Dodge Viper Lives On

In lieu of the Chrysler fallout, if you’ve been wondering what it all means for the Dodge Viper, wonder no more. Chrysler says the production of the Viper SRT10 will continue, and although it was scheduled to cease production in December of this year, the Chrysler Group Conner Avenue Assembly Plant, which has been home to the Dodge Viper production since 1995, will continue to build the sports car and Chrysler says it’s not interested in selling the Viper business assets.

The Viper, which was introduced as a concept car in 1989 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, was designed and engineered to test public reaction to the concept of a back-to-basics, high-performance, limited production sports car. The reaction by consumers was a positive one, so much so that orders began to come in even before the auto show was over, so Chrysler took an active approach and immediately decided to determine the production feasibility on transforming the crowd-pleaser into a limited production sports car in no more than three years.

Production on the Viper began in May 1992 at the New Mack Assembly Plant and was moved to Conner Avenue in October, 1995. Viper V-10 engine production transferred from Mound Road Engine to Conner Avenue Assembly in May 2001. In 2008, Dodge introduced the all-new, fourth generation Dodge Viper SRT10. With more horsepower, more torque and more factory customization options.

For 2009, the Dodge Viper SRT10 offers an 8.4-liter, 600-horsepower V-10 engine contributing to blistering acceleration - 0 to 60 mph in less than four seconds; 0 to 100-0 mph in the low 12-second range - setting an American sports car benchmark.

So far, more than 25,000 Dodge Vipers have been built.