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Ferrari Boss Left “Speechless” After Seeing The New SRT Viper

 
51 161,426 views May 3, 2012
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Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, the current chairman of Ferrari and one of the key men responsible for turning the Italian sports car manufacturer into a global automotive powerhouse, was left “speechless” upon seeing the 2013 SRT Viper for the first time.

That little snippet of information was revealed by none other than Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne during an interview on the Paul W. Smith radio show.

“I had the chairman of Ferrari down here for the board meeting last week and he had a chance to look at the car, and he was speechless,” Marchionne said. “I mean for Ferrari to admit that the car is a unique vehicle is a hell of a compliment to the work that’s gone on here.”


Marchionne made the surprising revelation when questioned about production activities taking place at Chrysler facilities in the Detroit area. He said that production of the new 2013 SRT Viper had just commenced at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant and that so far things were doing well.

For someone like di Montezemolo, who is surrounded by some of the fastest and most desirable cars on the planet, to be left speechless after seeing the new Viper is testament to the hard efforts made by the car’s development team and the people that build it.

We’re sure its 8.4-liter V-10 engine, rated at 640 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque and billed as having the most torque of any naturally-aspirated sports car engine in the world, may have had a little to do with his initial impression.

Ferrari chief Luca Cordero di Montezemolo

Ferrari chief Luca Cordero di Montezemolo

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Comments (51)

  1. fb_100000769452588 avatar Fred Talmadge Posted: 5/3/2012 9:43am PDT

    From all the pictures I've seen it looks pretty much like the last Vipers. Maybe this is just PR fodder.
     
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  2. Heepspo avatar Heepspo Posted: 5/3/2012 10:44am PDT

    Hopefully they'll make it RELIABLE this time and not the POS tin can it was before
     
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  3. viperkim avatar Kim Peterson Posted: 5/10/2012 3:58pm PDT

    Reliable!! are you nuts. If you dont own one dont blab about something you know nothing about. Built like a tank, bullet proof,goes like h*ll & blows the doors off anything. My new one is ordered. Go buy a mustang or a nisson or something.
     
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  4. fb_510239545 avatar Rob Torres Posted: 7/11/2012 9:39am PDT

    you might be a redneck if...
     
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  5. Drew1234 avatar Andrew Marzilli Posted: 3/29/2013 12:36pm PDT

    You install a 30" lift kit and swamp tires on you 2013 Dodge Viper SRT......oh and a brush guard and winch and snorkel in case the puddles are to deep
     
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  6. freddyg avatar Fred Sanford Posted: 3/1/2013 7:45am PST

    Yes because the one you owned was a POS. or did you confuse it with the yugo that you drive. Another armchair auto critic. The closest you ever came to a super car was a parking lot or the auto show. MORON
     
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  7. BigFish avatar dave o Posted: 5/16/2013 9:37am PDT

    If its reliable it wont be named a Dodge, that's not what they do.
     
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  8. Enzo avatar Enzo Rollis Posted: 5/3/2012 12:33pm PDT

    well he did send the FF for production now you know why he was speechless. anyone else notice it has the Agera R head lights, other than that i was a bit disappointed in the design cause it really does look like the old model with a few more curves. but gota love that engine glad it stayed.
     
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  9. fb_705534171 avatar John Mills Posted: 5/5/2012 8:02am PDT

    they designed the headlights to look like snake eyes , and the design is based on the 96 viper but refined and sexier. all the haters chill.
     
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  10. Drew1234 avatar Andrew Marzilli Posted: 3/29/2013 12:40pm PDT

    The headlights look like they came from a Corvette, the grill from a Jaguar, the hood from a Lotus and the roof line of a Mazda Miata
     
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  11. fb_100000053719835 avatar Radosław Nahajewski Posted: 5/3/2012 2:15pm PDT

    Viknesh, 6.4 V-10 in Viper? Who has stolen 2 liters? I think somebody here was thinking about Ferrari and that is why there's 6 in place of 8. By the way, I'm curious about that new 6.3 V12 of Ferrari, how the hell they get away from those CO2 emission standarts?
     
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  12. viknesh avatar Viknesh Vijayenthiran Posted: 5/3/2012 11:14pm PDT

    Hi Radoslaw,

    Thanks for spotting the typo. The article has now been fixed.
     
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  13. Tanderson22 avatar Tanderson22 Posted: 3/13/2013 7:44am PDT

    When the emissions are running cleanest CO2 levels are the highest. I'm more concerned about what they did to keep the frame from tweaking under all that torque; As far as "Dodge" its still built from all the same supplier parts the other US manufacturers utilize along with some of their own trim and sheet metal & plastic misc. with that engine, and it will be just as reliable as all the rest of the latest entries in the US auto lineups.... not worth the $$ vs. what you could turn a real classic into for the same $$. I've had plenty of enjoyable vehicles of all types and ages under my wrench and as "cool" as this car sounds... it's still a first year prototype and I can only expect it to follow the same paths as their histories have.. .
     
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  14. fb_518966696 avatar Anton Pham Posted: 5/3/2012 5:15pm PDT

    I think Montezemolo was speechless because it's shockingly ugly...
     
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  15. Axial06 avatar Axial06 Posted: 5/4/2012 11:23am PDT

    Could not agree more. The bulbous proportions are hideous. Montezemolo is a gentleman, and thus he would not say anything negative. Yet his words "interesting" is the most polite manner in which one can deliver a neutrally positive assessment without simply saying...."By God, this is ugly".
     
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  16. fb_563395160 avatar Elizabeth Kailey Posted: 3/14/2013 6:26am PDT

    Or as they say in the south..."That's somethin'!"
     
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  17. viperkim avatar Kim Peterson Posted: 5/10/2012 3:59pm PDT

    Go drive your go kart, thats ugly.
     
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  18. fb_1431009018 avatar Jeff Stork Posted: 5/3/2012 5:41pm PDT

    Maybe he just thought "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."
     
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  19. fb_1617765491 avatar Steve Marino Posted: 5/3/2012 6:04pm PDT

    LOL at the haters. Obviously you are all blind. I think this looks great.
     
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  20. fb_100004834264002 avatar Sport Page Posted: 1/19/2013 10:13am PST

    Always makes me laugh when someone has a different opinion on a subjective matter and it makes another person get so defensive that they make the 'hater' claim.

    The lamest defense ever; no effort, intelligence, or rebuttal involved.
     
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  21. fb_100001227069986 avatar Courage Ogbebor Posted: 5/3/2012 7:43pm PDT

    I thought the Viper would have an 8.4 liter, not a 6.4 liter?
     
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  22. fb_100001227069986 avatar Courage Ogbebor Posted: 5/3/2012 8:38pm PDT

    By would, I meant was confirmed to have and 8.4 L. Gotta love typos.lol
     
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  23. viknesh avatar Viknesh Vijayenthiran Posted: 5/3/2012 11:15pm PDT

    You're correct Courage. It is an 8.4-liter V-10. The typo has now been fixed.
     
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  24. rick258442@aol.com avatar rick258442@aol.com Posted: 5/4/2012 5:40am PDT

    It went from a chunky brute with cartoon proportions, then was watered down by someone who didn't get it. Now it's one of the most beautiful cars in the world.

    A Viper with as much class as any Ferrari and closer (visually) to a spiritual 250 GTO than their own 599 based offering.

    Montezemolo has a history of being supportive and complimentary of other peoples' ideas and efforts. I think he loved it, because I can only pick out a couple of tiny things I might change.

    The new Viper is one of the best looking cars that has ever been designed. I think they should have gone for led lumened polycarbonate refractory disruptor elements (angel eyes without them being ellipses) instead of the obtrusive LED accent lighting design they chose.
     
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  25. viperkim avatar Kim Peterson Posted: 5/10/2012 4:01pm PDT

    Its nock dead great. Dont ask for the bling. Its a viper it dont need no stinking bling
     
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  26. SubieEJ25 avatar SubieEJ25 Posted: 5/5/2012 3:07pm PDT

    Styling is all subjective so for people to say it is ugly I can respect that. I on the other hand think the car is stunning and I love that they stayed true to the Viper's original lines. The interior is miles ahead of the old car, and thank god they kept the V10, this car is going to be an animal. The rear track width....OMG.
     
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  27. WizardsLore avatar WizardsLore Posted: 5/7/2012 8:14pm PDT

    everyone is entitled to their opinion. For what its worth here is mine: the car is nothign special to look at and jsut looks like a polished version of what has gone before. the Fezza boss was left speechless because here was the great hope from the US to compete with Ferrari and found it to be plainly ordinary especially when you consider just how big that truck engine at the front is and its power output compared to smaller engines !
     
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  28. ViperVas avatar Vas Baltov Posted: 5/9/2012 11:34am PDT

    Oh yeah, Mr. Luca Cordero was speechless Bcus in the back of his mind, he is thinking, "OMG, this car is going to eat my Farrets alive".

    I have one on order, and I can't wait to line up with a cute farrari, Lambo or any other exotic. Dude, you will loose!
     
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  29. deuxchevaux avatar deuxchevaux Posted: 5/10/2012 10:51am PDT

    loose? I think you already loost.
     
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  30. fb_510239545 avatar Rob Torres Posted: 7/11/2012 9:37am PDT

    Ha. I drive and sell exotic cars for a living. I've played with Ferrari: 360, 430, 458, 599 GTB and GTO; Lamborghini: Gallardo, Superleggera, Aventador; Nissan GT-R; Ford GT. You're delusional. The 458 Italia's 570 Hp alone will eat your Viper (it's quicker and faster), as would a 599 GTO's 670 Hp. Stats don't lie. An Aventador will make you want a refund for your car. Just be glad you're paying a fraction of the price for a pretty cool car. The only true competition from Detroit is the Corvette ZR-1. What many tools fail to comprehend is 640 Hp perform much differently in the latest Ferraris and Lamborghinis. Yes, they are very expensive vehicles and great to look at but beasts nonetheless.
     
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  31. 917ac12 avatar Ken Wills Posted: 1/22/2013 5:54am PST

    Rob, the 42 year old 917-30 will still eat any of the above for lunch and could be reincarnated as a street car with a modern tranny and a top speed easily above 300 mph. I understand that Ferrari had a 512 that never made it to the track that had even more hp. No super car will ever be the best until it can beat these 40 plus year old dogs.
     
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  32. fb_100002317975579 avatar John Messer Posted: 1/31/2013 8:26am PST

    You are delusional
     
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  33. fb_100002317975579 avatar John Messer Posted: 1/31/2013 8:28am PST

    People that can afford expensive sports cars can generally spell. So tell us another whopper.
     
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  34. deuxchevaux avatar deuxchevaux Posted: 5/10/2012 11:27am PDT

    I'm guessing the speechlessness resulted from an inability to come up with a compliment in a timely manner.

    This car is unoriginal and unattractive in the extreme to me, inside and out and from any angle shown in the hi-rez 16 image sequence. Simultaneously ostentatious and underwhelming.

    I would like to see Chrysler break some new ground in their design of this vehicle - they have the talent, don't they???

    It may drive great - some Chrysler products do - but I would be embarrassed to be seen in this.

    And, speechless over that engine? Gimme a break.
     
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  35. wdf13 avatar wdf13 Posted: 7/11/2012 6:22am PDT

    Beautiful automobile. The V-10 in my "95" Dodge truck is still running strong with nearly 240,000 miles, too bad the rest of her hasn't.
     
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  36. fb_100004080172820 avatar Maria Rodriguez Posted: 1/13/2013 3:14am PST

    Cmon, it looks practically the same.

    PR spin.
     
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  37. fb_100004834264002 avatar Sport Page Posted: 1/19/2013 10:08am PST

    ..."he was speechless,” Marchionne said. “I mean for Ferrari to admit that the car is a unique vehicle"...
    - - - - -
    Seems that Marchionne has taken a vast leap to equate 'speechless' to admitting 'that the car is a unique vehicle'...

    The bulbous rear reminds me of an Opel GT... and that's not a compliment.
     
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  38. 917ac12 avatar Ken Wills Posted: 1/22/2013 5:46am PST

    None of these cars can match the 917-30 Porsche sports racing car. The greatest ever built. Here are it's performance figures as exercised by Penske and Donohue at Talledega 42 years ago. 1850 lbs. Flat 12, air-cooled, 1580 hp at 32 psi boost for qualifying, raced at 1100 hp. Set and world closed course record at Talledega of approx. 229 mph, a record not broken for 5 years. 0-62 mph in 1.9 seconds, 0-100 mph in 3.9 seconds, 0-200 mph in 10.9 seconds and on up to a top speed of 265 mph plus. This long distance racing car destroyed the Can Am series and sent McClaren packing back to NZ. You can't spend enough to buy a car today with those performance figures. Get the full story at WikPedia.
     
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  39. pryxp11 avatar James C. Davis Posted: 1/26/2013 6:34am PST

    Is it any wonder that the press would not build the viper up. After all obama gave chrysler to the italians and obama owns the press.
     
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  40. fb_100002317975579 avatar John Messer Posted: 1/31/2013 8:28am PST

    I have a hard time believing the leader of Ferrari was "left speechless". His company routinely cranks out the most beautiful cars on earth. And Marchionne has a record of making exaggerated statements.
     
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  41. fb_100003521578038 avatar Drake Mallard Posted: 2/1/2013 8:37am PST

    Language barrier.
     
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  42. fb_100003521578038 avatar Drake Mallard Posted: 2/1/2013 8:36am PST

    Holley carbs?
     
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  43. fb_708629398 avatar Mark Tracy Posted: 2/15/2013 8:23am PST

    I call 'shenanigans' - how can the Ferrari CEO be left speechless and also admit that the Viper is a unique vehicle. Isn't that like telling your friend that their ugly baby is 'unique'?
     
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  44. krtbrt avatar Pil Fur Posted: 3/17/2013 6:57am PDT

    Glad that they went back to the earlier Viper body designs and not that ugly 2004+ design.

    Gives it character and everything is proportioned.

    If you want the normal pieced together crap, buy a new Vette.

    Is it a Ferrari copy?
    Is it a Caddy proto?
    Is it a Camaro?

    It's leftover parts put together just to release a new car.
     
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  45. Nimble avatar Edwin Torres Posted: 4/18/2013 6:20am PDT

    'Speechless' could simply indicate politeness. We've heard the expression - "If you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all."

    Personally, I think the Viper is an interesting car. Please don't compare a Ferrari to a Viper.
     
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  46. GreggT avatar Gregg Tipple Posted: 4/30/2013 6:51am PDT

    I think there are at least 3 or 4 cars inside the Viper, pushing on every body panel trying to get out.
     
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  47. dianekns avatar Diane Knaus Posted: 5/6/2013 2:45pm PDT

    I don;t car what carping you guys do, That is one red hot car, period.
     
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  48. fb_100005603292685 avatar Chuck Crowley Posted: 5/7/2013 2:19pm PDT

    Great car, but horrible photographs. How not to take pictures. Hope they didn't pay a photographer
     
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  49. fb_100001352092743 avatar Charles Lowe Posted: 5/10/2013 2:12pm PDT

    This car really does look better.It is PR yes,but the car is far Superior to the old Viper
     
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  50. QuietStormX avatar Carroll Gant, JR. Posted: 5/14/2013 10:55pm PDT

    There is another thing that Ferrari dosen't offer anymore for US who love to drive and rowing through the gears and operating the clutch. Shifting as you feel and need. A Manual transmission!
     
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  51. QuietStormX avatar Carroll Gant, JR. Posted: 5/14/2013 11:00pm PDT

    That is a Race Car. They don't compare period. This is a Street Car, not the Race Version I'm sure has better performance and weighs less.
     
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