Dodge Says Next Viper's Looks to be Inspired by “a Naked Woman on the Beach”

Speaking at the Automotive News World Congress in Detroit, the head of Chrysler design boss and head of the Dodge brand, Ralph Gilles, told reporters today that the next generation of the Dodge Viper is going to be “drop-dead beautiful” sporting a look inspired by “a naked woman on the beach”.

With sales of the previous generation steadily declining over the years (only 392 were sold in 2010, when production ceased), a totally redesigned Viper could be just what the doctor ordered for Dodge.

As previously reported, the new model won’t be based on the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, as some sources suggested, while Gilles also clarified that it’s not going to have Ferrari powerplants either. The Dodge boss was also confident regarding the cost-effectiveness of the Viper, stating that it will be profitable.

The 2013MY Dodge Viper is scheduled to make world premiere next year.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Automotive News

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SRT-10 Dodge Viper The fastest sports car

SRT-10 Dodge Viper The fastest sports car

SRT-10 Dodge Viper Powered by a 8.3 Litre V10 which is essentially a Dodge truck V8 with two extra cylinders grafted on, the Viper has incredible straight line performance. Handling and build quality of the Viper is however less refined and reassuring compared to its European rivals.Dodge Viper began in 1996.

External review by Rodney Rawson
The Dodge Viper - The viper idea all started in 1988 with just a clay model. Soon after the car was was constructed and displayed at put on display auto shows. The Chrysler Corporation did not expect the Viper to be such a big hit. The viper certainly got a lot of people interested, and in 1992 The first Viper RT/10 Roadster was produced. It initially came in only two color choices, black and the more common red. In 1996 The Dodge Viper GTS was introduced. The GTS was a hard top instead of the soft top RT/10.

SRT-10 Dodge Viper The fastest sports car

In the late 1980's and early 90's Chrysler was running out of money, and fast, and that is part of the reason for the Viper, they needed a 'halo car' car that could help them with their money problems and it worked.
In 1994 a television series starring the Dodge Viper was aired on NBC it was called of course, Viper. The show took place in a futuristic city and the Viper was a type of police car. It starts out like an ordinary Viper and with the push of a button it turned into the Defender, the ultimate crime fighting machine. Chrysler created the show to help there sales with the viper.
In 2003 the Dodge Viper was changed dramatically, in both appearance and performance. The Dodge Viper was the fastest sports car for under 100 thousand, until the Chevrolet Corvette ZO6 came along. Dodge plans to counter the Corvette with a new, faster and nicer Viper in 2008. Let's hope. The Viper is a true American sports car.

Meals on...Exotic Wheels: Gotham Dream Cars Helps Feed the Elderly, so you Best Give a Damn

In charity-oriented news, Gotham Dream Cars recently assisted Pascack Valley, New Jersey's Meals on Wheels program in delivering food to some of the area's age- and hunger-impaired citizens. Edibles were brought door-side via cars like a Viper SRT-10, Lamborghini Gallardo, and Maserati Quattroporte, among others. The best part? Well, that depends.

Most people would say it's feeding those in need. Normal, right? Unfortunately, the press seems to think the story is the cars. That's right; instead of people who require help, the exotic transportation became the story. It's insane.

Sure, the idea of high-end Italian exotics delivering food to the elderly is tons of fun (and an interesting PR boost for Gotham Dream Cars)...but how is this legitimately important? For God's sake, the New York Times (supposedly one of the last great print papers) put up an article about feeding America's hungry and the main point was still the fact that mad-expensive cars were out doing charity duty. Other than some ho-hum dribble about the cars, the rest was press quotations and gibberish. No facts whatsoever.

Pascack Valley's "Meals on Wheels" director Jeanne Martin says, "The support of our community is essential to combating senior hunger in the area...We’re pleased to have the support of Gotham Dream Cars to help spread the message about the difference local volunteers can make in helping out seniors in need." Of course they are; after all, it's attention-grabbing for Pascack Valley and its hungry citizens. But what about the rest? As in, the rest of America? Hell, why not make it the rest of the world and get everyone involved?

Sadly, odds are that even with this post the most memorable part of the story is that someone, somewhere, is delivering food to people in exotic cars. Neato, but not really the point. How about giving some important facts, other than manufacturer names and ritzy BS info? Facts like this: there are over three million people in the States with hunger-related issues right now. And now. And now. Beyond that, a world citizen dies every few seconds due to starvation.

Knowing this, it raises the question: is there a point to the New York Times running this story? The answer, hopefully, is yes...but only if people learn something. If not, and all readers remember are car names, then what's the point? Internet hits?

Admittedly, Gotham Dream Cars has done something cool for the people involved in this program and received very positive PR in the process; however, the story of Italian supercars delivering food is nothing more than that: a nice story.

If you've gotten this far, you'll hopefully see what I'm getting at: the story's pointless, so go out and throw a few cans of Campbell's soup in the direction of your local soup kitchen. Tis the season.

By Phil Alex

Source / Photos: Pvmealsonwheels , Via: New York Times

Viper-powered 300 SRT10 was one man's garage job (and Chrysler should be ashamed they didn't do it first)

It looks like the Viper-powered Chrysler 300 teased on the group's Dodge Youtube channel is nothing more than the dream of one man: David Ekins. The 300 SRT10, it turns out, started as an unsuspecting 2006 Chrysler 300 Touring (which initially came with a V6); now it's got four more cylinders and puts down a claimed 525-550 horsepower.

Mr. Ekins is said to have built the project himself (except for some specialty work), having sourced the 10-cylinder 8.3-liter engine and T-56 Tremec transmission from a wrecked donor car. Other than the power train, a slew of other systems obviously had to be upgraded in order for the car to become a 300 SRT10 and not just a 300 Touring with a massive engine.

This homemade project now rides on Eibach coilovers and gets a new sway bar kit, as well as a little bit of extra cooling up front in the form of a 3-inch thick radiator and "custom" oil filter. Other additions include a new fuel tank mounted in the trunk and the little styling tweaks found throughout.

David says, "It took me about a year because I had to figure everything out...I built it knowing about the power and trying to keep it reliable. I didn't really build it to race it, I just wanted something different. I really liked the Viper, but I couldn't fit my whole family in it."

Not to take a single iota of mad love away from this build, but I think it would look ever more righteous with a set of Viper wheels (hey, I'm an OEM+ guy). Short of that nit-picking, this is one amazing ride that I'd love to see more of. Chrysler, pay this guy to show it off at SEMA and get started on a DIY kit for Viper-to-300 conversions...STAT.

By Phil Alex

Source: Redletterdodge

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Vipervette is the latest project to kill two performance nameplates in one go

The 1986 Vipervette is exactly what you think it is: part Dodge Viper, part Corvette, all painful. Riding on a 1986 Corvette chassis, the Vipervette is said to have inherited its body (and not much else, apparently) from a 2000 Dodge Viper. Because of this hodge-podge mix of machinery, we have a car with some very awkward proportions.

The car is motivated by the '86 Vette's power train - a 5.7-liter V8 and a 4-speed stick - so don't expect to be going anywhere in too much of a hurry. Inside is more of the 1980's, with the Corvette interior color-coded to line up with the Viper exterior (meaning it's the mighty played-out red and black).

At least it's based on a relatively modern car, so it's got common amenities like power steering, power windows, the Viper's removable top, and a CD player. There's no telling about the quality of the project's fit and finish, but if you're interested in finding out for yourself, this little monster can be yours for the low, low price of $12,250.

For that money, I'd pass and get a cherry 1980's Corvette (and still have money for a vacation, to boot).

By Phil Alex

Link: Autabuy - Hat tip to Brian!

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