Dodge boss Ralph Gilles made an interesting comment at the Chicago auto show. Dressed in a black blazer and a “made in Detroit†T-shirt, he cracked, “My Dodge Viper is in training for the supercar Olympics. It’s gone for a couple of years.”
That’s more than a glib comment. And Chrysler again confirmed on Friday that the Viper will return late next year. A press release said testing is under way, “for the supercar Olympics,†and a 2010 chassis is being used for development purposes.
But purists may cringe at this nugget of news: Chrysler said stability control will be used for the first time on the next generation of the Viper.
The Viper went out of production last year after an 18-year run during which it was largely unchanged. But it remained a favorite of enthusiasts with its racing-bred styling and 600-hp V10.
The next car is expected to include Italian flair with American chutzpah. Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne closed a dealer presentation last fall with the reveal of a concept Viper, which several sources told AutoWeek carried an Italian theme.
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