Autoblog

Watch new SRT Vipers snake down the assembly line

Jeffrey N. Ross — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Plants/Manufacturing, Videos, SRT

Official production of the 2013 SRT Viper kicked off this month with VIN No. 001 rolling off the Conner Avenue Assembly plant to a small celebration that included the car's owner and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne. Now, The New York Times has released a video and some great pictures showing just what it takes to get the newest Viper from a bare frame and engine to the final product.

The fast-motion video shows various stations along the Viper's production line ranging from engine inspection and assembly to a dyno test of the body-less car (shown above). The video of the birth of these early Vipers is posted below, but be sure to visit the NYT site for a handful of images of the car, the plant and its workers.

Continue reading Watch new SRT Vipers snake down the assembly line

Watch new SRT Vipers snake down the assembly line originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Jan 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SRT's race-only Viper ACR-X laps Nürburgring in 7:03.058

Drew Phillips — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Dodge, Racing

Dodge, or rather SRT (we're still getting used to it being its own brand), has been busy teasing us with the new Viper that will be unveiled at the New York Auto Show in April, but that doesn't mean it's completely done flaunting the performance capabilities of the old model. Only a few short months ago, SRT released a video of the Viper ACR reclaiming the lap record at the Nürburgring for a production car with a time of 7:12.13, taking the title away from the Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition.

Now the Viper Club of America has released a new video of the race-only Viper ACR-X tackling the Green Hell, and the result is even more impressive. The V10-powered spec racer lapped the circuit in just 7:03.058, more than nine seconds quicker than its roadgoing brother. It makes us wonder when we'll start seeing six-minute lap times at the Nürburgring.

You can see a video of the impressive lap after the jump, including real-time stats like g-force and downforce included in the footage.

Continue reading SRT's race-only Viper ACR-X laps Nürburgring in 7:03.058

SRT's race-only Viper ACR-X laps Nürburgring in 7:03.058 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mopar announces 800-hp V10 crate engine at SEMA

Noah Joseph — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Dodge, Racing

It may be another year or two before the next-generation Dodge Viper comes rumbling in, all 8.7 liters of it. But even though there is no Viper currently on offer, that doesn't mean there isn't some V10 power to be had. If you're a drag racer, anyway.

The Chrysler Group's performance catalog division Mopar has just announced the availability of a V10 crate engine designed for drag racers, and the figures are positively mind-blowing. The Competition crate engine - hand-built and ordered up as Part Number P5144872 - offers a staggering 800 horsepower and 695 lb-ft of torque. Mind you, that's coming out of 512 cubic inches (8.4 liters) of displacement, which is staggering in and of itself, but amounts to 95 horsepower per liter. Which is a lot, but not by racing standards.

Those who enjoy their ten cylinders of power away from the drag strip can opt for a 150-horsepower upgrade kit for the MkIII Viper that takes output up to 650 hp. There's also a new high-output, aluminum-block 426 Hemi V8 available with 590 horsepower, an adapter kit that allows the Hemi to drive the front wheels(!) and a Challenger body-in-white for race teams. Check out the full details in the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Mopar announces 800-hp V10 crate engine at SEMA

Mopar announces 800-hp V10 crate engine at SEMA originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Find of the Day: Jacques Villeneuve's 1997 title-prize Hennessey Viper Venom

Noah Joseph — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:31:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertible, Performance, Dodge, UK, Celebrities

Say what you will about what he's done since, but nobody was as hot a talent as Jacques Villeneuve in the mid '90s. The French Canadian driver - and son of Gilles Villeneuve, who died while racing for Scuderia Ferrari - won both the Indy 500 and the IndyCar title in only his second season in the series. Then he moved up to Formula One and repeated the feat by taking the championship in only his second season, having only lost out to his Williams teammate Damon Hill the season before.

The 1997 world championship was nothing short of epic, pitting the newbie against Michael Schumacher in a battle that came down to the last race and saw Schumi disqualified from the standings for some questionable driving tactics. Needless to say, Williams was elated at securing what would, unfortunately, be the end of its dominant winning streak. And so were their sponsors. So much so, in fact, that Rothmans - the tobacco brand that was the team's title sponsor - gave Jacques the very special gift you see here.

What might look like an ordinary Viper, in fact, packs some serious Venom - modified by Hennessey to the tune of over 600 horsepower, and decked out in Rothmans racing stripes to boot. It cost $135,000 new, but with a 3.3-second sprint to 60 and a 205-mile per hour top end, was capable of keeping pace with the half-million Ferrari Enzo that wouldn't come out for another few years. Of course, with all that power driving the rear wheels and no electronic aids whatsoever, you'd have to be an F1 driver to keep it all under control.

The car traveled with Villeneuve as he contested the 1998 world championship to considerably less success, and, with 23,000 miles on the odometer, is now up for grabs in the UK with a £39,995 asking price - equivalent to $63k at today's conversion rates. Which may be worth it for the performance capabilities alone, never mind the provenance.

Find of the Day: Jacques Villeneuve's 1997 title-prize Hennessey Viper Venom originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Next Dodge Viper confirmed for 2012 rollout, won't be Alfa 8C-based

Zach Bowman — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Dodge

Ralph Gilles and D'Ann Rauh with the final Dodge Viper - Click above for high-res gallery

According to The Detroit News, most of the rumors we've been hearing about the next Dodge Viper aren't true. The meanest of the Dodge models won't be riding on a modified Alfa Romeo or Ferrari platform when it bows anew in 2012 as a 2013 model. The Pentastar has said while there may be some similarities to the 8C Competizione, the Viper will make use of entirely unique underpinnings and will carry significantly different proportions compared to the Italians. Part of that means doing away with the snake's iconic long hood in favor of a design with a little more balance.

What's more, Dodge head Ralph Giles tells the Detroit daily that the Mopar supercar won't utilize a Ferrari engine for its power, though he stopped short of saying whether or not the old 640 horsepower V10 will survive the vehicle's rebirth. That means that a new lump may surface, though the number of cylinders and how much horsepower it will produce remain a mystery. Thanks for the tip, Prhime.

Gallery: Final Dodge Viper

[Source: The Detroit News]

Report: Next Dodge Viper confirmed for 2012 rollout, won't be Alfa 8C-based originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Viper ACR Roadster built for No. 1 dealer before production ended

Zach Bowman — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertible, Performance, Dodge, Specialty

Being the number one Dodge Viper dealership for 11 years has its perks - like being able to pick up the phone and tell the suits up at Auburn Hills that you'd like a convertible version of the diabolical Viper ACR. According to AutoWeek, that's exactly what Woodhouse Dodge did after hearing that its cash cow was headed to the slaughterhouse, and surprisingly enough, Dodge obliged. What resulted was a mere 20 examples of a drop-top ACR, complete the coupe's tweaked suspension, mammoth brakes and special final gears in the transmission.

If you're thinking that hacking the roof off of a standard ACR-X is bound to play havoc with the car's rigidity and aerodynamics, you're probably right. That's exactly why the ACR crew had to completely reinvent the roadster's aero package with a stubbier rear wing and a redesigned front splitter - just to suit the topless car. As for rigidity, well, that's just a sacrifice buyers are going to have to be willing to make. Dodge built just 20 of the cars for Woodhouse, complete with the same 21B build code set aside for the hard top cars. If you want one, get on the horn with Woodhouse Dodge in Blair, Nebraska. Just make sure you've got $107,310 to blow at the same time. Short of cash? Dream the impossible dream by checking out AutoWeek's photos at the link below.

[Source: AutoWeek]

Viper ACR Roadster built for No. 1 dealer before production ended originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dodge Viper Cup Series gets underway just as production peters out

Zach Bowman — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Dodge, Celebrities, Racing

2010 Dodge Viper ACR-X - Click above for high-res image gallery

The car universe isn't without its irony. For instance, it's something of a tragedy that just after the sun has officially set on the Dodge Viper, Chrysler finally manages to get the ball rolling on its Viper Cup. The race series will feature a total of 10 events held at five tracks across the country, starting this weekend. The rules are pretty simple: entrants must take to the field in more or less identical 2010 Viper ACR-X models. The winner walks away with $6,500 in cold hard cash, plus another $1,000 in Mopar Vouchers for parts and the like. Prizes trickle down from there.

Interestingly enough, the cable network Versus will be broadcasting each event in a 30-minute show format, so while the action won't be live, we'll still be able to enjoy it from the comfort of our air-conditioned living rooms. Dodge has also thrown in a few "celebrity" wildcards into the fray, including Shaun Bailey, the associate engineering editor at Road & Track, and Sergent Michael Kohn, of Olympic bobsled renown. Hey, we didn't say they were exactly A-listers, did we? Hit the jump for the press release.

Gallery: 2010 Dodge Viper ACR-X

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Dodge Viper Cup Series gets underway just as production peters out

Dodge Viper Cup Series gets underway just as production peters out originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Last Dodge Viper gets custom treatment

Dan Roth — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Dodge

Ralph Gilles and D'Ann Rauh with the final Dodge Viper - Click above for high-res gallery

The 2010 Dodge Viper is many things, awesome among them. So when you're buying something truly awesome, what do you do? Paint it earth tones, of course. Brown cars are the zenith of cool, and the very last Viper (for now) rolled out of the Conner Avenue plant wearing bronzed gold House of Kolor paint with copper-hued stripes. Airbrushed on those stripes by SRT's Bob Soroka are pictograms of race tracks that bear special significance for the Viper.

The last of the current-generation Vipers turned out to be a coupe, factory customized for owner D'Ann Rauh. D'Ann and her husband Wayne Rauh own the largest personal stash of Vipers, totaling more than 40 cars. Not only does Rauh's car wear a stunning color palette, the interior has custom leatherwork by Tony Spampinito, a veteran of the Rauh's past Viper projects. Dark graphite finished forged aluminum wheels tuck under the flashy bodywork, and seeing the Viper wearing the hue makes one wonder why there's never been a shade of umber offered on the Viper's flanks before. Maybe next time, whenever that is. Full details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Final Dodge Viper

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Last Dodge Viper gets custom treatment

Last Dodge Viper gets custom treatment originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lucky 14: Workers at Dodge Viper plant win Powerball jackpot

Noah Joseph — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:41:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, Dodge, Earnings/Financials

Dodge Viper assembly line workers in Detroit - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's not every day that someone actually wins the lottery, but that day has come for nineteen American factory workers. And it's come in a big way as two lottery clubs have claimed multi-million-dollar jackpots in the Powerball and Mega Millions drawings, scoring a jaw-dropping $96.6 million and $36 million respectively.

What does this have to do with cars, you ask? This is an automotive news site, after all, so we'll tell you: the "Lucky 13 Plus One" lottery club that won the nearly $100M Powerball jackpot is comprised of workers at the Chrysler's Jefferson North Assembly plant in Detroit that reports claim builds the Dodge Viper. (The Viper's actually built at Connor Avenue, while Jefferson builds Jeeps, so clearly something's amiss here, but we digress.) The Mega Millions jackpot, meanwhile, will be split between five factory workers in Kalamazoo whose names and employer remain unpublished.

As for the winning Viper crew, might we suggest either buying the rights to the car you build to either ensure its survival or farm them out to Devon Motorworks. Or maybe buying back the Mercedes SLS program and turning it back into the next-gen Viper. Of course, there is a certain group of automotive journalists who'd be happy to help you invest, so be in touch, won't you?

Gallery: Dodge Viper ACR-X Begins Production

[Source: The Detroit News]

Lucky 14: Workers at Dodge Viper plant win Powerball jackpot originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Giving birth to the Dodge Viper ACR-X

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:55:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Dodge, Racing

Making the Dodge Viper ACR-X - Click above to view the video after the jump

Chrysler's put out a new video showing how it transforms a "run-of-the-mill" Dodge Viper ACR into the track-only ACR-X model. The work is handled at the same facility in Detroit that creates the Viper Competition Coupe race cars, but the process is quite a bit different. The Competition Coupe is built from the ground up at the preparation shop while the ACR-X is assembled at the Conner Ave. assembly plant and then retrofitted with race gear. This process allows the ACR-X to be built at about half the cost of the Competition Coupe.

The ACR-X is fitted with a host of kit, including a roll-cage, brake cooling ducts, competition fuel cell, extra dive planes, fire suppression system and bigger brakes. The ACR-X gets the same racing seat used in the Competition Coupe, available in two sizes to fit the driver. Get all the details in the video after the jump.

Gallery: 2010 Dodge Viper ACR-X

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Video: Giving birth to the Dodge Viper ACR-X

Video: Giving birth to the Dodge Viper ACR-X originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Dodge originally developed SLS AMG to be next-gen Viper

Chris Shunk — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Chrysler, Dodge, Mercedes-Benz, Rumormill

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG - Click above for high-res image gallery

There's a lot to like about the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. After all, we're talking about a sleek, 563-horsepower super-Benz with functional gullwing doors and a soundtrack to melt your heart. It's the embodiment of German engineering... or is it? Inside Line cites unnamed sources who say that the SLS AMG actually began life as the next-generation Dodge Viper.

The story apparently goes like this. Dodge engineers were already hard at work on the next-gen Viper, with an aluminum chassis already completed and a new suspension on the way. Mercedes caught wind of the project and decided that the chassis would be the perfect starting point for the upcoming SLS. The two teams reportedly worked side-by-side on the project until Chrysler's cash crunch caused the Dodge team to focus its resources elsewhere. The end result was a brand-new SLS for Mercedes and a hole in Dodge's Viper lineup. IL bolsters its account of the Viper-turned-SLS with the fact that early SLS test mules caught by spy photogs were fitted with ill-assembled Viper sheetmetal.

While it's hard to blame Mercedes for utilizing existing engineering work (it did, after all own Chrysler at the time) to bring the SLS to market faster and cheaper, we're thinking it would have been nice to have a new aluminum chassis Viper on the streets. Here's hoping that the 2012 Viper makes us forget about our loss.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

Gallery: Detroit 2010: Dodge Viper ACR 1:33 Edition

Photos copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Inside Line]

Report: Dodge originally developed SLS AMG to be next-gen Viper originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dodge creates three special-edition Vipers for top dealers

Noah Joseph — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Dodge

2010 Dodge Viper Dealer-Exclusive Special Editions - Click above for high-res image

For a Dodge dealer, it couldn't get much better than selling a good quantity of Vipers. As if selling Chrysler's flagship model wasn't sweet enough, we bet seeing the smile on a customer's face when they crank over their new 8.3-liter V10 for the first time is a reward in and of itself. The Viper's time on this earth may be limited, but while it's still being offered, the process just got that much sweeter for three dealers.

As part of its "Dealer Exclusive Program," Dodge has created three special editions specifically for the dealers who've sold the most Vipers across the country. The first is the Viper SRT10 ACR Roadster, commissioned by Woodhouse Dodge of Blair, Nebraska, in yellow with black; followed by the "Reverse SRT10 ACR" in green over black for Texas' Tomball Dodge; and finally Roanoke Dodge of Roanoke, Illinois' Black SRT10 Coupe with a split purple stripe up the middle.

All of them look like a pretty darn sweet way to send the Viper rumbling off into the setting sun, but only 50 will be made in total, so we're betting that more than a handful of these will be stashed away by collectors. Full details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Dodge]

Continue reading Dodge creates three special-edition Vipers for top dealers

Dodge creates three special-edition Vipers for top dealers originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jun 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Ralph Gilles talks Dodge Viper, considering track-only model

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Dodge

Click above to view the video after the jump

At a recent event at Gingerman Raceway in western Michigan, Dodge brand CEO Ralph Gilles took some time to discuss the Viper as it heads off into retirement in its current form. Unfortunately, for those hoping for clues to the future of the V10 sports car, Gilles said almost nothing of consequence. He did acknowledge that demand for the 2010s has been surprisingly robust, particularly the limited edition ACR-X. As a result, Dodge is considering building an additional batch of the track-only models. Gilles has high hopes for the Viper spec racing series that begins next month, since this will be one of the first chances for Vipers to be running unrestricted in competition.

Many of the 2010 models are being special-ordered by customers with unique finishes and interiors, and according to Gilles, all of this data is being factored into decisions about the future of the brand. He gives no other hints about the car or when (if ever) it might appear. Check out everything Gilles has to say after the jump.

Gallery: Dodge Viper ACR-X Begins Production

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Video: Ralph Gilles talks Dodge Viper, considering track-only model

Video: Ralph Gilles talks Dodge Viper, considering track-only model originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Viper versus Cobra, Top Gear USA style [w/video]

Zach Bowman — Wed, 05 May 2010 20:25:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Dodge

Cobra Vs. Dodge Viper - Click above to watch video after the jump

And by Cobra, we mean the attack helicopter, not the FoMoCo-powered roadster. Sightings of the new cast of Top Gear America have been coming out of the wood work ever since the crew was spotted filming on Mulholland. From what we can tell, Tanner Foust and Rutledge Wood hopped on down to Georgia to film a segment involving none other than the mighty Dodge Viper and the mightier Cobra Attack Helicopter. If that sounds like a brawnier interpretation of the same bit the OG Top Gear pulled with a Lotus just a few short years back, you'd be right. Somehow, that doesn't make it any less awesome.

Luckily for the rest of the interwebs, a member of MX5 Atlanta was on hand to catch some of the action. User d.dutton9512 was not only able to see the Viper give besting the Cobra the old college try, but he also got to catch some of the dialogue between Foust and Wood. His verdict? Not half bad.

While we would love to be hearing that TGA is laying down its own mind-bending stunts instead of pulling from the Top Gear UK playbook, we're still happy to see the show actually filming instead of languishing in an NBC grave somewhere. We'll still reserve final judgment until the show actually airs, but for now, we're optimistic. Hop the jump to see some of the videos for yourself.

[Source: MX5 Miata via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Viper versus Cobra, Top Gear USA style [w/video]

Viper versus Cobra, Top Gear USA style [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 May 2010 20:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Viper SRT10-powered Dodge Challenger caught in public

Zach Bowman — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:28:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Spy Photos, Coupe, Budget, Performance, Chrysler, Dodge

Dodge Challenger SRT10 - Click above for high-res image gallery

We had nearly forgotten about the Dodge Challenger SRT10. It's not that we don't love the idea of forcing the 8.4-liter V10 from the mighty Dodge Viper into the nose of Chrysler's muscle car, it's just that cars built for SEMA typically have a shelf life shorter than an unpeeled banana. So it came as some surprise when our keen-eyed spy shooters happened to spot the roided-out 600-horsepower Challenger cruising around public streets.

For whatever reason, the car had been let loose from the company test center, and was spotted doing ridiculously pedestrian things like parking in lots and obeying traffic laws. You know, instead of leading high-speed pursuits from one gas station to the next or making entire warehouses of tires weep for their tortured brethren.

As much as we'd love to stroke your crazed dreams of a production Challenger SRT10, the truth probably has more to do with the fact that some lucky soul managed to sneak the car past the suits at HQ for a quick run around town. Still, with the Viper singing its swan song and a few shelves of V10s lying around and looking forlorn, it's not too much of a stretch to imagine a limited production run of the Challenger SRT10 that would send both the Chevrolet Camaro SS and the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 into fear-induced convulsions. Hey, it doesn't cost us anything to dream.

Gallery: Dodge Challenger SRT10 Spy Shots

Spy Shots: Viper SRT10-powered Dodge Challenger caught in public originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turn the Dodge Viper logo upside down and guess who appears...

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:38:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Dodge, Humor

Stonehenge, Rosebud, The Wizard of Oz and Pink Floyd - all have confounded us with their hidden meanings. And to that list we now add the logo for the Dodge Viper. Somehow it has eluded us for years that, when turned upside down, the Viper logo turns into what appears to be... Daffy Duck. Or, as some other folks have mentioned, perhaps it's Duck Dodgers, or Darkwing Duck. Someone else thought it was "a gator with a volcano in the background," but we have no idea how that happened...

Regardless of which name that foul goes by, it's quite a revelation to make this late into the Viper game. If there were any meaning intended from the inversion, we'd expect it to be a swan, not a duck. But what does it all mean? History might know. For now, it's just another one of those quirks that is the Dodge Viper, and yet another reason we'll miss it when it departs in 2011. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

[Source: Bits & Pieces via Boing Boing | Image: Micihi1308 via Wikimedia Commons]

Continue reading Turn the Dodge Viper logo upside down and guess who appears...

Turn the Dodge Viper logo upside down and guess who appears... originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mopar(ty) On: Dodge's SRT performance division to stay the course

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:55:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Chrysler, Dodge

2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 - Click above for high-res gallery

After learning that General Motors would be disbanding its High Performance Vehicle Operations team to focus on less performance-oriented projects, our thoughts naturally turned towards Ford's SVT and Chrysler's SRT groups. Would Detroit's other automakers follow GM's lead and kill off their fellow speed divisions? Apparently not. Ford has gone on record stating that the SVT program will continue on in its current capacity and now Chrysler has announced that it will continue to develop SRT versions of its volume sellers.

In a posting on Chrysler's Red Letter Dodge blog, Steve Bartoli, Chrysler's vice president for global product planning, had a few choice comments regarding the future of the Pentastar's SRT models, saying, "We are working on a sedan as we speak. We will look at many styling options." Admittedly, that's short on detail, but it does portend good things to come for fans of big HEMI engines and fat rear tires.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8

[Source: Red Letter Dodge Blog via Inside Line]

Mopar(ty) On: Dodge's SRT performance division to stay the course originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR at the track

Dan Roth — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Chrysler, Dodge

click above to view the video

The Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR is a racing machine, that's what the three letter suffix denotes (American Club Racer), of course. You don't even have to be within 100 feet of the Viper ACR to know what it is, that wing on the back clues you in. Somewhere, a 737 is missing an elevator flap. If you were to somehow miss the gigantic horizontal stabilizer, the ACR's paint scheme with its wicked-looking asymmetrical stripes announce what it is from a mile away.

The current Viper enjoys a reputation as a natural at the track, though it needs to be handled with a steady, heavy hand. The ACR strips a lot of equipment away in the name of weight savings, and some componentry is swapped out to bring unsprung mass down, as well. The result is a car with even sharper responses than the already born-to-run "regular" Viper. PentastarVideo has supplied us with a very entertaining video, apparently from Chrysler Design Veep Ralph Gilles, of some ACRs ripping it up at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, Louisiana. Here we sit, using a corporate high-speed internet connection to live vicariously through a heavily compressed piece of video media. Oh cruel world, why can't we just have a Viper and a road course at our disposal?

Follow the jump to watch the action

Gallery: 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR

Continue reading VIDEO: Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR at the track

VIDEO: Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR at the track originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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600 horsepower for $83,145: '08 Dodge Viper gets priced

Alex Nunez — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 09:37:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Performance, Dodge

Man, and here we thought that the 600-horse Bentley Continental GT Speed was a bargain at $199K. Dragtimes.com has reportedly obtained the pricing info for the revamped, more powerful 2008 Dodge Viper. The news is good, as The New Chrysler's flagship tire-melter will start at just $83,145 for the Viper SRT10 Roadster. Want the coupe? Pony up a little more: $83,895. Bang-for-the-buck, thy name is Viper.

[Source: DragTimes.com via Jalopnik]

Gallery: 2008 Dodge Viper SRT-10

600 horsepower for $83,145: '08 Dodge Viper gets priced originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 04 Aug 2007 09:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit Auto Show: 2008 Dodge Viper -- with extra bite!

Alex Nunez — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 13:18:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Performance, Daimler, Dodge

Click the image for the full-sized gallery.

In their final press conference of the Detroit show, the Chrysler Group focused exclusively on the Dodge brand, and the highlight was the official unveiling of the 2008 Dodge Viper. Driven onstage by NEXTEL Cup driver Kurt Busch, the new Viper SRT-10 dons the brass knuckles to throw down with the Corvette Z06, over which it now holds a 100-horsepower advantage because, you know, 500 horsepower is so passé. The new snake improves upon itself with a revised 8.4L V10 that now dishes out 600 horsepower and 560 lbs of torque. That, in turn, facilitates 0-60 time of under four seconds and a 0-100-0 time that comes in at under twelve ticks. Let the horsepower wars continue! This is fun to watch.

For our comprehensive listing of everything from Detroit, click here.

Continue reading Detroit Auto Show: 2008 Dodge Viper -- with extra bite!

Detroit Auto Show: 2008 Dodge Viper -- with extra bite! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Jan 2007 13:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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