Still mourning the Dodge Viper, the cool, all-American, V-10 supercar that was discontinued in 2017? Well, it's been just a few months since Dodge halted production and word has it FCA might bring it back soon. According to Car and Driver, a "new Viper is happening" and it could arrive in production form in late 2020. But it won't be the same.
While it will retain the same front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, the next-generation Viper won't be using a V-10 engine. Instead, the sports car will get a V-8. The unit in question is Chrysler's next-gen, aluminum-block Hemi and CD claims that the naturally aspirated mill will generate around 550 horsepower. That's significantly less than the previous 8.4-liter V-10 rated at 640 horsepower, but the new car will be significantly lighter thanks to heavy use of aluminum and carbon-fiber.
As usual, SRT could roll out higher output versions of the engine for the Viper's performance trims, but the big news here is that the sports car will eventually get a supercharged V-8 with more than 700 horsepower. This is definitely doable since Dodge already offers three vehicles with more than 700 horses, the Charger and Challenger Hellcats and the Challenger Demon. Both drivetrains will reportedly mate to manual gearboxes.
Interestingly enough, Car and Driver claims that the new Viper will debut as a convertible model. Although the original Viper debuted as a roadster, the latest-generation car was offered as a coupe only, with no drop-top offered since 2010. The coupe could also return "a few years after launch." Production will also be moved from the Connor Avenue Assembly Plant, which has been converted into a display center. Dodge will probably team up with an outside supplier like Prefix Corp. Based in Michigan, it built Targa and convertible versions of the fifth-gen Viper, and it could handle full-scale production of the new sports car.
Car and Driver says we could see a concept car at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show, where Dodge might celebrate 30 years since the original 1989 concept was launched. The production model could be unveiled at the end of 2020 as a 2021 model.
A Different Scenario
The folks over at the Allpar forums have a slightly different scenario for the next Viper, especially when it comes to the timetable. With the next Viper likely built on the same platform as the upcoming Maserati Alfieri and Alfa Romeo 6C, an official launch might not happen before 2022. The source also claims that the naturally aspirated model might use a 7.0-liter V-8 engine developed for the Ram Rebel pickup truck. The supercharged mill in the range-topping version might also be the next-generation 6.2-liter Hellcat engine.
References
Read our full review on the 2015 Dodge Viper.
Read more Dodge news.