the difference of power and torque, do you?
Anonymous » July 11, 2009

"600HP only from a 8.4L engine!"

Quit thinking of it in the sense high-rpm hp. the yanks don't work that way and prefer low-rpm torque.

both are 2 different approches to engine design and both yield 2 different engines.
Anonymous » July 13, 2009

Anybody else think the 392 Hemi crat would be a good replacement should they decide the V10 costs too much to continue to make? An SRT8 Viper would defiantly be a different kinda beast! Maybe cheaper to boot!
Anonymous » July 21, 2009

No you can't make a lesser version Viper. It cheapens the name. The Viper is an uncompromising muscle car. It's not made for "the mass public" Just "the few elite" which is why it has the rather large fan base that it does.
Anonymous » August 06, 2009

Someone please save us from "experts" making comments on automobiles they have never driven, do not own and know nothing about. Its time for some facts: 1) The all aluminum V-10 in the Viper is far more powerful and 140 pounds lighter than the hemi which is a 40 year old design and more costly to produce. The V-10 is in fact unsupercharged and detuned at 600 HP which makes it totally reliable, a rarity in sports cars. 2) The Viper's profitability on the 800 units sold each year is irrelevant in a $ multi-billion company. Its the image that matters and Vipers have that magic image. 3) Fiat owns Ferrari and is in control now. The Viper fits into its line up as a world class sports car priced way below the Ferrari which brings me to - 4) I own a couple of Ferraris, Lambhorghinis and other assorted sports cars and I drive the Viper (which is the best sports car I've ever owned) more than all the others put together. So what does this tell you ? And while people who don't own Vipers often criticize them, notice that no one ever said a Lambo is uncomfy. But they are and you can't see out of them! Great to look at. A challenge to drive. 5) Which brings me to - 98% of the derogatory comments you read about the Viper are simply not true, such as the heat in the cockpit issue which disappeared years ago. What we have here is people reading and repeating other people's stupid comments including auto journalists who think they are experts/race car drivers and actually know very little about cars. 6) Which brings me to the Corvette issue. Few know that the real cost of a ZR1 Corvette with typical options is over $120,000. For that kind of money, you can buy a Hafner Venom Viper with over 1000 hp and tons of neat custom options that puts the mass produced (35,000 a year) Corvette in the shade in every category. And since the mass produced Corvettes start around $38,000 and look just like ZR1's, you will see yourself coming and going all day long.. Nuff Sed !

BG
Xmen » September 02, 2009

It so funny! In ukraine we have same viper brand for moto!