The Dodge Viper is dead and could remain that way for some time, according to Sergio Marchionne, chairman and CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) during the company’s Capital Markets Day event.
As reported by Road & Track, both Automobile magazine’s Todd Lassa and Detroit Free Press’ Eric Lawrence tweeted that Marchionne had no plans for a new Viper.
This is due to poor sales and that the Viper wouldn’t work with a “cute” European engine from say, a twin-turbo V6 for Alfa Romeo or Maserati’s V8. The Viper has always been powered by a V10 engine throughout its three generations, starting with an 8.0 litre unit that eventually grew to 8.3 and 8.4 litres.
Return of the Dodge Viper? Marchionne says it's not in the plan, but if FCA could find a way to get it done he would be happy. Says it never really made any money for the company. Didn't sell enough. #FCAFiveYearPlan #FCACapitalMarketsDay
— Eric D. Lawrence (@_ericdlawrence) 1 June 2018
New @Dodge Viper? Marchionne: "That's a great question. … It's not in the plan, if that's what you're asking." Didn't make money, and wouldn't work with a "cute" Euro-style engine…@fcagroup #FCAFiveYearPlan @automobilemag
— Todd Lassa (@AM_Lassa) 1 June 2018
Production of the sports car ended last August when Dodge’s Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit, Michigan was closed. Prior to that, the company released a slew of special edition versions of the Viper to celebrate its 25th birthday and final year of production.
Rumours of a new Viper have been present for some time, with claims that a 2020 model will arrive with a V8 engine but it looks like that plan has been shelved indefinitely. We’ll miss you, Dodge Viper, and thanks for starring in that television series from the 90s, among many other things.
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It could still be a V10, say a twin turbo 4.6-5.0L V10.
The Viper rides off into the sunset, its legacy in Murican car history forever remembered. Too bad Chrysler now owned by Italian.
So long! Viper!
Oh well, the Viper was/is a great car. Hopefully I’ll have it in my garage someday!
I still have a soft spot for the Viper
Mostly because it was unapologetically loud and brash plus ridiculous and impractical. Of course, that changed quite a bit as the times passed but it still had that fond DNA.
Pretty sad that we’ve lost yet another raw breed of sports car.