Is the Viper going to be put to Pasture?

Topic: Is the Viper going to be put to Pasture? (Read 3231 times) previous topic - next topic

Is the Viper going to be put to Pasture?

February 11, 2008, 06:20:32 PM

The beginning of the end of the second Horsepower War?!
Or just tpuppies a company to the bone?

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/08/has-cerberus-killed-the-viper/

Is the Viper going to be put to Pasture?

Reply #1 – February 11, 2008, 06:31:14 PM

If you think about how stale the Viper was getting. At least IMHO. Compared to other supercars that are coming out or already here (GT 500, Infinity GTR, Audi R8 etc...) It seems to be a smart move. Besides my favorite Viper is still a circa 1996 Viper GTS.

one more thing if the Viper does go we need to replace it with another snake!

Perhaps a modernized Cobra! :]

Is the Viper going to be put to Pasture?

Reply #2 – February 11, 2008, 06:59:55 PM

I vote for this one.

Is the Viper going to be put to Pasture?

Reply #3 – February 11, 2008, 07:26:01 PM

Quote from: oldraven;203573

I vote for this one.

YES!

Is the Viper going to be put to Pasture?

Reply #4 – February 11, 2008, 07:42:45 PM

x2

Gotta love cars you need helmets to drive!

Is the Viper going to be put to Pasture?

Reply #5 – February 11, 2008, 08:02:51 PM

[SIZE="2"]It's the best retro I've ever seen. It looks brand new, is a Cobra if ever there was one, and it doesn't look like it's trying to reclaim former glory. It's proclaiming it.

:burnout:

Give the guy a medal. http://www.racerxdesign.com/kc427design.html
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/17/racer-x-design-kc-427-concept-offers-modern-interpretation-of-th/[/SIZE]

But this thread is about the Viper. It sucks that they lost an icon, but it was kind of an embarrassment to have to use an 8.4L V10 to beat a 6.2L V8. They should have had their own Hennessey before GM had their C6 Z06. Ford paved the way for Forced Induction on a domestic Supercar with the GT. What was their excuse for not boosting their own car when they were doing so much Turbocharging R&D on the SRT-4 and using the Supercharging benefits of their relationship with Mercedes? They used their blowers on the Crossfire (they used the whole car). They could have even partnered up with Hennessey to have their own Shelby program.

The Viper could have been a lot more than it was. It was just poorly managed and underachieving. 600hp isn't impressive when it takes that much motor in 2008.

Is the Viper going to be put to Pasture?

Reply #6 – February 11, 2008, 08:53:08 PM

Yep, the snake is dead. I agree with Jalopnik.
http://jalopnik.com/354292/the-dodge-viper-is-dead-in-lieu-of-flowers-please-send-rd-funds

Is the Viper going to be put to Pasture?

Reply #7 – February 11, 2008, 09:28:49 PM

Quote from: Carl;203568

If you think about how stale the Viper was getting. At least IMHO. Compared to other supercars that are coming out or already here (GT 500, Infinity GTR, Audi R8 etc...) It seems to be a smart move. Besides my favorite Viper is still a circa 1996 Viper GTS.

Exactly the 96 was a very nice body style i hate the new body style it looks like an over sized over powered Sebring .

Is the Viper going to be put to Pasture?

Reply #8 – February 11, 2008, 10:37:08 PM

Quote

but it was kind of an embarrassment to have to use an 8.4L V10 to beat a 6.2L V8. They should have had their own Hennessey before GM had their C6 Z06. What was their excuse for not boosting their own car when they were doing so much Turbocharging R&D on the SRT-4 and using the Supercharging benefits of their relationship with Mercedes?.....600hp isn't impressive when it takes that much motor in 2008.

513 cubes....600 hp at 6,100 rpm. Torque is 560 pound-feet at 5,000rpm. Variable Valve technology in a pushrod motor using cam in cam makes for great numbers down low too. There WAS R & D..... This car was more of a brawny grand tourer than a track star IMHO. Basically what the GT500 has become, although Ford's offering offers more refinement. This car is visceral. It puts out more than 1 HP per cube, something the 4.6 still hasn't done in any 2 valve variant(from the factory, anyway)....3 valve and 4 valve yes and even the 320 HP Mustang Shelby GT 3V is about equal in output per liter or cubic inch....
That being said the older body style was the best. The new one is ok, but the old er one was the definition of the car. The crowning piece of the package if you will.

I can only hope that Ford finally steps up and gives the 'Vette something to strive to be better than just like it did with the Viper. The next generation Mustang needs a high horsepower variant that doesn't weigh as much as my SUV and can play with the new ZR-1.

There are plenty of Cobra mfgrs, how about something new?

Reply #9 – February 11, 2008, 11:29:39 PM

I think the "new" Daytona Coupe is a better looking car than the new concept Cobra. Sorry, I can't find a pic to post.

The Viper was initially supposed to be a cheap modern sports car. The more people got excited about it, the higher the price climbed, but Chrysler didn't get in a hurry to make it worthy of the price. How many years did they have side curtains?

Is the Viper going to be put to Pasture?

Reply #10 – February 12, 2008, 07:18:26 AM

You mean the GR-1? Yeah, it looked a lot better than the Cobra Concept (not the Racer X design that I posted. That shows up both cars with no effort. The GR-1 looks like a dog compared to the Racer X).

Paul, the one hp per cube hasn't been a benchmark for over a decade. Any serious performance engine today is striving for 100 hp per liter. So the SRT-10 should have been making 840hp to really make up for its size. Hennessey made that happen way back with the Venom 800, when the V10 was still only (pssh.. only) 8.0L. We're in the 21st Century now, and Chrysler is being picked apart and sold off because of this kind of neglect. Who lets their halo car turn into a turd?

Is the Viper going to be put to Pasture?

Reply #11 – February 12, 2008, 08:05:31 AM

Quote from: oldraven;203679

Who lets their halo car turn into a turd?

Seems like both Ford AND Chrysler have allowed that to happen...
I have to say that I don't think Ford is even capable of selling an exciting car in the U.S. anymore.
My thoughts on the Viper are that it wouldn't meet the newer emissions standards coming up, and probably wasn't all that profitable anyway, so a "mercy killing" was in order.
Just my opinion..

Is the Viper going to be put to Pasture?

Reply #12 – February 12, 2008, 08:16:55 AM

Well, the GT wasn't that long ago.

Is the Viper going to be put to Pasture?

Reply #13 – February 12, 2008, 07:20:37 PM

Quote

Any serious performance engine today is striving for 100 hp per liter

Corvette Z06 = 7.0 liters = 505 HP....I guess that's not a serious performance engine than....

Yeah baby!

Reply #14 – February 12, 2008, 08:26:08 PM

Quote from: oldraven;203679

Only thing is, the production car - if they make it - will be taller.