Next gen Viper discussed in AutoWeek...scary!!

[viperprowler1]

Rick Kranz, Automotive News, says in AutoWeek Nov. 18, 2011 that Dodge Boss Reid Bigland "told me the redesigned Viper 'will appeal to a broader segment of the Market'". "The car is expected to debut in 2012 but is not likely to appear at the Detroit auto show". "The next car is being engineered to attract a wider range of buyers".

There is more at least as scary as this. You can find it on the MSN home page under "Exhaust Notes" today as the featured post.

Reading between the lines would make one think that the car is going to be diluted, the rough edges taken away, creature comforts added, watered down so to speak, to appeal to the broader audience (read "corvette buyer"?). I hope I am just being overly dramatic but it does not make me feel comfortable that our beloved Viper will be what we have loved up to now.

Any thoughts out there??

 

[Austin]

This has been known for quite some time now and has been discussed many times over. Unfortunately, it is what it is. Dont like it, buy something else. GM's mentality regarding the new Corvette is the exact same.

 

[Camfab]

None of this info is news. The car debuts at the New York Autoshow.

 

[john2456]

There is always an UPside to an issue like this !!! That means our Gen 1-4 Vipers will be VERY vauable and collectible cars. That means $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[01sapphirebob]

Yea, nothing new here. This is what Ralph was saying when he was head of dodge. I'm sure SRT will not let us down with the new car. I just can't wait to see the thing!!

 

[Paul Hawker]

Think you scare easily. Not a common trait for a Viper Owner.

New Viper will be pretty awesome. Expect better track/performance numbers and a significantly upgraded interior.

Only thing that will be scared is the competition : >)

 

[georgethedog]

A few creature comforts is not a bad thing. Lots of people on here add things like cruise, new radio, etc. to make things a little better. In order for the Viper to appeal to a much larger audience of buyers it would have to decrease the selling price to around $50-60k. I do not see that happening. At $100k that limits everything... (including me until it depreciates down to $45k)...

 

[Sonoman]

Good point, George. I know a lot of guys that will readily spend $40-60k on a new car (or truck!), but over $75k and the market shrinks a lot, even among the folks who can easily afford a sports car in that range. Unfortunately for the die-hard purists, most guys in that high price range want a little luxury and whizzy electronics to go with the performance features. They want to be able to say, "not only is it crazy fast, but it can be cruised all day in comfort, too". I would doubt the folks at SRT are content with only selling 600-800 copies per year of their premium sports car, in spite of how the Viper faithful enjoys the exclusivity of those low production numbers. Question is, what would be considered a success... 1500 units? 2000+?? How many ZR-1 'Vettes are sold annually?

 

[johniew398]

1,577 ZR1's were sold in 2010.

The ZR1 is a daily driver, not near as much fun as the Viper. I understand they need to sell more to be profitable; however if they change it to a more civilized car with all the fancy stuff I probably won't ever buy a new one.

 

[Ray W]

1,577 ZR1's were sold in 2010.

Most at or close to invoice w/zero % financing.

Getting over 115K for a new Viper even with a new group of buyers is going to be tough.

To get my money it better have 700hp.

 

[09 Venom]

what is the panic with creature comforts. We know it HAS to have traction control thanks to our fed govt. What...just cruise control...big deal. It already has AC and a radio so who cares about the addition of cruise control. I am more concerned with power. Unless it has at least 700hp wont be a tremendous upgrade.

 

[Twister]

What?

Are we really this spoiled now? If it dosent have 700 hp its not an upgrade?

666 hp would be a true punch to te chest of the blue devil zr1 and that addittional 66hp would make the gen 5 a ten second car at 134 mph

 

[viperdrummer]

My 2 cents . The ZR 1 is a hell of a car and not so much a DD. Had one. They did make way too many and did not distinguish it enough.

The Gen 5 will be ridiculous/ over the top / radical or......fail. It is that simple. Dodge cannot afford a NEW Viper that sits on dealer lots like the Gen4.

 

[georgethedog]

My 2 cents . The ZR 1 is a hell of a car and not so much a DD. Had one. They did make way too many and did not distinguish it enough.

The Gen 5 will be ridiculous/ over the top / radical or......fail. It is that simple. Dodge cannot afford a NEW Viper that sits on dealer lots like the Gen4.

Agreed on all... It must be over the top especially in styling. Yes, I said styling. I'm not worried about the HP as I am sure it will be there. I think it has to look more exoctic.

 

[01sapphirebob]

It must be over the top especially in styling. Yes, I said styling. I think it has to look more exoctic.

Cue the return of the curves!!!!!!

 

[wes]

Honestly I don't think it needs too much more than 600 hp to be a big upgrade. I know a lot of viper owners are satisfied with the 500 hp of the Gen III. While I'm all for get the most power you can, I can barely use what I already have in the city. I just hope the styling looks awesome. Power isn't everything. Feel free to hate.

 

[viperdrummer]

Honestly I don't think it needs too much more than 600 hp to be a big upgrade. I know a lot of viper owners are satisfied with the 500 hp of the Gen III. While I'm all for get the most power you can, I can barely use what I already have in the city. I just hope the styling looks awesome. Power isn't everything. Feel free to hate.

Ummm, how is 600 hp an upgrade much less big?

 

[wes]

Ummm, how is 600 hp an upgrade much less big?

I was just meaning that if it was 650 or 700hp it probably still wouldn't be enough for a lot of peole. I just hope the car overall as a whole is more of an "upgrade" than just horsepower.

 

[Camfab]

It's funny we were having a conversation about how numb we've all become to giant HP numbers on our drive home from the LA Auto Show today. You've got 650 HP Mustangs rolling off the factory line, with 550 HP Cadillacs etc. and we weren't really excited about any car at the show. Talk about being spoiled, I remember when I saw the first IROC Camaro in '85 on the cover of Car and Driver or something and couldn't sleep untill I got one. 215HP out of a TPI 305 that was only available with an automatic, man the automotive world was on it's knees. Now were talking about a Viper being inadequate if it doesn't have "at least 700HP". I really think it's kind of game over for the Viper stature. Nothing short of a thousand HP would stand the world on it knees these days, like the way the 1996 GTS did. I'm pretty sure the SRT boys realize it's going to take a really insane new Viper to stand up in todays market.

 

[v10enomous]

The niche for the Viper will have to be that it is still mostly a street legal race car that beats the Porsches and LFA's of the world at the Ring and Seca for a fraction of the price. You can't have it both ways. If they start building Vipers to compete in the Mustang and Camaro market or even the Corvette line they'll be higher volume and much more affordable but everybody will have one.

 

[Smog Dog]

If they start building Vipers to compete in the Mustang and Camaro market or even the Corvette line they'll be higher volume and much more affordable but everybody will have one.

I don't think you have to worry that the Viper will be under 100K.....

Bill

 

[kdaviper]

I wonder how development costs being shared with Maserati will affect the final price. Either the price should fall, they're going to make more profit per unit, or they get to spend more money developing the Gen V. possibly a combination of parts of these things.

 

[BigDawg]

I still stick to my guns that this car does not need to be profitable. They only need to break even. A bad ass record breaking Viper is advertisement. Plain and simple. Once the bean counters realize this, all will be well.

While I do like the GenIII/IV they screwed up there by watering down they styling. I remember the justification was the gen I/II body panels were to expensive to produce. If they use that logic going in to the Gen V we are doomed. I guarantee had they given the gen III/IV a more radical and less generic look they would not have been sitting on dealer lots. The only reason the Gen IV picked up sales was because of performance. This car can't survive on performance alone. It needs unique styling to give it that super car look at a sports car price.

 

[plumcrazy]

cause bean counters always have common sense.....lol

 

[PDCjonny]

I still stick to my guns that this car does not need to be profitable. They only need to break even. A bad ass record breaking Viper is advertisement. Plain and simple. Once the bean counters realize this, all will be well.

While I do like the GenIII/IV they screwed up there by watering down they styling. I remember the justification was the gen I/II body panels were to expensive to produce. If they use that logic going in to the Gen V we are doomed. I guarantee had they given the gen III/IV a more radical and less generic look they would not have been sitting on dealer lots. The only reason the Gen IV picked up sales was because of performance. This car can't survive on performance alone. It needs unique styling to give it that super car look at a sports car price.

There has never been a Viper generation that has not surpassed the previous one in performance, this will be no exception.
Looks are subjective, I'm sure the new body will be as controversial as always despite the love-a-thon going on here in Viper land..

 

[VIPER R]

How crazy do they need to go? How many Challengers could be sold with a streetable viper option for a not too crazy price.

 

[bluestreak]

No one has mentioned the weight. For a two seater the Viper is quite plump. Hopefully some of the engineering has gone into making the power plant and chassis lighter (but not less sturdy). 650 HP and 3100 lbs will be a better car than 700 hp and almost 3400 lbs. It will most certainly be an upgrade.

Since they are starting from scratch, I think they can do it while still adding the nannies.

My bet is that the base Viper will appeal to the masses, with more luxury and nannies, but the ACR will be reserved for the ********. That will be the best of both worlds, a car that can survive in today's market, and still be raw for the purists.

 

[Andrew/USPWR]

I'll take my next Viper with some creature comforts.

I hope they just make a few variations to please the ********* as well as the posers.

Make an ACR stripped down and light weight and maybe a few more hp and a street version with more leather and cruise control etc. IMO

 

[v10enomous]

Deleted post

 

[Mopar488]

Does anyone know where the new Viper will be built?