In 1989, America saw the birth of a new breed of sports car: the Dodge Viper. Everything about this vehicle from its massive 8.0 liter V10 engine and bold looks screams American. Since then the Viper has been seen all around America and abroad setting records. After all, the racetrack is the Vipers 2nd natural habitat, right after the gas station of course.
To this day the Dodge Viper has seen many iterations, in particular the ACR (American Club Racer) model which not only boasts the Vipers 8.4 liter V10 engine maxing out at 645 horse power, but also an extremely aggressive aerodynamic body kit that looks sharper than a Gillet razor blade. This not only helps the car look ridiculously sporty on the curb, but creates an impressive amount of downforce helping the vehicle stay on the ground as it burns through rubber doing what it is meant to do. The ACR Viper is the pinnacle of a track innovation, a feat evident by setting more track records than any other production vehicle.
However impressive the Viper may be, Dodge has recently decided to pull the plug on production as they begin to shut down the Vipers production factory in 2017. Dodge’s parent company Fiat Chrysler decided that providing resources to the slow selling and rather expensive sports car is not in the company’s best interest financially.
This is not the first time Dodge has pulled the plug on the snake. On November 4th, 2009, Then CEO and President of Dodge announced that the summer of 2010 will mark the Viper’s production and announced several special edition Vipers for 2010. The Viper production did not stop there however, since 2012 the all American vehicle has seen a rebirth. The Third Generation Viper came out bigger, better, and with a more aggressive look than ever before.
Now twenty-five years after the original Viper first hit the market the super car’s life is coming to an end. To celebrate Dodge decided to produce five special edition Vipers just as it did back in 2010, a representation of the many years the Viper has reigned the track.
In the direction the automobile market is heading these days with competition for the best fuel economy and advances in electric and hydrogen fuel cell powered cars the Dodge Viper may be the only All-American vehicle left.
