Dodge keeps Viper alive

In a dramatic reversal of fortune the iconic Dodge Viper will live on as part of the Chrysler Group family. Originally put up for sale prior to the company entering bankruptcy the company has announced it will continue to build the two-seat coupe.

It has been reported that Dodge received no serious bidders for the rights to build the car, so the decision to keep it as part of the brand's product portfolio will be a relief to the Conner Avenue factory workers that build the car. Dodge had previously said it would close production in December if no buyer was found.

"The Dodge Viper has successfully captured the hearts and imagination of performance enthusiasts around the globe," said Mike Accavitti, President and CEO, Dodge. "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."

But what remains unclear is just how long Dodge plan to keep the Viper around for. The 2009 model is currently available with a 8.4-litre V10 engine that produces 450kW, but there has been no indication from Dodge that a 2010 update is coming.

So far Dodge has produced over 25,000 examples of the Viper since production began in 1992. Now in the 20th anniversary of its launch as a concept car in January 1989, the Viper is relatively unchanged from that original concept.

How it fits in the new-look Dodge line-up remains to be seen. Chrysler Group, and its new part-owners Fiat SpA, is focused on producing small fuel efficient vehicles, something that jars with the big-engined Viper. But at the same time cross-town rivals, Chevrolet, are enjoying success on the back of the strong selling Camaro. So having such an iconic model as the hero car of the Dodge range could have its benefits.

With Dodge only officially committed to not selling the Viper assets, just how long the Viper continues remains unclear.

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