Rumors suggest that the beloved sports car will not be leaving us for very long.
The fifth-gen Viper has been stricken after the closing of FCA’s Conner Avenue Assembly facility. Done. Kaput. However, don’t think the beloved sports car will be gone forever. Rumours suggest that Dodge could bring back the Viper and replace its powerful V10 with an even more powerful V8.
According to Car and Driver the Viper will return to dealers (and our hearts) before the end of the decade. This will be the second rebirth of the sports car, after its introduction in 2012. It will also be heavily reworked, just like the previous model.
One possibility is that the sixth iteration will be powered by an aluminum-block, naturally aspirated V8. The engine will be hidden behind the front axle, just like all Vipers before. To start, power should be in the vicinity of 550 watts (410 kilowatts). High-output variants will close in on Hellcat’s 707-hp (527 kW) figure.
According to reports, the V8’s more powerful engine will be paired with a lighter spaceframe chassis and a body that is heavily covered in carbon fiber and aluminium. This will make it not only more powerful but also lighter. Dodge may even launch a convertible version, unlike the previous model.
Rumours suggest that the Viper could debut at the Detroit Auto Show next year. Although the 2019 date would be 30 years since the original Viper concept was introduced, the car won’t see the streets until 2020 or 2021. The asking price for the car could be around $100,000, considering it will use an engine from another FCA vehicle.