BREAKING: Dodge to end Viper production in July 2010, new car in 2012
by Sam Abuelsamid on Nov 4th 2009 at 11:49AM 
2009 Dodge Viper ACR - Click above for high-res image gallery
At the Chrysler business plan meeting this morning, Ralph Gilles, CEO of the Dodge car brand, dropped big news on the Viper. After going back and forth for the past 18 months on what to do with Viper, Chrysler has decided that production of the current Viper will end in July 2010. Before that happens, 500 final cars will be built that, according to Gilles, will be the most special Vipers ever. Gilles explained that the company wanted to preserve the value of existing Vipers by not continuing the current generation indefinitely. He didn't give any details on what would be special with the final 500 cars.
However, Viper fans need not mourn yet. Gilles revealed that an all new car is being developed with a launch targeted in 2012! Even better the Viper will be getting some help from Chrysler's new Italian colleagues... and lets not forget about a certain Fiat outpost that uses a yellow-and-black Prancing Horse for its logo that's based in Maranello. Let's just hope they keep the Viper's elemental nature in the new generation.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
amnigo 11:53AM (11/04/2009)
Does this finally mean a decent cosmetic upgrade?
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HondazFTW 11:58AM (11/04/2009)
It means we might actually get a decent car. Thank god they finally decided to euthanize such a frankenstein collection of truck parts and dreams of being anything like ferrari. I can't believe people buy these without the intention of hauling quads or going hunting. I'd rather have a Civic at the track.
Now if GM were to just kill off the vette, all would be right in the world.
amnigo 12:02PM (11/04/2009)
You lost the evolution contest.
Kevin 12:05PM (11/04/2009)
@ Honda
What are you retarded? When was the last time you drove a viper? And you think a Honda would be better at a track? You serious??? Just making honda owners look like idiots..
The Corvette and Viper are some of the best sports cars in the world.. cars that compete with their Italian counterparts that cost 3 or 4 times MORE!
*facepalm* dude... epic *facepalm*
Guevara 12:07PM (11/04/2009)
@ Hondaz..
as much as i mock american automotive engineering, the ford gt uses a 'truck' engine and is still quite a beast, so there's no harm in the viper doing the same, its a cheap muscle car for blue-collared people, not a high reving v8 screaming for monaco millionaires
Curtis 12:08PM (11/04/2009)
@ amnigo
whats not to like about the Vipers looks?
@ HondazFTW
Your drooling Asian fanboyism all over the place, please close your mouth
I'm absolutely not a Dodge or Chevy fan, but on the outside the Viper and Corvette are both equally as attractive as the Italian exotics. The interiors might not be as attractive, but then if they charged a hundred thousand more I don't think that argument would hold up.
Thipps 12:11PM (11/04/2009)
@ Hondazftw
WOW what a statement. i question your reasoning, your are a honda fanboy so what you think in performance automatically goes out the window. also i think that it is the rest of the world trying to catch up with Corvettes and GTR's not the other way around.
i just cant believe any fan of autoblog wants the viper and corvette dead.
stick to painting your AC vents and big spoilers
jon 12:14PM (11/04/2009)
as strange as it sounds, i only would want maranello to lend their design expertise to the new Viper. To me its important the viper always maintain its roots as a giant modified dodge truck engine on wheels. Although it would be nice to see some nice new looks, and even some handling help from the boys who tame the prancing horses, i will say with pride that the last thing i want to see is a beautiful, flawless Ferrari V8 under the hood of a car with that iconic snake as its emblem. Still... the possibilities are endless, and a brand engineered Ferrari Viper would just make me laugh.
Kevin 12:15PM (11/04/2009)
Not to mention these "truck" motors (the pushrod motors that are in both the Viper and the 'Vette) are extremely powerful and reliable. They actually make power down low in the RPM range, and scream in the upper RPM range as well.. (think LS7).
If you don't consider the Vipers and the 'Vettes to be great sports cars, your either extremely biased (hondaz' case), ignorant, or just plain stupid.
XGM 12:17PM (11/04/2009)
@Hondaz
Because we should all be driving rusted 95 Civics with coffee can exhausts and stickers.
thipps 12:20PM (11/04/2009)
would people stop saying that the engine is the same as the old dodge v10 truck engine- its simply not true.
that would be like saying that the engine in a 57 vette is the same as the zr1 because they are both push rod engines and the same basic layout.
Serge 12:38PM (11/04/2009)
@HondazFTW
WOW! If the Viper is a truck then your Civic is a lawnmower... A track day probably doesn't go by without all the 'Vettes and Vipers using your Civic as a slalom cone while lapping you... soo much anger stored inside. Upgrading to a Honda S2000 might actually allow you to finish a lap before the Viper and 'Vette boys finish the race and call it a day.
petee209 12:50PM (11/04/2009)
Cocaine is a hell of a drug.
hoyaCS08 1:24PM (11/04/2009)
C'mon guys - don't feed the trolls
Imag 1:41PM (11/04/2009)
Honda - I've been accused of being a Japanese fanboy around here for praising non-american cars. But you are just dead wrong. The Viper motor is way past its truck roots, and the car is really something otherworldly.
You should take the above suggestion and go drive one before you make inane comments like that. You'll never look at a Civic the same way again.
Bobmarley 1:47PM (11/04/2009)
@ HandazFTW
...and my wife says I'm too sarcastic!
PaulPaul 2:05PM (11/04/2009)
"I'd rather have a Civic at the track." hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah *breathe* hahahahahahahahahahaha
d4rez 3:04PM (11/04/2009)
@ Kevin
While I agree with the first part of what you've said, the second part is utter rubbish. If you're seriously propounding the Viper as "one of the best sportscars in the world", then you're as blindly ignorant and biased as the man you're criticizing.
Read any review in any magazine outside of North America or just watch this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grx_fv5jGMA. Perhaps then you will rethink your own "plain stupid" views.
Ben 3:36PM (11/04/2009)
@ Honda
The whole point of a viper is to have 500bhp of raw horsepower and have no electronic nannys to keep you from doing power slides. That was how/what the viper was build for. Fun and dangerous. It wasnt build to be a honda family car. Cars like the viper with nothing at all to keep you away from dying is the reason why i love driving, and track days. Now there r way too many cars that feels like ur setting in a seat and than the computer is driving it for you. Sure electronic goods can prevent your death when you loose control around a tight corner, but whats the fun of it all? Whats the point of life when your always protected from everything, there is no excitement, no nothing. So therefore long live the viper. They should have a 20k off the viper sale thing, so i can get it as my car.
Jsingleton17 1:12AM (11/05/2009)
This is like a dream come true for me! I haven't heard news this good in the longest time.
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