Well that's the first that I've heard of the Pulse Generator idea.
It would indeed be a cool concept to add another 100HP with an inline electric motor, and it could help a LOT in avoiding a gas guzzler label.
But frankly I don't see this coming from Dodge or Daimler. Neither of them have hybrid offerings in lower cars, which would be the hook for selling the technology.
I could see it in the next NSX, or perhaps even the Lotus Elise (with the Toyota drivetrain), but neither Dodge/Chrysler, nor Mercedes have produced
any hybrid cars to set a precedence of seeing this in a Viper.
As far as 550HP goes, this is just not enough to keep up. Many of the current SRT-10 Vipers are already putting out 525-530HP stock, and the last SEMA "carbon" concept car showed a 625HP N/A Viper with minor intake mods, and it weighed 150lbs less as well.
The far less expensive C6 Z06
will be a couple hundred lbs lighter than the current SRT-10, AND it
will have 500HP+, so it's
not an option for the Viper to set still.
I'm expecting to see the upcoming Viper coupe shown in January at the NAIAS show (where the C6 Z06 will be revealed), and I'm guessing that it will be rated at 550HP-575HP, and likely put out something under 600HP.
I'd love to see more power, but I don't expect to see less than 550HP.
The new supercharged Mustang is still a ways away, but the upcoming Z06 Corvette will absolutely be immediately compared to the SRT-10 Viper (as well as the current European high performance cars) and so the Viper will have no choice, but to stay more powerful, and faster. As it is today.