Lawrenzo
Enthusiast
According to the most recent edition of Automobile Magazine it is. Hmmmmm....
I believe the V8 rumors keep coming up because there is an untapped potential market there that just wants that type of car. A lot of owners and potential owners love the sound of the V8 (I am one of them). I love my V-10 with the proper aftermarket exhaust on it as well but the supercharged 408 V8 Stroker in my 95' Saleen S351R V8 just blows it away for music to the ears. If Fiat (let's face it the Chrysler namesake is months away from being put out to pasture by Fiat with the buyout) looks hard out there and realizes what is taking place, they will create and offer a second model SRT car of a different namesake that has Viper underpinnings, some of Viper drivetrain (like the rear end and tranny) and make it look even more like the old original 60's Cobra. Hell rip the look right off but with a small model twist. Offer only a convertible or open roadster like the original. Ford is apparently never going to go that direction and is leaving food on the table for not doing it when they could have. Keep the prices in the base $65,000 to maxed out all options $95,000 range so it is under the Viper and watch the sales come in. Let's face it with the Viper priced where it is, people buy the Viper for what it is and what it has in it, the exclusivity. It may hurt 10% of Viper sales but gain a whole lot more revenue for SRT, then allowing the Viper V-10 to continue and evolve into the monster it has somewhere inside it. If we are honest, there is a lot more potential for car sales in the sub $100k range than the over the $100k range which is the case right now.
Exactly! Tap into that C7 Corvette market. Make the car and give buyers a choice at a cheaper SRT sports car model. And then use some of the R&D to spread the costs around. I am just surprised that they have never tapped into that market.
Probably because they didnt have the budget to do both in the past? Under Fiat now and with what Lawrenzo just posted, maybe now they do. We shall see but it will only benefit the Viper if cost is spread across another cheaper model just as it does the Vette.
Let it die then. I would raher see that then have it NOT be a Viper anymore.Love the V-10, but bottom line is that no sales means the car goes away anyway.
I was always bummed they never produced the Firepower. Having a car on a Viper chasis with a twin-turbo V-8 or even the current SRT Hemi's in a GT package wouldn't be a bad thing.
But if anyone thinks that the Viper has to ONLY be a V10 that
is dinosaur thinking.
If like to see the v10 in more SRT cars - would help aftermarket support and wouldn't dilute the Viper brand IMHO.
I disagree. The Viper IS the motor...
It's a shame the RAM SRT-10 went away. I know they put a V-10 in a Challenger. I also remember seeing an 70's model that had been converted with a Gen II V-10. Not sure if it's viable with future emissions requirements. I would throw V-10 in t wife's minivan if it were feasible. Nothing like a bottomless pit of torque.
I read another article a few months back how the inline 5 was going away due to more stringent emissions requirement. I can't recall the details at the moment, but it had to do something with the firing order. V-10 fell into the same category.
IMHO in order for the Viper to survive long term, SRT needs to position it as the 'proving ground' for new tech. The engine needs to evolve (as much as I love the big burly V10) to something just as powerful, but a smaller form factor. I know plenty will disagree with me. I still think going with a smaller engine and topping it off with KERS would be ground breaking for the US performance market. To me, that would be radical.It's a shame the RAM SRT-10 went away. I know they put a V-10 in a Challenger. I also remember seeing an 70's model that had been converted with a Gen II V-10. Not sure if it's viable with future emissions requirements. I would throw V-10 in t wife's minivan if it were feasible. Nothing like a bottomless pit of torque.
I read another article a few months back how the inline 5 was going away due to more stringent emissions requirement. I can't recall the details at the moment, but it had to do something with the firing order. V-10 fell into the same category.