Dodge kills the Viper

[Maxt]

http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars...ficially-dead/

The start of the end of the performance car as we know it with the new emissions laws on the horizon?

[Mitsu3000gt]

I've never been a fan of those things, but I thought they were killing it off to release a successor?

[Maxt]

I think the V-10 is done with the new emissions regs. For about the last year I have read and heard, that most of the big 3 are going to have to kill their larger engine programs because of the new regulations. I did read on one forum the Hemi was done at the end of 2018 as well.

[revelations]

Nowhere in the article was emissions mentioned specifically, just that the "costs" would not make sense for them.

But if thats the case, sounds like the 70s all over again.

[dino_martini]

Always been a fan of the Viper but it was always more of a brute than the more precision like tools the competition puts out. I'd say this isn't surprising considering Chrysler hasn't made a small car people actually want to drive since the first gen Neon. Tough to justify making loss leading "super cars" if you can't turn a profit on what should be your volume leader.

[Darkane]

Originally posted by Maxt
http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars...ficially-dead/

The start of the end of the performance car as we know it with the new emissions laws on the horizon?

Yeah it sucks, hopefully a successor is produced.

I wouldn't say it's the start of the end. Price aside something like the Cayman is still IMO the definition of a sports/performance car.

In 15 years we'll be fondly looking back at the 2010's and the end of an era (NA, V8-12) - but performance cars should live on.

[Maxt]

Originally posted by Darkane


Yeah it sucks, hopefully a successor is produced.

I wouldn't say it's the start of the end. Price aside something like the Cayman is still IMO the definition of a sports/performance car.

In 15 years we'll be fondly looking back at the 2010's and the end of an era (NA, V8-12) - but performance cars should live on.

They'll just come with a 12' foot noma extension cord.

[BokCh0y]

It doesn't surprise me nor does it really make me sad. The Viper was a cool car though.

Guess Dodge is going to focus on an electric calibre or neon or something on those lines then?

[schocker]

Not a surprise based on lack luster sales. Not sure if the performance of the corvette helped either. Always a cool car though.

[InRich]

Corvette > Viper
Its not even close. soooo...

[BokCh0y]

Originally posted by InRich
Corvette > Viper
Its not even close. soooo...

[Maxt]

Originally posted by InRich
Corvette > Viper
Its not even close. soooo...

As a street cruiser the corvette is probably the better machine, for the track, ACR ...

[Maxt]

Originally posted by schocker
Not a surprise based on lack luster sales. Not sure if the performance of the corvette helped either. Always a cool car though.

It was slow to sell in 2014, I got offered a ridiculous offer back then that I should have taken, I could have sold the car months later and probably made 30k on the car.
In 2015 it started to sell, then after the ACR came out, it sold very well. What is said in that road and track article is not exactly true currently about slow sales, most people who try to order a viper can't even get one because the production is backlogged, so much so, that what they can provide is being funneled to high priority dealers who sell high volumes of normal cars. The dealer network for Viper is also extremely limited, most dealers can't even order a viper.

[Gripenfelter]

Originally posted by revelations
Nowhere in the article was emissions mentioned specifically, just that the "costs" would not make sense for them.

But if thats the case, sounds like the 70s all over again.

Same reason the Camaro was killed in 2002. It would have costed too much to make modifications to it to meet the new safety standards.

I doubt Dodge will leave it be. They brought the Ford GT back. I'm thinking the Viper will come back as some gay ecoboosted V6 crap as well.

[r3ccOs]

Even the Corvette... its a LS3/LSA with a truck transmission behind it...

I reckon strong built, small displacement forced induction engines with a hybrid component like the F1 cars are going to start trickling down

what about a supercharged turbo charged hybrid diesel!!!

everyone wins

RIP viper... even today the first RT/10 still turns heads

[Buster]

All of the north american pushrod V8 sports cars are essentially the same: a truck engine and transmission bolted to a light body. It's been that way forever. Corvette, Mustang, Camaro, all the Mopar crap, Viper.

Recent history has benefited the formula, because improvements in materials (aluminum blocks), induction technology, etc have closed the gap to DOHC engines.

[Xtrema]

Corvette stole its thunder.

[CLiVE]

Originally posted by InRich
Corvette > Viper
Its not even close. soooo...

Agree, have driven them both back to back on the track.

Corvette is the better bang for your buck, and was great on the track and 'easy' to drive. The viper I felt was always trying to find ways to kill me, yet I had a smile on my face the entire time.

[Darell_n]

Originally posted by Xtrema
Corvette stole its thunder.

10 Corvettes in a parking lot and a Viper rolls through, guess what everybody is looking at. I wouldn't say the Corvette had any influence in the Viper's demise, what so ever.

[spikerS]

I have always like the Viper, more than the other domestic supercars.

However, maybe when the bring it back from the dead, they can bring this sweet TV show back too!