RE: New Viper Pledged For 2012
Thursday 5th November 2009
2009 Viper ACRChrysler will stop building the current Viper in July 2010, but has officially confirmed the launch of a replacement model in 2012.
Original still looks awesomeIn the same press conference Chrysler explained that the Viper is shifting to make way for a replacement in 2012, and speculation on the influence of new owners Fiat on the new car is rife.
New Viper Pledged For 2012
Chrysler announces the end for current Viper, and its replacement
2009 Viper ACR
The announcement came during a Chrysler press conference this morning in which the next 5 years of the company's future under new owners FIAT was spelled out. FIAT had been thinking of selling off the Viper brand as part of Chrysler's restructuring, but decided against the move back in July.
The fourth-generation Viper will expire next year with a final run of 500 cars. But according to Dodge's CEO Ralph Giles, the final fleet (it may interest you to know that there is no collective noun for snakes) will all be special editions to sign the model off - so we're crossing our fingers for something appropriately insane.
Original still looks awesome
However, with just 2 years to launch we can't see them finding too much time to influence the replacement greatly. But who knows what they'll come up with. Cue the Viper Scuderia et al...
Discussion
The original viper, and especially the original GTS still do it for me, beautiful cars - well, aside of the uber low rent dash. The ACR is stunning. If batman were to have an evil clone, he'd drive that.
Oh, and as said there are several collective nouns for snakes. Slither, nest and den spring to mind.
Oh, and as said there are several collective nouns for snakes. Slither, nest and den spring to mind.
Edited by Stu R on Thursday 5th November 13:41
I thought the collective noun for snakes was the Houses of Parliament...
Great to see a new Viper on the horizon. If they can somehow capture the sheer drama of the original and the manageability of the second edition they'll have a true legend on their hands.
They do look a bit kit car-ish (and not especially good ones) in build quality and the noise is incredible (I'm not sure I could live with one for long), but I still love Vipers.
Just make sure you RACE it, FIAT!
M.
Great to see a new Viper on the horizon. If they can somehow capture the sheer drama of the original and the manageability of the second edition they'll have a true legend on their hands.
They do look a bit kit car-ish (and not especially good ones) in build quality and the noise is incredible (I'm not sure I could live with one for long), but I still love Vipers.
Just make sure you RACE it, FIAT!
M.
Edited by marcosgt on Thursday 5th November 15:13
king plane'RobM77 said:
It'll be interesting to see what the replacement looks like 
Does anyone know what they're like to drive? I'd assumed lots of straightline grunt but no delicacy in the bends. They've done well in GT racing, but of course that's no sure sign of a nice B road machine!
I've not driven one on the road, but I did do a Viper day at Thruxton. Does anyone know what they're like to drive? I'd assumed lots of straightline grunt but no delicacy in the bends. They've done well in GT racing, but of course that's no sure sign of a nice B road machine!The instructors do their best to terrify you about the car and what a monster they are to drive, but honestly I found it a breeze to drive and great fun.
Not sophisticated in any way, but as long as you don't just stomp on the accelerator or brake mid corner it's a swift sensibly behaved car.
Basically, it's old school - do all your braking in a straight line, line it up for the bend and squeeze the accelerator. If you do stomp on the accelerator it'll stick it's tail out as you'd expect of any high powered RWD car.
I got a little shimmy under braking for the Chicane, due to braking a fraction late, but it didn't swap ends on me or anything stupid.
You probably wouldn't want to drive one on UK roads (far too big, too basic and too thirsty), but in the US they're probably good fun.
M.
PS I have read, however, that the current model is much more mild mannered than the original cars.
Edited by marcosgt on Thursday 5th November 16:28
marcosgt said:
RobM77 said:
It'll be interesting to see what the replacement looks like Does anyone know what they're like to drive? I'd assumed lots of straightline grunt but no delicacy in the bends. They've done well in GT racing, but of course that's no sure sign of a nice B road machine!
I've not driven one on the road, but I did do a Viper day at Thruxton. Does anyone know what they're like to drive? I'd assumed lots of straightline grunt but no delicacy in the bends. They've done well in GT racing, but of course that's no sure sign of a nice B road machine!The instructors do their best to terrify you about the car and what a monster they are to drive, but honestly I found it a breeze to drive and great fun.
Not sophisticated in any way, but as long as you don't just stomp on the accelerator or brake mid corner it's a swift sensibly behaved car.
Basically, it's old school - do all your braking in a straight line, line it up for the bend and squeeze the accelerator. If you do stomp on the accelerator it'll stick it's tail out as you'd expect of any high powered RWD car.
I got a little shimmy under braking for the Chicane, due to braking a fraction late, but it didn't swap ends on me or anything stupid.
You probably wouldn't want to drive one on UK roads (far too big, too basic and too thirsty), but in the US they're probably good fun.
M.
PS I have read, however, that the current model is much more mild mannered than the original cars.
Edited by marcosgt on Thursday 5th November 16:28
Justin Bell was doing it on the video (I think he raced one at Le Mans?).
XitUp said:
The ACR is amazing. Give it direct injection and make it a bit lighter. That's all the need to do really. Please don't give it a 7 speed semi auto from a Ferrari or try and make it luxury.
On a side note, anyone noticed that the Viper logo is an upside down Daffy Duck?
What were you smoking when you spotted that?On a side note, anyone noticed that the Viper logo is an upside down Daffy Duck?
EDIT to add - More like count duckular
Edited by nsmith1180 on Thursday 5th November 18:25
nsmith1180 said:
XitUp said:
The ACR is amazing. Give it direct injection and make it a bit lighter. That's all the need to do really. Please don't give it a 7 speed semi auto from a Ferrari or try and make it luxury.
On a side note, anyone noticed that the Viper logo is an upside down Daffy Duck?
What were you smoking when you spotted that?On a side note, anyone noticed that the Viper logo is an upside down Daffy Duck?
AUDIHenry said:
nsmith1180 said:
XitUp said:
The ACR is amazing. Give it direct injection and make it a bit lighter. That's all the need to do really. Please don't give it a 7 speed semi auto from a Ferrari or try and make it luxury.
On a side note, anyone noticed that the Viper logo is an upside down Daffy Duck?
What were you smoking when you spotted that?On a side note, anyone noticed that the Viper logo is an upside down Daffy Duck?
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