Dodge will use Fiat technology to improve the performance and accessibility of the next generation of its Viper, due in 2012. But the American sports car looks set to retain its own platform rather than becoming too closely linked to Ferrari’s and Alfa Romeo’s product lines.
Fiat, Dodge’s new owner, gave approval to the new Viper in the autumn, and Fiat Group chief Sergio Marchionne revealed a preview of the car to Dodge dealers in September. But the new model was expected to make extensive use of the Fiat parts bin; some sources had even suggested that it could be based on the same platform as Alfa Romeo’s 8C Competizione.
See a sideways pic of the outgoing Dodge Viper
However, Dodge CEO Ralph Gilles has now revealed that the Viper will get a chassis set-up designed with assistance from Fiat but not derived from another product. The car “is not based on anything else”, he told the Detroit News.
“Where the cabin is, relative to the wheels, is unique,” said Gilles. “The Viper cabin is very rearward and the hood [bonnet] is very long. Few cars in the industry are designed with those proportions any more.
“We will use Fiat’s expertise to open the performance envelope in the Viper,” he added. “Fiat has an awesome ability to tune cars. I want the new Viper to be a more forgiving car to drive and accessible to more people. We’ve never had stability control on a high-performance car, which is about to happen on the new car.”
Read more on the new Dodge Viper
Gilles ruled out the idea of the Viper switching to Ferrari power but admitted that there won’t be a part of the car that’s not open to a radical overhaul.
It’s thought that two engines could be offered in the new Viper: an 8.4-litre V10, possibly making us of Fiat’s innovative MultiAir technology, and an entry-level V8.
Production of the current Viper stopped on 2 July, after 18 years. Chrysler has yet to commit to where its successor will be built, although it’s thought that the line will be kept in Detroit.
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Re: Fiat tech for new Dodge Viper
I really hope they capture that long bonnet in the design of the new model.
But on the topic of Autocar accuracy, The "See a sideways pic of the outgoing Viper", which is the same as the title pic, might have been accurate in about 2002, when that model was outgoing. That was the 2nd Generation, It was Majourly overhauled in 2003, and was refreshed again in 2008. So its the fourth generation model thats outgoing, not the second. Does anyone check this stuff?
Re: Fiat tech for new Dodge Viper
That pic of the Viper is stunning, what an iconic car. Keep the body of the mark I GTS and integrate modern tech with a 700bhp engine and sub 1500kg, thanks.
Re: Fiat tech for new Dodge Viper