Dodge Viper Gets Ferrari DNA???

Long live the king.

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There was speculation that since Fiat and Dodge/Chrysler will strategically lend helpings hands to one another, and being that Fiat owns Ferrari, that the successor to the retiring Dodge Viper could receive some Maranello magic.  Apparently, everyone who was either happy or worried about such a thing no longer have to be concerned with the matter.

Ralph Gilles, the Dodge brand chief, basically said that was some ol’ bullsh*t.  ”Ferrari is Ferrari. Viper is Viper.” , he explained simply.  I agree a million percent!

Though the prospect of a Ferrari/Viper fusion sounds wonderful in terms of performance, many, including myself, feel as though that would be…what’s the word?  Stupid.  That’s it. It’d be stupid (not my best moment, I know).  I don’t really mean stupid, but it would be…tainted somehow.  You see, the beauty of Ferrari is that they are Ferrari and no one else makes cars like they do.  The same can be said for the Viper.  Viper is Viper no matter how unpolished, old fashioned, brutish, and rough it is.  Whatever the characteristics of the car, they make that car what it is.  I’m just relieved to know that even with the companies working together on a B segment car, Dodge intends to maintain the integrity of the Viper legend, even in its replacement. To smooth away the Viper’s ludicrously vicious styling, the massive v10, and fill it with high tech go-fast stuff is like pissing on Michael Jackson’s grave: hate it or love it, you have to respect the legend.

From what I’ve read on the comments of Autoblog.com and some other message boards, people seem most worried that Dodge is nix the 8.4 liter v10. I can’t say that I don’t share the same feelings. That’s one of the best engines ever made.  However, I wouldn’t be opposed to something like…say a twin turbo V8.  Just sayin’.

Check out the Top Gear test and review video below and try not to get all misty eyed.

-Triple_Deuce

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