Saleen's new owners in the running for Viper acquisition?
Click above for high-res gallery of the Dodge Viper ACR
Saleen's future has been in upheaval the last few years. First, company founder Steve Saleen left, then the company's assets were sold off to private investors. Its new owners plan to continue making superchargers and bolt-on parts, but Saleen's turnkey Racecraft and S lines could face the axe, while the company's former keepers retain ownership of its supercar manufacturing business while they figure out what they can do with it.
Meanwhile, Chrysler has been looking to sell of its Viper operation, but while Saleen could have been a contender in years past, in its current condition few expect it to make such a large acquisition. That may be a false assumption, however, as silence is speaking louder than words. Understandably, Chrysler's management is not disclosing the identities of the three potential buyers with which it is discussing the future of the Viper enterprise, but Saleen's new owners are likewise refusing to comment. That kind of silence can be as deafening as a Saleen exhaust note, leaving us to wonder if the company's new owners could turn the broken shards of a once-great American company into a new powerhouse with the Viper packing the punch.
[Source: AutoWeek]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mr.Oak 6:18PM (2/08/2009)
Very Cool. I hope that they are good stewards of the ICON if they get it.
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catgirlshyla 2:48AM (2/09/2009)
"Understandably, Chrysler's management is not disclosing the identities of the three potential buyers with which it is discussing the future of the Viper enterprise, "
Why do I have a sneaking suspicion one of them might be Hennessey Performance Engineering?
Tango 6:37PM (2/08/2009)
Why on good earth would Chrysler want to sell their only vehicle that has some real guts in it?
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MemphisNET 6:46PM (2/08/2009)
Because for all the 'right' Chrysler does with the Viper, they need to work on the wrong in 85% of their portfolio. The bread and butter needs to be addressed first.
Love the Viper... I hope that the new owner doesn't wuss it up with posh interiors and electronic nanny's.
JHT 12:53AM (2/09/2009)
it's all about the bottom line for Chrysler, now. Unfortunately, assets need to be sold off for any hope of recovery.
MajorGeek 6:54PM (2/08/2009)
I meantioned Saleen the last time this mentioned. It could use nav and some of the features Porsche, Lambo, GTR, Vette and every other car has frankly. I would like some of those features myself. I would also like it designed with more curves, like Saleen has done. At 90k, its hard to justify the current Viper pricing. The 07 Z06 can beat it from start to stop for less money and more gadgets.
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Carlos 7:32PM (2/08/2009)
I guess you really don't understand that the Viper isn't meant for everyone, it is meant to be man's man car. It doesn't need those pansy stuff. If you want those buy a Corvette.
Mobius_1 8:30PM (2/08/2009)
As I said, keep the current Viper just like it is, raw unadulterated power, but use that basis of the platform and also visceral thrills in more accessible packages: smaller engines, lighter cars, more luxurious interiors, better equipment etc. This would allow this junior Viper to be marketed to more people and allow the owner (whoever it will be) to make more cash (to spend on the proper raw Viper! Yay!)
Corey W. 9:13AM (2/09/2009)
@Carlos
Well it looks like just being a "man's car" isn't good enough..... And it's about to be DROPPED and SOLD!!!
MPower 6:56PM (2/08/2009)
"That kind of silence can be as deafening as a Saleen exhaust note...
... I'll be here all week."
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dwaltr 6:56PM (2/08/2009)
They'll just turn the Viper into a hot hatch and say it's better because it gets better mileage.
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TriShield 7:03PM (2/08/2009)
Selling off the Viper is not going to do jack to cure Chrysler's other products. It's not going to make the Caliber, Compass, Avenger, Sebring, Patriot and all of other Chrysler's terrible products better.
Also Saleen as a company is on very shakey ground and there's speculation regarding their financial health. Whether or not they can really swing or support Viper remains to be seen.
The story surrounding Viper is probably more smoke and mirrors by Chrysler before they appear before Congress to try and convince everyone that they are still viable. Which they are not. With the market shrinking one if not more of the American automakers will be snuffed out, Chrysler will certainly be one of them.
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arturo 8:30PM (2/08/2009)
I hear someone mentioning the viper could be smoked by a ZO6. I saw in a magazine "car and driver" that the viper was head to head with the zr1, and lp640.
viper
0-60= 3.6
0-100= 7.8
QM= 11.8 at 128
0-150= 16.4
Zr1.
0-60= 3.6
0-100= 7.8
QM= 11.7 at 128
0-150= 17.1
z06
0-60= 3.6
0-100= 7.9
QM= 11.7 at 125
0-150= 17.5
i got this numbers from car and driver spec sheets. only the zo6 was driven in a different day. i am impress to see that the z06 and zr1 are not that far from each other. I know I have seen the zr1 at 11.2 in some magazines, but the zo6 has been known to break the 11 second time. I think 10.9 I would think that the only difference is that the zr1 is a more refined car than the zo6. zo6 and Viper brute force any time. Zr1 refined and brutal as well.
In the search of this stats I lost what I was trying to explain. :D
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B 8:39PM (2/08/2009)
This would be a wise choice seeing as the new owners currently own the company which repairs all the engines for vipers still under warranty. They could greatly help both companies if this were to happen.
Not that I have inside information or anything...
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MajorGeek 8:42PM (2/08/2009)
I think it was in 2006 or 07 Arturo, then Viper had to get more out of the engine, which they did. Since your comparing 2009 (ZR1 is mentioned so i assume 09) remember Dodge basically stopped production for 1 year while they got help eeking more ponies from the car to get even. The Vette is also 2 less cylinders.
Difference between me and most comments is I own a Viper and will not buy another one because the new one is so bland. Yes, there is nothing like the raw V10, but apparently navigation or an egear style tranny or even all wheel drive would make it a womans car instead of a "man's man" car as mentioned above. LOL. Must mean only women drive Vettes, Ferraris, Lambos, Porsche and so on. You should drive a Viper then lets say... a Lambo. You would pick the Lambo with all wheel drive, navigation, egear etc., because after a while just pure brute power alone does not make a great car. Thats just my opinion. Be cheaper to buy a Cobra replica with a big motor for less money.
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arturo 8:59PM (2/08/2009)
yeah, well I like all 3 cars, I like the viper looks, the zr1 ride, and the z06 price. I think for most of us, well at least in my case, experiencing the torque of let say a viper would be like a dream. It might be something that once once you get over that, you would appreciate something not so raw, like the viper and go for something like the Zr1. If Chrysler could make another viper following what gm did with the vette to make it a zr1 I am sure the viper would be the best choice out of all 3.
Steve 10:15PM (2/08/2009)
I know this is completeeeeelllly off topic, but the Dodge Viper GTS ACR was the most stunning American car EVER made.
Galley 9:23PM (2/08/2009)
Let's not forget which vehicle has the fastest lap time on the Nürburgring.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordschleife_fastest_lap_times
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energystrom 11:07PM (2/08/2009)
Correct...I'm surprised nobody mentioned the ACR had the fastest times before this... The car isn't meant to be a posh and luxurious daily driver. It's meant to go fast, and that's exactly what it does; if that's not you, then just move on.
nick 11:16PM (2/08/2009)
What does that have to do with anything? The viper did it on a tuned suspension and race tires, comparing apples to oranges here....