What does Chrysler's restructuring plan have in store for the Viper?
Dodge Viper SRT-10 – Click above for a high-res image galleryLong before factors like bankruptcy and Fiat's involvement, Chrysler was looking to offload the Viper line. Several potential buyers were reportedly being considered, but months down the line no deal has been announced. In the meantime, of course, Chrysler has announced it will be filing Chapter 11 before restructuring in a new partnership with Fiat. But what of the Viper at this point?
According to emerging reports, it could face the axe. Chrysler says it is still considering offers on the Viper line, but an in-depth analysis of the company's restructuring strategy suggests that the Viper would fall into "OldCo", the term applied to Chrysler's liabilities and bad assets that will be shed during the bankruptcy process. The Conner Avenue Assembly plant where 115 workers build the Viper is one of several earmarked for potential closure, along with Chrysler's facilities in Newark, Twinsburg, Kenosha, two plants in St. Louis and the Detroit Axle factory. Although the Viper is an entirely different beast to the exotica built by Fiat subsidiary Ferrari, considering what the Dodge supercar represents, we couldn't imagine Fiat being too eager to keep the Viper alive.
The Viper isn't the only Chrysler product at risk, however, as several trucks – including the Dodge Ram, Dakota and Jeep Wrangler, believe it or not – could also be shed as Chrysler aims to streamline. Follow the link for the full analysis.
[Source: Inside Line]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
AIL 1:02PM (5/05/2009)
viper was awesome in what, 1997? when it was raw musclecar, back in its first generation.
then they wanted to make it more civilized and more of a sports car. wow, that worked. s'been an also-ran, has-been ever since. yuck. put the thing out of its misery already.
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Joe 1:10PM (5/05/2009)
Yeah, what a has-been. I mean, does it even perform? Someone should run it on a track and compare it to other cars. It would probably be slow...
Franz 1:19PM (5/05/2009)
Yeah, the Viper sucks a$$. I bet Chrysler would never even dream of taking it to someplace in Europe, like the Nurburgring. It would totally get owned by Porsche, Lamborghini & Ferrari. Piece of crap American car...
phoenix 1:29PM (5/05/2009)
A recent Nurburgring lap record with a Viper ACR would seem to contradict your statements above.
zamafir 1:40PM (5/05/2009)
Be nice, the viper is our first production car with over 400hp, only two decades after the countach. At least according to Jay.
poop 1:51PM (5/05/2009)
OH MAN you are so right the viper is de suckz! it's so slow. Oh sorry I remembered you dont know anything about cars. Viper acr stock holds the record lap time at a EURO track ....the most famous one of all to test the limits of any car.
yeah viper needs to stay since it owns everything
Thunderbuck 1:48PM (5/05/2009)
No, the Viper shouldn't be saved. EVERY other vehicle Chrysler makes has a better business case. And, no, I'm not anti-car, or anti-Dodge; if the Viper were new, it might still be worthwhile as a "halo" brand, but not this far down the line.
Sell the final 50 as a limited edition for $125k apiece.
Aaron Martin-Colby 1:48PM (5/05/2009)
@ Phoenix: I thought they were being sarcastic. So you're... you're serious. You don't know about the ACR's Nordschleife lap?
KeatMP 1:55PM (5/05/2009)
@ everyone
Joe and Franz were being sarcastic. Just thought I'd let y'all know.
Aaron Martin-Colby 2:01PM (5/05/2009)
Ok, good. I'm glad someone else picked up on the sarcasm. I was worried for a second.
clicketyclack 4:28PM (5/05/2009)
The Viper has an enormous V10 pushing out a paltry 71.4 horsepower per liter and all the style and sophistication of a shoe horn...kill it.
Jrejre 1:04PM (5/05/2009)
Kill the Wrangler? When people mention that jeep is the only thing at chrysler worth saving the image that instantly comes to mind is "Wrangler". How the hell can they kill that? And what purpose would Dodge serve if they get rid of their pickup trucks? The Challenger and Caliber company?
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Rich 2:00PM (5/05/2009)
In the same way that Land Rover shed its equivalent. It's outmoded, inefficient, unsafe on the road. Yeah it's still a capable off road machine. Comprehend? *Off* road.
Heck, sell it to Santana. Let them deal with it.
Mike 1:16PM (5/05/2009)
who cares, just get the 8C or whatever replaces it over here NOW.
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Ry66cobra 4:43PM (5/05/2009)
I'll take an 8c over a viper any day. They sound yummy,and I even work at a dodge dealership. I don't care if the viper would spank it on the track, those cars are SWEET!! Really though, getting rid of the Ram(especially Cummins Trucks) and the Wrangler would be an incomprehensible mistake!!
Amien 3:55PM (5/05/2009)
You have got to be kidding me
John 1:06PM (5/05/2009)
shed the Wrangler? now I know for damn sure Chrysler has lost their minds.
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Steve Lopez 1:11PM (5/05/2009)
Talk about stupid.
If they get rid of the Viper, Ram, Dakota and Caliber. Just close all the factories and kill the Chrysler name as well.
Who the hell is running this company to the ground?
Fire all of them on the spot and get Iaccoca back for a short run.
This is a shame.
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lars.e.ludvigsen 1:22PM (5/05/2009)
The same guy that gtt booted before he almost ran Home Depot into the ground... only in America!!
framistat 2:08PM (5/05/2009)
Hmmm, until recently the same nitwit who ran Home Depot into the ground.