Dodge Viper SRT10 Will Live On

Zwartkop, Pretoria – Chrysler Group LLC, parent company to Chrysler South Africa (Pty) Ltd, announced today that production will continue for the legendary Dodge Viper SRT10.

Originally slated to cease production in December 2009, the Chrysler Group Conner Avenue Assembly Plant — the exclusive home of Dodge Viper production since 1995 — will continue to build the V10 powered sports car. Chrysler Group is no longer pursuing a sale of the Viper business assets.

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 aluminium 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 V10 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 customisation options than before.
For 2009, the Dodge Viper SRT10 offers outrageous power, with an 8.4l, 450 kW V10 engine contributing to blistering acceleration 0-96 km/h in less than four seconds, 0-160-0 km/h in the low 12-second range, setting an American sports car benchmark.

To date, more than 25 000 Dodge Vipers have been built.

Unfortunately the Dodge Viper is only built in left hand drive execution and will therefore not be available for sale to South African car enthusiasts.