Dodge Viper fans can rejoice. Their badass Chevrolet Corvette and Porsche 911-fighter will live on into 2010. In a press release issued earlier today, Chrysler Group LLC announced the Viper will not be phased out after at the end of this year. With a tumultous year so far with filing for bankruptcy, shutting down plants and laying off thousands of workers, this upbeat news may be the start of a positive turnaround for the company. Or so the company hopes. “The Dodge Viper has successfully captured the hearts and imagination of performance enthusiasts around the globe,” said Mike Accavitti, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dodge Brand. “We’re extremely proud that the ultimate American-built sports car with its world-class performance will live on as the iconic image leader for the Dodge brand.” And don’t worry about the performance. It will still be a road-going rocket with its 8.4 liter V10 and insane racetrack prowess. Read below for the official release Dodge Viper SRT10 Will Live On Auburn Hills, Mich., Jul 10, 2009 - Chrysler Group LLC announced today that production will continue for the legendary Dodge Viper SRT10. Originally slated to cease production in December 2009, the Chrysler Group Connor Avenue Assembly Plant — the exclusive home of Dodge Viper production since 1995 — will continue to build the V-10 powered sports car. Chrysler Group is no longer pursuing a sale of the Viper business assets. “The Dodge Viper has successfully captured the hearts and imagination of performance enthusiasts around the globe,” said Mike Accavitti, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dodge Brand. “We’re extremely proud that the ultimate American-built sports car with its world-class performance will live on as

the iconic image leader for the Dodge brand.” Introduced as a concept car in 1989 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the Dodge Viper was designed and engineered to test public reaction to the concept of a back-to-basics, high-performance, limited production sports car. The reaction was so overwhelming that customer orders began to flow in even before the auto show was over. Chrysler Corporation immediately decided to determine the production feasibility on transforming the crowd-pleasing Dodge Viper show car into a limited-production sports car in no more than three years. In May 1990, after months of intensive study and testing, Chrysler Corporation announced that the Dodge Viper, powered by an aluminum V-10 was a “go.” Dodge Viper production began in May 1992 at the New Mack Assembly Plant and was moved to Conner Avenue in October 1995. Viper V-10 engine production transferred from Mound Road Engine to Conner Avenue Assembly in May 2001. In 2008, Dodge introduced the all-new, fourth generation Dodge Viper SRT10. With more horsepower, more torque and more than 30 exterior and interior color combinations, the latest Viper gives enthusiasts the performance they expect on the track and off, with more factory customization options than before. For 2009, the Dodge Viper SRT10 offers outrageous power, with an 8.4-liter, 600-horsepower (450 kW) V-10 engine contributing to blistering acceleration (0-60 mph in less than four seconds, 0-100-0 mph in the low 12-second range), setting an American sports car benchmark. To date, more than 25,000 Dodge Vipers have been built. © Gearhead Media - Please visit Automoblog.net for more great content.

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The Viper Lives in 2010!