Viper being resurrected, renamed for 2013
When the Dodge Viper first hit the road in the early 1990s, it was pretty much the most amazing racecar ever to be sold as a street car. With a V10 engine and more than 400 horsepower, this thing was an absolute beast under the hood, and a feast for the eyes.
In the years that followed, Dodge continued giving more muscle to this car, constantly tinkering with a vehicle that owners immediately fell in love with. Delivering both brawn and beauty, the Viper kept bulking up with more power while getting sleeker with nicer interior appointments. Oh, and Dodge also improved the safety and performance of the car. (Seriously, who thought it was a good idea to make a car like this without airbags?!)
By 2010, the Viper was on its Fourth Generation model and had evolved into a cult classic, with a relatively small but loyal following. Owners I knew loved this car like a child that was hard to handle at times, but worth the fuss. And the first time I sat in the cockpit and felt the car come to life, I understood completely.
Dodge began making its “Final Edition” Viper in February 2010, with only 50 models available. At the time, CEO Ralph Gilles announced they would be the last of the Vipers, and the last car rolled off the line on July 1.
But there’s a happy ending to this story; Chrysler has announced it’s bringing back the Viper for 2013. They’re dropping the Dodge badge and rechristening it the SRT Viper, according to Gilles. They’ve had a couple of years to think about how to pack more performance into the V-10, and the new SRT Viper will have in excess of 600 horsepower. It is rumored to possibly be making an appearance at next month’s Detroit Auto Show.
I don’t know about you, but I get weak in the knees just thinking about it.
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Tags: Chrysler, Conner Avenue Assembly, Detroit Auto Show, Dodge, SRT Viper, V-10, Viper