Saleen, Roush potential buyers for expandable Viper range
While sales of the Dodge Viper may be down, Chrysler President Jim Press insists that buyers have been lining up to buy the entire operation. Among those potentially interested are American powerhouses Roush and Saleen. The latter, it's worth noting, is already involved in making the Viper, painting the cars off the assembly line. Whatever company ends up buying the Viper operation, Chrysler expects to make anywhere from $50 million to three times that before it vacates its Conner Avenue plant by the end of 2011, and has hired financial firm Lazard Limited to handle the sale.
Potentially of equal interest will be the opportunity, as Press sees it, to expand the Viper line-up. We're not sure what else you could make on the V10 sportscar platform, considering that convertible, coupe and hard-core track-day versions are already in line-up. But we'd sure be interested to find out.
Gallery: First Drive: 2008 Dodge Viper ACR
Gallery: Review: 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10
[Source: Car and Driver]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
P.V. 12:52PM (9/14/2008)
Saleen Viper? Roush Viper? Or just ... Viper? (like GM has spun off the Corvette as its own sub-brand in Europe)
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Austin 1:12PM (9/14/2008)
Wow that would be weird for a Ford engine to be in a Viper.
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That One Person 2:04PM (9/14/2008)
Or a Viper engine in the Mustang? F-150? Or maybe the Sport Trac??????????? Hell, even the Focus (hey you can fit Cammer 5.0s in them?????????
Ah, I can dream, can't I??
No Welfare for GM 1:16PM (9/14/2008)
Yes, keep the brand alive, and keep it American.
I much rather see Chrysler stay alive than worry about Viper.
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ymmv 4:53PM (9/14/2008)
Should that headline read "expandable" or "expendable." I think the latter applies.
If one were to expand the range of this model, I think Chrysler could include a model with adequate brakes, suspension, cooling, cabin ergonomics, build quality and decent materials.
It seems to me, the thing to do with a long wheelbase V10 sports car like the Viper would be to turn it through 180 degrees, make it a mid-engine layout, put the driver forward and in the center, like the McLaren F1, and raise the price to $150K+ (I'd still buy it at $200K) which would make it the not-so-poor-man's Carrera GT (without the liability of Porsche maintenance costs or a pricy full CF monocoque frame to worry about) or affordable Murcielago (without the falling brick resale value and teenager's-wet-dream scissor doors.) Just drop a dual-clutch gear-box in there and some switchable traction and stability software and you've got a lot of car.
But keep this current phallic front-engine design and mid-life-crisis oh-so 80's design and the car continues to be something that numerous guys won't buy because it's embarrassing to take it to the country club, the golf course, the special night out or even to a track day.
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Red 3:29PM (9/14/2008)
Not sure if you know this, but about 99% of Viper enthusiasts could give a sh** about anything you just said...
Keep the FR layout and spend the money on creating a proper highly quality GT. There's no reason this car couldn't be mentioned in the same name as the GranTurismos and the DB9s, except Chrysler gave up on it a long time ago. They were never the company to create a refined GT because that was never the point. As the automotive industry has evolved, the Viper, ahead of its time over a decade ago, got lost in the shuffle of evolution. Priorities shifted (unfortunately, they may as well have stayed the same...at least back then they were profitable) and now Chrysler is run by a group of people more concerned with making money than cars.
Here's to hoping the Viper finds a home and people that will actually give it the proper attention it has always deserved. This was the first sports car I ever wanted. I still have my die-cast model that I put together almost 15 years ago. That was back when I thought the show "Viper" was the coolest thing on tv.
Naive, I was. lol
thomas 4:38PM (9/14/2008)
@vmmv
Red is right... the viper is missing all that crap you listed, and thats exactly what we like about it.
some people will never understand. and for them, there are porsches.
im actually sad that Dodge might be losing its viper. i like the challenger as much as the next guy, but the viper is cool for the opposite reasons as the challenger..... while the challenger is a modern car that looks like a classic muscle car..... the viper is a classic muscle car that looks like a modern car.
the viper is a modern design that does things the old fashioned way. and there is definitely a future for it. and i guess..... if that future has the viper going to another owner, i could deal with that. as long as they stay true to the recipe that maid the Viper the true world class american sports car.
ymmv 5:23PM (9/14/2008)
This is such a clumsy commenting system ... makes it hard to post and harder still to read the thread of comments.
Anyway, I think what "Red" posted in reply reinforces what I'd written:
1. The Viper has been neglected but could still become a competitive product and an enjoyable GT.
2. The demographic of Viper buyers does not fit the entry-level super car GT profile that makers like Porsche, Ferrari and Aston target.
3. Children develop connections with particular cars at an early age and carry those affections into their adult life, but once a buyer has acquired the wherewithal to purchase an indulgence car, they've also very likely matured in their tastes too.
I don't think the Viper has anything beyond a niche market interest in its future. If the car were redesigned to be appealing to the buyer with the finances to have one, it could well be successful. You need only look to successful front-engine super cars to see what those buyers are willing to take to their country clubs or their private track days.
I doubt that any car maker can afford to make a hot rod like the Viper today -- there just aren't that many hot rod muscle car buyers in that price range and there's already stiff competition for their business. From niche manufacturers to the ZR1 and everything in between, the Viper was squeezed and its sales reflected the reality.
Personally, I like the car if you strip away the body. I'd like it more if it had suspension and brakes to match the engine and a cabin to match the price tag.
I've often gone shopping for a V10 or V12 hot rod, but invariably came home with a Porsche (and the next car is a new, but relatively modest, Ferrari.) I couldn't drive something that looked like a Reventon or even a Murcielago, but I do wish I had the option to have one hidden away in the garage and just sneak it out to track days. If the buyer of the Viper decides to get it redesigned, I hope they at least attend to an entirely new body and cabin (I can upgrade the brakes and suspension for myself ...) Standing around in the paddock at the race track, I know the Viper is an appealing car to drivers, it's just the exterior design and the cabin that make it unsalable to a much wider demographic.
thomas 1:15AM (9/15/2008)
1. the viper has not been neglected... these types of cars dont get redesigned every 3 years like high volume compact/midsize sedans. its been fully redesigned once since its debut in 1992. the corvette gets an overhaul about once a decade as well. and the viper is not a GT... by definition a GT is a compromise between performance and luxury. theres no compromise there.
2. youre right, the demographics don't match. thats my point.... some want high performance and high comfort. other want vipers.
3. just because someone has the money to buy a viper doesnt mean they are a member of a country club. the viper may not appeal to you personally, which is why i recommended a porsche (which apparently you already buy). there are plenty of us out there that the viper appeals to just the way it is.
ymmv 2:31AM (9/15/2008)
I'd like to continue the dialog, but this "comment" system is a pain in the petunias.
To the points made by "Thomas," I'd respond by noting:
1. The Viper, like Porsches, Ferraris, et al, is given a continuous update (to address problems) and a frequent refresh (to stimulate sales) but for whatever reason, as noted in the automotive industry press, the Viper has fallen off the program and each refresh has been a disappoint parts-bin effort.
3. Yes, I'm a Porsche driver, but even in the US domestic market, by proof of the fact of the demise of the Viper, there are simply not enough drivers buying this car. Ironically, even though I loathe the Dodge Neon cabin and the "if only mine was this big" hood or the childish body lines, I'd still get a Viper if there was a strong secondary market to keep the resale value up. Owning an expensive indulgence car (from a $80K hot rod to a $400K exotic) is influenced not only by the initial price or the insurance or the limited applications, it's also influenced by the secondary market -- the resale value (or depreciation) can be a small cut or it can be a deep knife wound. I can afford to buy a $120K Porsche GT3 with 90% resale value but in that context, I can't justify or afford to buy an $80K Porsche Carrera with 70% resale. So the prospect of a Viper might be fun, so would the ZR1, but these cars lose 70% or worse after two or three years, so resale is the deal-breaker (for me.) I look forward to the day that all car makers set aside certain models and use the Ferrari business model as an example to help them provide their customers with viable resale values.
styleguy 1:24PM (9/14/2008)
We should do what Matt Farah and Mike Spinelli siad and sell the Viper to Henessey.
http://www.garage419.com/episode/419_20080902
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styleguy 3:53PM (9/14/2008)
I mean Chrysler...sorry
Hike15 1:25PM (9/14/2008)
Yes for keeping it american, but whoever buys it better keep the monster v10 in it
but they could also us the brand to make like mini vipers, say like the dodge demon kind of car to compete against stuff like the porsche cayman
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Soccer Mom 1:32PM (9/14/2008)
I guess the probable scenario is:
1. 2009 - Chrysler sells Viper to XYZ for $50M
2. 201x - Chrysler fixes its operations
3. 201x - Chrysler buys the same Viper back from XYZ for $5 billion to compliment its products with an established performance car
4. 202x - Chrysler sells Viper to ZYX for for $50M as sales did not meet expectations
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Reader 3:23PM (9/14/2008)
If I had 50 million I'd totally be XYZ. Maybe I could get a loan...
Artie Lange 11:30PM (9/14/2008)
Chrysler isn't selling it because it doesn't make them money, but because CAFE regulations will soon make it impossible for a major auto maker to build it. It has nothing to do with its profitability or popularity.
cxv 1:58PM (9/14/2008)
I believe the viper name is owned in the UK by another comapny and the car is sold under the STR-10 name. Bad times for Chrysler!!!
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TriShield 2:26PM (9/14/2008)
The strip and flip of Chrysler by Cerberus has begun.
Chrysler is dead. They're simply going to get a return on their investment by selling the parts they can and then using the dealer network and plants as a K-Mart outlet for other cars.
Whomever purchases the Viper (if this news is true) will be getting everything, including Chrysler's V10 engine.
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Tim 2:38PM (9/14/2008)
I am seriously considering buying a new Challenger Se for my dad. Should I be concerned if Chrysler does go bankrupt would this car drop in value quickly?
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El Norte 4:59PM (9/14/2008)
"I am seriously considering buying a new Challenger Se for my dad. Should I be concerned if Chrysler does go bankrupt would this car drop in value quickly?"
Of course it'll drop in value quickly if you buy a new Challenger. As soon as it hits the street, in fact. It'll be MSRP + some ridiculous amount the dealer will extort which will cause the drop to be even greater.