Autoblog

Next January's Detroit Auto Show will mark the 20th anniversary of the Viper's debut as a concept. Back then, every car in Chrysler's lineup was still derived from the K-Car. The K-cars saved Chrysler from the jaws of bankruptcy, but an executive named Lutz decided the automaker needed a new halo car to generate some excitement as a new decade dawned. Another old guy named Carroll Shelby was sprucing up Daytonas and Omnis at the time, so they decided to revive an idea from earlier in his career. Together they created a minimalistic two-seater with a humongous engine that became an instant American classic. That basic premise lives on today in the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT-10 with only slightly less minimalism. Read on to find out what it's like to live with a snake for a week.


Photos Copyright ©2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Click above for high-res gallery of Autoblog autocrossing

Yesterday at Chrysler's annual media gathering to show off new products at the its proving grounds in Chelsea, MI, the struggling automaker wanted to demonstrate the performance capabilities of its SRT branded vehicles. SRT staff set up an autocross course on the vehicle dynamics pad and brought out examples of every SRT vehicle from the Caliber SRT-4 to the mighty Dodge Viper ACR. Before we were allowed to hop in the cars, we had listen to a short briefing that described the course and some safety rules. And before being allowed to climb into the big snake, we had to complete at least a couple of laps in one of the five Challenger SRT-8s to get familiarized with the course. For a big 4,140-lb coupe, the Challenger proved surprisingly nimble. We learned that with the electronic stability control enabled, it's almost impossible to get the back end to swing wide. The stability control has two alternative modes. The first is engaged by a momentary stab of ESP button and allows some extra slip before intervening, while pressing and holding the ESP button for five seconds completely disables the stability and traction control leaving only the ABS. Read what happens (and watch the tire-burning videos) after the jump.

R.I.P. DODGE VIPER

A few blogs back I wrote about how Chrysler is going to combine its three brands and start eliminating overlapping models. The idea is to have Dodge concentrate on trucks and work-utilities, with Chrysler exclusively selling cars, and Jeep offering only SUV-based Jeeps.

It's a bold plan, but a risky one. And while I see the logic in what they're trying to achieve, I don't agree with parts of it. Specifically, I wrote in my blog that no matter what happens, they ought to keep the Dodge Viper. Well, so much for my opinion. The word just leaked out that the Viper is going to get the axe.

John McElroy is host of the TV program "Autoline Detroit". Every week he brings his unique insights as an auto industry insider to Autoblog readers. Follow the jump to finish reading this week's editorial.

click above image for more high-res pics of the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT-10

The new 2008 Dodge Viper SRT-10 was a big deal when it debuted at the Detroit Auto Show last January. Adding 100 horsepower to an already stout 500-horsepower 8.3L V10 tends to make headlines. The embargo for driving impressions of Dodge's latest 600-hp snake lifted today, and word from Inside Line is that it's as brutal as can be, but easier to drive than last year's model. The 2008 Viper's top speed is now a full 200 mph, and 60 mph occurs in a 3.7-second blink of the eye. Plus, the now 8.4L V10 has better fuel economy than the 8.3L engine it replaces, 13/22 city/highway versus 11/19. That will put $1,700 back in a Viper buyer's pocket thanks to a smaller gas guzzler tax. In fact, even though the Viper's MSRP has risen, the break in the gas guzzler tax means it actually costs less than a 2006 model. 100 more horsepower, better fuel mileage and it costs less – score one for Dodge, at least until the Corvette SS arrives for a high-horsepower head-to-head comparo.

[Source: Inside Line]