Advertisement

Dodge Viper business turned over to Fiat

 
21 16,908 views Jun 11, 2009
Follow Viknesh

2008 dodge viper srt10 acr motorauthority 001

Related Photo Galleries


See more photos »

Fiat now has the rights to the Viper business and may either sell it or phase it out altogehter

Fiat now has the rights to the Viper business and may either sell it or phase it out altogehter

Enlarge Photo
Chrysler has been trying to sell its Dodge Viper sports car business since late last year but according to the struggling automaker, the once prominent brand couldn’t even muster up offers of $10 million. In fact, Chrysler insisted that it had received only one bid of $5.5 million from Devon Motorworks, which planned to use the Viper platform for its own GTX supercar.

It has since been revealed that several group had made offers of up to $35 million but these were before Chrysler’s bankruptcy, though there were reportedly knocked back for having insufficient financing.

Fast forward to today, and Chrysler, now out of bankruptcy and in bed with Fiat, has announced that it has turned over all the Viper assets, including rights to the name, to the Italian auto giant. It’s now up to Fiat to decide whether it still wants to sell the Viper business or phase out altogether, reports Edmunds. Phasing out the brand, as dreadful as it sounds, is a possibility that’s gaining credence as there are fears that the Viper range is a competitor for the Ferrari and Maserati brands.


The brand's sale, or death, would mark the end of a 17-year run of the Viper at Chrysler, with the first model having debuted in the 1992 model year. The company just produced its 25,000th Viper in March of this year, and celebrated the event with festivities that included the launch of the track-focused Viper SRT10 ACR.

Dodge Viper SRT 10 ACR
Devon Motor Works GTX official renderings

HI-RES GALLERY: 2008 dodge viper srt10 acr motorauthority 001

HI-RES GALLERY: devon motor works gtx 010




Tags:
Posted in:
 
 

Have an opinion?

  • Posting indicates you have read this site's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • Notify me when there are more comments
Comments (21)

  1. ROOLLY Posted: 8/27/2008 1:15pm PDT

    They need to down-scale the Viper, and make it affordable like Chevy does with the Corvette. Why are there so many Corvettes on the road? Because it’s affordable.Here’s what Chrysler should do with the Viper.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  2. NoNameDenton Posted: 8/27/2008 5:54pm PDT

    How about replace the V10, with a 6.4 liter Hemi engine, like the one that is supposed to appear in the Ram HD in the future.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  3. Layne Posted: 8/27/2008 11:21pm PDT

    You guys just don't get it. Perhaps by that logic Ferrari should mass produce their cars to sell them cheaper too. I'm sure you'd see more of them running around then right? Vipers are about passion, not sales. Get it straight.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  4. SuperSkyline89 Posted: 9/1/2008 10:41am PDT

    Layne's right. A few days ago I say an ACR Viper drive by, now that almost gave me whiplash since those are rarely seen driving around. I tried to grab my Blackberry to take a picture but it was long gone. But every time I see a Corvette i just don't care, they're so damn common they aren't all that impressive anymore.

    I hope whoever buys the Viper brand keeps the volume low and the exclusivity at it's present state. And hopefully they don't mess with the Vipers trademark looks.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  5. ma_azlan avatar azlan Posted: 9/30/2008 6:40am PDT

    why doesnt an american company stop living in the past and trying to buy the best design they got and design a whole new muscle car that will create the same attention as the viper, did, let it go chrysler..
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  6. ma_Chris avatar Chris Posted: 2/3/2009 7:00pm PST

    thank you layne.. its the only truely jaw dropping american car (still in production). its going to drop jaws cause its rare, and still very amazing. its an american ferrari.. or maybe lambo is a better comparison.. a car thats completely mad and rare.

    azlan... maybe its just me but i dont understand what you mean by that last comment.

    i hope some one like shelby picks up this car.. the facilities will help them get more products out.. and theyll have probably one of the most important american MUSCLE cars since the cobra. it will truly be a sad day when this car isnt made any more.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  7. ma_SRTperson avatar SRTperson Posted: 2/3/2009 10:19pm PST

    "a 6.4 liter Hemi engine, like the one that is supposed to appear in the Ram HD in the future."

    No way on the 6.4L for the Ram, it has never been in the plans for any model Ram.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  8. ma_phil12321 avatar phil12321 Posted: 2/4/2009 5:46am PST

    6.4L Hemi? in a viper? no way!!! most peoples intrest in the viper is the 8.4L V10 which I may say is a maniac of an engine. Its so powerful and would run circles around the hemi V8
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  9. ma_bmfische avatar bmfische Posted: 5/2/2009 7:44pm PDT

    Viper is a overwieght, obsolete dinosaur with 8.4 that only produces 600hp. Many sport cars company's are producing close or over hundred hp per liter. With that in mind the viper should be 840 hp or more, V-8's are going to have a hard going with the new fuel standards, V-10 make even less sense.

    As far as world standard sport cars Vipers are rude and crude hardly a good testimonial of American Ingenuity.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  10. ma_Mike avatar Mike Posted: 5/5/2009 6:24pm PDT

    But it's not a brand! The DODGE Viper is simply one of the models made by that company. Why don't they just cancel it for the time being, to be reintroduced when things get better?
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  11. ma_phil12321 avatar phil12321 Posted: 5/6/2009 6:34am PDT

    Viper is a overwieght, obsolete dinosaur with 8.4 that only produces 600hp. Many sport cars company's are producing close or over hundred hp per liter. With that in mind the viper should be 840 hp or more, V-8's are going to have a hard going with the new fuel standards, V-10 make even less sense.

    As far as world standard sport cars Vipers are rude and crude hardly a good testimonial of American Ingenuity.

    Viper being "overweight" come on man the viper has evolved in to an outstanding worldclass sports car and weighs less than and performs better than 90% of the sports cars current today. people dnt buy the viper for fuel efficiency bro they buy it for the neck breaking torque and hp thats reliable and doesnt need as much service as some of the 100hp per litre cars you failed to mention.the many that need plenty maintnance and upkeep throughout its lifecycle like ferrari's....porsche....audi and some other european competitors. though i love them all im sorry for saying that they are not gonna be as reliable as the viper off the lot. I thynk the viper exemplifies "American Ingenuity"....Im gonna hate to see the Viper go!!!!
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  12. ma_K_Ramos avatar K_Ramos Posted: 5/9/2009 11:12am PDT

    Saying the Viper exemplifies "American Ingenuity" is like saying a sledge hammer is a percision tool.

    I love the Viper for what it is, a monster engine with two seats. It’s a perfect muscle car but not exactly a precision piece.

    Keep the Viper alive but don't kid yourself by calling it an example of "American Ingenuity"
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  13. ma_NaBUru38 avatar NaBUru38 Posted: 5/9/2009 8:27pm PDT

    Mike, the Viper has been sold in Europe as the Chrysler. Moreover, the English-language Wikipedia article on the Viper GTS-R race car is named... surprise! Chrysler Viper GTS-R.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  14. ma_phil12321 avatar phil12321 Posted: 5/11/2009 7:56am PDT

    K_Ramos u totally missed my point!!! To me the viper does represent American ingenuity because of its evolution as a sports car from conception and the fact that no other american sports car can perform better.... Viper still holds the production car nurburing lap record might I add.... If that aint precision then i dnt know what is and neither do you!!!
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  15. ma_gazzed avatar gazzed Posted: 5/28/2009 9:42pm PDT

    Basically DMW's own interests' in a way is to only use the Viper as a basis to produce their own niche sportscar for a certain amount of time, take every inch that they can get out of the car and discard it to the scrapheap.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  16. ma_justinhk2000 avatar justinhk2000 Posted: 5/29/2009 8:12pm PDT

    phil12321
    american and ingenuity is like saying suburban and efficiency, it dosen't go to together. the viper is not a technologically advance supercar, its a oldschool muscle. So don't kid yourself by making the viper look more advance than the GTR. And the SR8 holds the record for the fastest production car (and yes it is a production car) not the Viper.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  17. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 6/11/2009 5:30pm PDT

    "a 6.4 liter Hemi engine, like the one that is supposed to appear in the Ram HD in the future."

    No way on the 6.4L for the Ram, it has never been in the plans for any model Ram.

    Try reading pickuptrucks.com, they have reports on the issue
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  18. ma_Michael D avatar Michael D Posted: 6/11/2009 9:33pm PDT

    At least that's a bit of a relief that the Viper business is turned over to Fiat, which takes away the speculation and guess-work, but I hope that Fiat retains Viper and does not euthanize it. It really gives a great image for Chrysler, it's iconic and a great halo, and can do it's part to generate showroom traffic.

    I feel that the Viper doesn't overlap so much with Ferrari and Maserati for those marques are far more upmarket and technology-lated that they stand apart - there's room for all, and they're in different showrooms.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  19. ma_54chevyman avatar 54chevyman Posted: 6/12/2009 4:58am PDT

    The Viper may get an Italian engine and reworked. Who knows it's time to move on people. This is a new era and the sooner American companies realize this the sooner we can produce cars that fit this era! Chrysler is still an American car company! One that will specialize in fuel efficiency! All good!
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  20. ma_K_Ramos avatar K_Ramos Posted: 6/14/2009 11:30am PDT

    Does anyone really think that someone shopping for a Ferrari would seriously be comparing it against a Viper.

    Keep the Viper alive, there is room for it in the FIAT stable. The Viper has its own market that it serves well. Its a niche vehicle and dropping the price is going to dilute what it is.

    Possibly share some more parts to maybe lower the production cost and make it profitable. I'm sure the Viper could benefit from some Ferrari brakes and suspension components.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  21. ulisse di bartolomei Posted: 10/22/2010 12:04pm PDT

    Patent fraud. About the Fiat hybrids, the technology double clutch with electric motor between has been stolen by a patent that Fiat Company has never wanted to purchase, but only shamelessly to copy. I invite to visit my blog where her "vitality" of the Fiat planners it appears in all of evidence:
    http://dualsymbioticelectromechanicalengine.blogspot.com/
    Whoever appreciates an honest industrial ethics in defence of intellectual ownership should spread out the history reported in my blog. If the industries can afford unpunished to copy the ideas and defending it need very expensive legal action, to which target need the patents? How our young people can find intellectual courage if the economic potentates crush the rights of the single ones?
    Do You have a good idea on as I could act for defending my rights? I beg You to leave a comment in my blog. Thanks and good time to everybody.
    Ulisse Di Bartolomei
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

Contribute
Send us a tip Comment Contact the editor
Follow Us

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Research New Cars

Go!

Related Used Listings

Browse used listings in your area.
Listings Powered by


More from High Gear Media

 
 
MotorAuthority
  • Follow Us
  • Twiiter
  • Facebook
 
 
© 2013 MotorAuthority. All Rights Reserved. MotorAuthority is published by High Gear Media. Stock photography by Homestar, LLC. Send us feedback.