Filed under: Convertibles, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Plants/Manufacturing, Supercars, Dodge, UAW/Unions
2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 production underway
Click image for hi-res gallery including 30 new pics!
Chrysler has announced the official manufacturing launch of the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 at the Connor Ave Assembly Plant in Detroit. In the press release after the jump, you'll learn that the Viper is hand-assembled by a team of 48 UAW "Craftspersons" (political correctness is wonderful, isn't it?) as the supercar traverses 26 stations on its 705-foot assembly line. Of course, some of you might find the car itself a lot more interesting than the manufacturing process behind it. 600-horsepower 8.4L V10s tend to do that, at least for us. Along with today's announcement, Dodge released a mess 'o new pics of its most potent snake yet, so click the gallery below for a look. That's the work of a master
[Source: Dodge]
Gallery: 2008 Dodge Viper SRT-10
PRESS RELEASE:
Chrysler LLC Launches Production of New 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10® at Conner Avenue Assembly Plant
- 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10® hand-built at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant
- Additional 90 horsepower on tap from all-new 600-horsepower 8.4-liter Viper SRT10 V-10 engine built at Conner Avenue Assembly
In a time when most manufacturing plants utilize hundreds of state-of-the-art robots to assemble vehicles, a unique plant in Detroit is producing hand-built performance vehicles.
At the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant, workers called "Craftspersons" hand-build the new Dodge Viper SRT10 and all-new 600-horsepower 8.4-liter SRT V-10 engine. Utilizing 26 work stations on a 705-foot-long assembly line, 48 hand-picked UAW workers assemble each vehicle. Each vehicle remains stationary for up to 49 minutes per work area as the Craftspersons make any necessary adjustments. This process eliminates traditional repair stations with all procedures verified by Craftsperson team members.
Each Dodge Viper is primarily made of seven component modules (instrument panel, fuel tank, suspension corner modules, wheels and tires, cooling module, lift gate assembly and full dressed engine). With the exception of the engine, all modules are shipped to the Conner facility from other locations. Stamping, casting and welding all take place off-site with body panels arriving already painted.
Normally performed only on race cars, an alignment machine sets caster and camber at normal ride height, at jounce and at rebound (upward and downward travel of suspension). Typical factory alignments set caster and camber in the normal ride height position only. The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 is the only U.S. production vehicle set up for such alignment at the factory.
"Our assembly process is just as exceptional as the car," said Melissa Holobach, Plant Manager – Conner Avenue Assembly Plant, Sterling Heights Vehicle Test Center (SHVTC) and Pilot Operations. "The process of building these vehicles by hand has allowed us the freedom to produce race-inspired performance without the constraints of mass production," Holobach said. "Our workforce is committed to producing the best vehicles possible and it shows in their commitment to detail."
The all-new 600-horsepower 8.4-liter SRT V-10 engine is built next to the vehicle on a 24-station circular line by nine Craftspersons. These nine workers assemble and certify each engine before they are installed in the chassis.
Each Dodge Viper is tested in place on the assembly line utilizing special rollers. At this stage the vehicle is a rolling chassis without its body panels. During this "roll test" it is driven through all six speeds of the transmission, up to 90 mph to verify vehicle function.
Since its introduction as a concept car at the 1989 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the Dodge Viper has captured the hearts and imagination of enthusiasts around the world. The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 is offered in both Roadster and Coupe versions. With its dramatic styling and 600 horsepower, the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 is the ultimate American sports car.
"The 2008 Dodge Viper continues to be an icon for not only the Dodge brand but the Company, " said Frank Ewasyshyn, Executive Vice President – Manufacturing. "Compared to our other manufacturing facilities, this is a very labor-intensive plant, but to build the Dodge Viper any other way wouldn't be right. This small craft shop allows us to produce a true American legend."
The next chapter of Dodge Viper continues to set the definition of extreme, yet features greater levels of refinement and finish. The new 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 boasts more of what performance aficionados crave: more horsepower, benchmark braking, world-class ride and handling, a race-inspired interior and bold exterior styling.
While every SRT vehicle offers balanced overall performance, the heart and soul of the new 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 is its new powertrain. For 2008, SRT ups the ante with a new, 8.4-liter aluminum V-10 engine that produces an astounding 600 horsepower and 560 lb.-ft. of torque.
With 600 horsepower – 90 more than before, and 0-to-60 performance in less than four seconds, the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 sets a new benchmark for the ultimate American sports car.
The new 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 will arrive in Dodge showrooms in North America this fall with a new level of customization options, including five new exterior colors, four new interior color combinations and a new wheel design.
Street and Racing Technology
SRT creates Chrysler's boldest, most distinctive products by single-mindedly following its core vision: Deliver benchmark performance at the lowest price, and deliver it with absolute integrity and credibility.
Every SRT vehicle showcases five key aspects: Exterior styling that resonates with the brand image; race-inspired interiors; world-class ride and handling characteristics across a dynamic range; benchmark braking; and standout powertrain.
Detroit Community
Chrysler's commitment to the City of Detroit is strong. In 2006, Chrysler generated over $960 million in annual wages, over $16 million in income taxes, and over $44 million in personal and real property taxes in the City of Detroit. Throughout Michigan, the company has 35,000 employees who generate more than $4 billion in annual wages and provide more than $258 million in taxable income to the state.
Since April 2007, the company has invested $1.8 billion in Detroit-area plants in support of flexible manufacturing efforts.
The company's operations in Detroit include Conner Avenue Assembly Plant, Jefferson North Assembly Plant, Mack Engine Plants I and II, Detroit Axle, Mt. Elliott Tool and Die and the Plymouth Road Office Complex. Other facilities in southeast Michigan include its global headquarters and Technology Center, Chelsea Proving Grounds, Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA), Sterling Heights Assembly Plant, Sterling Heights Stamping Plant, Trenton Engine Plant, Warren Stamping Plant and Warren Truck Assembly Plant.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Vivek 3:05PM (10/24/2007)
Looks like the Neon interior is alive and well at dodge. People rag on the corvette after looking at this? The vette is a Ferrari when compared to the viper.
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Corey W. 3:11PM (10/24/2007)
I miss the sexy curves... I would love a 2002 GTS, gotta have the white strips.. ;-)
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Chad 4:09PM (10/24/2007)
I totally agree, the older GTS was one of the meanest looking cars ever.
Rick 3:16PM (10/24/2007)
I was about to comment how nice it looks until I saw the interior. That's really cheap. I've never liked domestic interiors, but on a car the price of the Viper, this interior is surprisingly awful.
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boostedvan 4:01PM (10/24/2007)
For all those ragging on the Viper interior, its built to be a no frills go fast machine, No Cupholders, no extra weight, wicked sidepipes, Low MPG, balls out Beast. Not a car built for Viagra popping retiree's living in New Hampshire like the Vette is. Who builds a sports car with a slushbox anyways?
Erik 4:53PM (10/24/2007)
boostedvan has a point, the vehicle commands a high price for the performance it obtains, not for all the "luxury" items everyone seems to not be able to live without (remember when you actually had to roll windows up by hand??????). Plus its the same drab, simple, plain interior as previous vehicles have had, what would make you think they would change that now?
If the luxury is what you are looking for, drive a M3 or a AMG63 or any other of the high-end high power cars of your choice.
Rick Lyon 6:54PM (10/24/2007)
It's more surprise on my part, is all. I was expecting a more refined or 'fuller' looking interior. Not ragging so much as thinking aloud.
Nick 11:45PM (10/24/2007)
Having that interior wouldn't be so bad if it actually tipped the scales at anything other than "fat".
Z06 - 3,132 pounds
SRT-10 (coupe) - 3,445 pounds
rem83 4:03PM (10/24/2007)
eh? the interior seems pretty appropriate for the car. the viper is not and has never been a nice, refined sports car, even by comparison with the vette. it's always been more about an insane amount of power applied in the most crude way imaginable, if you suddenly put a nice interior in there it'd be like adding traction/stability control or awd or regenerative breaking or idle stop/start, etc... all of those are nice features, they're just not appropriate for this car.
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R 5:01PM (10/24/2007)
Sadly, there are more, for lack of a better term, sports car posers than there are hardcore enthusiasts. They want big numbers (horsepower, torque), but then a soft, comfy suspension, a Lexus interior, and traction control to coddle them.
These people should just stick to Lexus/AMG/Audi, but some don't, and then they start to complain. Look at what happened to Honda and the S2000 over its 7 year lifespan. The suspension has softened, its oversteer quality muzzled, traction control has been added, the soft top is heavier, the steering ratio is lower, it's quieter, and they added an extra cupholder. All anathema to the hardcore track enthusiast, but thumbs up for the bigger, less-hardcore sporty crowd. But that's just the way it is.
Anyway, the interior on the viper is functional, and that's all that matters in this kind of machine.
Ricky 4:07PM (10/24/2007)
IMO, when you have a front heavy 8.4 liter V-10 w/ 600 hp, you look at the road ahead of you and not the interior of the car. People, this is not suppose to feel like a quality ride, it is a raw ridiculously powerful car that is meant to scare old ladies and be hailed by little children.
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Me 4:07PM (10/24/2007)
Nice interior.
The radio and AC panel is from '02 Caravan - basic edition (recognize because I had one). The rest is from the stripped down PT Cruiser.
Innovation in its best.
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Russell 6:29PM (10/24/2007)
What do you expect its a Chrysler
dakota 1:21AM (10/25/2007)
It's from the corporate parts bin, the radio is still the older style Chrysler unit, as is the HVAC controls.
Corvette steering wheel? Cobalt.
Corvette radio? Cobalt.
bill 4:43PM (10/24/2007)
Yeah, I am more than a little excited about this news. I have many Vipers in my collection, including an original red roadster. I have 3 coupes - one red with gold wheels, one blue with chrome wheels, and one white with chintzy gray wheels and a big rear wing. Fortunately all of them are under glass and don't require much in the way of maintenance.
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k.w.a 4:50PM (10/24/2007)
maybe the interior is designed that way to make it seem like a pure ractrack-oriented sports car, and not a car for boy-racing poseurs. (paging Nick Hogan)
However, considering Chrysler's current situation, beggers can't be choosers. They are not Ferrari... they might actually need those poseur to stay afloat
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m 4:58PM (10/24/2007)
The section on "Street and Racing Technology" is a huge load of crap. That description would have fit the old PVO group. But that all changed somewhere near the time they changed their name to the SRT group. That was back when there were two SRT vehicles: the SRT-10 and the SRT-4. Having spent some time driving both, I can say that they were both very clearly aimed at performance per dollar.
Having also spent some time driving the SRT vehicles that have been introduced since then, since SRT became a trim level for other Dodge vehicles rather than an entirely separate vehicle, I can say that this has obviously changed. While most of the others are very powerful and even have good roadholding ability, they are not true sports cars. You can't even buy them without a slushbox. At this point calling those vehicles "sports cars" is more marketing than it is truth.
The Viper, of course, is still the exception.
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That One Person 5:54PM (10/24/2007)
While I do agree with some that this is a brutal ride and not meant to have an Audi level interior, I just can't get over how cheap they are. But it serves it's purpose well.
What is kind of interesting is that I have seen FIVE Vipers in the last week. One of them was a late model last gen. I had an 06 pull up next to me on Friday and the driver took off with the pedal to the floor and it honestly sounded like there was a war going on. The Viper V-10 sounds horrible but for some reason, at the same time, it sounds beautiful.
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J. D. Billiford 6:15PM (10/24/2007)
>>> The "big snake" looks good in green. I like it!
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Russell 6:35PM (10/24/2007)
Its a Hot Rod at best after you look at what Z06 is made of.
Hint: Titanium, corbon fiber, magnesium, balsa wood
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