Tuesday 11th September 2012

Chrysler prices SRT Viper: 640hp for £62k

...but getting hold of one promises to be rather tricky.

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Chrysler has revealed US prices for the 2013 SRT Viper – and, with a starter of $99,390, it becomes the firms’ most expensive model ever, with ease. It is $10,000 more than the old Viper too, which went out of production in 2010. But it is also, by British standards, a bargain.

There will be two launch variants of SRT Viper, revealed Chrysler at a big new model extravaganza last night: that base car, and a more luxurious Viper GTS, which will cost $122,390. Both prices include s $1,995 delivery charge – this is twice that of other Chryslers, because the Viper isn’t transported by rail, but instead goes direct to the dealer from the factory in a truck.

Chrysler does add one proviso: because it hasn’t released fuel economy figures of the new car, any gas-guzzler taxes can’t be added on. Let’s face it, though, it IS going to be hit by them. Expect a hike of around $1000 by the time it reaches showrooms, then.

Of course, dollars don’t mean much to Brits. Converted in sterling, then, the SRT Viper costs £62,044 and £76,420 respectively. Bargain, huh? Well, hold your horses...

See, the SRT Viper seems set to be a waiting list car, through both being in much demand and in limited supply. Chrysler plans to build just 2000 of them each year, at the Connor Avenue plant that’s been home to the Viper since 1995. Any muscle car-seeking Brits may thus have to join a lengthy queue (with your bargaining power much reduced by the complexity of getting it to you…).

It’s not even all that easy for US buyers either, because not every Chrysler dealer will be selling it. Fewer than 20% are likely to retail the 640hp beast, due to Chrysler’s decision to charge each dealer a one-off fee of $25,000 for the rights to retail it. They will also, reports Automotive News, have to undergo specific model training. Similar to the Nissan HPC dealers that retail the GT-R, the SRT Viper is intentionally being positioned away from the mainstream.

The dealers that do decide to sell it will accept orders from November 2012, the same month production is scheduled to begin. As a reminder, this will be of an 8.4-litre all-aluminium V10-powered car, which produces the most torque of any normally aspirated engine in the world – a mighty 600lb ft. 

A big-engine, big-hp bargain, then. Indeed, as US sources point out, the SRT Viper is actually cheaper than the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 arch-rival matching it on hp: that costs from a scorching $113,575. Or, just under £70k…

[356Speedster]

Always loved the Viper, for being an unapologetic brute. This one looks like a Ferrari 599 / Mk2 Viper love child, which I'm not sure yet whether that's a good thing or not?

Unfortunately $100K will become £100K over here with taxes and the rest of it. Shame that as it (plus the waiting list), will make it a very rare beast on our shores

Good on Chrysler for sticking with it tho'

[stuckmojo]

I love this car, fantastic. I guess we'll never see any over here. Shame

[IDrinkPetrol]

Why, in this age of badge rationalisation, can this not become a halo Lancia for Europe?

[richb77]

In a world full of nonsense tree hugging, global warming driven inflated fuel prices its oh so heart warming to see someone has the balls to invest in design and development of such a brutish vehicle.

Good on you Chrysler.

The world needs more heart driven decisions and less financial/environmental bks Euroboxes.

[Carnnoisseur]

Is it just me, or does that look like a face lifted Cerbera?

[dele]

Carnnoisseur said:

Is it just me, or does that look like a face lifted Cerbera?

I can see what you mean

[LordVader]

Carnnoisseur said:

Is it just me, or does that look like a face lifted Cerbera?

Yup.

[AV12]

Good value

[HeMightBeBanned]

Is the bodywork on these plastic or metal?

[ViperDave]

HeMightBeBanned said:

Is the bodywork on these plastic or metal?

Quite a bit of carbon has gone into this one. so even at the more realistic UK £85k with duty and vat added on its still a bargan

[Vantagefan]

"which produces the most torque of any normally aspirated engine in the world – a mighty 600lb ft."

I'm not sure of the conversion from lb ft to Nm but the One-77's 750 Nm must be more than that, and that's naturally aspirated.

[evile]

HeMightBeBanned said:

Is the bodywork on these plastic or metal?

The clam-shell, roof and rear-deck are all carbon fiber. The doors are hydro-formed aluminum. I believe the bumpers are high-impact plastic.

[IDrinkPetrol]

Vantagefan said:

"which produces the most torque of any normally aspirated engine in the world – a mighty 600lb ft."

I'm not sure of the conversion from lb ft to Nm but the One-77's 750 Nm must be more than that, and that's naturally aspirated.

Makes the Aston c553 lb ft

[Life Saab Itch]

All aluminium V10

hmmm.

One of those engines in an Ultima would be epic.

[Twincam16]

IDrinkPetrol said:

Why, in this age of badge rationalisation, can this not become a halo Lancia for Europe?

Because it's the complete opposite of anything Lancia stands for?

[evile]

Here are some great first drive articles and videos from multiple sources. They all seemed to love it. Even autocar.co.uk had impressions:

Motortrend
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/1209_2013_srt_...

http://blogs.motortrend.com/tom-gale-the-man-behin...

Automobile
http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1209_2...

Road & Track
http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/drives/2013-srt-...

Car & Driver
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2013-srt-viper...

Autocar UK
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/srt/viper/firs...

Autoweek
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120910/CARREVIEW...

Edmunds Insideline
http://www.insideline.com/srt/viper/2013/2013-srt-...

Videos
http://forums.viperclub.org/threads/656021-Gen-V-D...

http://forums.viperclub.org/threads/655976-Road-an...

I hope none of these are reposts. If not, enjoy.

Edited by evile on Tuesday 11th September 15:40

[soad]

Seems like a performance bargain (of sorts).

Looks better in blue with white stripes.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/srt/viper/firs...

[Frimley111R]

Blue with white stripes and deliver it here please!

[IDrinkPetrol]

Twincam16 said:

IDrinkPetrol said:

Why, in this age of badge rationalisation, can this not become a halo Lancia for Europe?

Because it's the complete opposite of anything Lancia stands for?

In the early 70's I would have agreed (ie while Lancia still made proper Lancias, well, at least thoughtfully engineered quality cars, even if the greats were already consigned to history and legend) BUT for the last few years Lancia stands for Chrysler/Fiat brand co-operation.
Surely the Lancia badge should sit on something desirable?

[J4CKO]

richb77 said:

In a world full of nonsense tree hugging, global warming driven inflated fuel prices its oh so heart warming to see someone has the balls to invest in design and development of such a brutish vehicle.

Good on you Chrysler.

The world needs more heart driven decisions and less financial/environmental bks Euroboxes.

This gets said every time a thread like this appears, they do it because they can sell them, not for any other reason, none of the big corporate car companies are there to pander to petrolheads, they are there to make money, if it doesnt sell or gets legislated against they drop it like a plague rat.