The Dodge Viper went out of production last summer and chances of a return seemed slim as the Viper’s home – the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant – is being transformed into an internal meeting and display space for showcasing concepts and historic vehicles.
Fans never gave up hope that the Viper could be reborn and rumors have occasionally hinted at the possibility. Car and Driver is the latest to say the Viper is making a comeback and they suggest the car could be launched in late 2020.
Little is known about the next-generation Viper but the publication says the car will ride on a spaceframe platform and make extensive use of aluminum and carbon fiber. The report also says the Viper will retain its classic shape and initially be launched as a roadster. A coupe will then join the lineup a few years later.
While the Viper will look the part, it will be missing one of its defining characteristics. A V10 engine has powered the snake since the beginning but the new car will reportedly have a naturally aspirated V8 engine. Nothing is official but the publication speculates the base model will produce around 550 hp (410 kW / 557 PS). Additional engines are expected in the future and one of them will reportedly be a second-generation Hellcat V8 developing more than 700 hp (522 kW / 710 PS).
The car is expected to be offered with a manual transmission and there will likely be a “hard-core road racer” sometime in the future.
If everything pans out, the next-generation Viper could debut at 2019 North American International Auto Show to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original Viper concept. The car would go on sale about a year and a half later and speculation suggests it could cost around $90,000.
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