TEASED! Dodge Teases The Next-Gen Viper - Should It KEEP It's Domestic Roots Or Take On Some Italian Flair?

This week, Chrysler's Dodge division decided it was a wise time to drop a teaser picture of the all-new Dodge Viper. Considering that the only element of the vehicle you can clearly distinguish are its LED lights, there's not really all that much to take away from the image.

It's actually kind of frustrating, especially with the automotive internet kingdom buzzing about Fiat playing a larger role in its development.

While the original Viper was known for its brutish characteristics and completely unrefined driving experience, will the new Viper get a properly tuned set of European driving dynamics?

Better yet, what would you want to see? A Dodge Viper living up to its heritage or a well-rounded product that can do a bit of it all and scare the pants off of you?

I wonder if this will boil down to an Americanized Mercedes-Benz SLS wannabe considering all the hubbub about that vehicle being based on a next-gen Viper.

What we CAN tell from this image:

- The NEW Viper will keep its bubbled roof
- It will have LED running lights
- The Viper will keep it's snout-like duct work on the hood
- It appears the fenders will be large and in charge

Imagine if Fiat had plenty of control over the finalized product -- maybe we'd see something turn out like the Zagato TZ3 Stradale ;)

FromThePassengerSeat - 2/3/2012 10:12:19 PM

+4 Boost

The Viper needs to remain a wild track-day monster, and not become refined and luxurious to please the crowd. Something more comfortable wouldn't be a Viper anymore. But I doubt I'll get my way.

MorePower - 2/4/2012 8:08:23 AM

+3 Boost

Same price, brakes & reliability with a healthy dose of Italian handling and a dash of Italian zest for styling.

p.s.

Let's see a 300 based sedan with the Viper v-10 and tuned Italian handling to take on, if only on paper, M5s & E63 AMGs.

freeagent - 2/4/2012 3:38:33 PM

+2 Boost

strike the right balance and it will out corvette the next corvette

Joe_Limon - 2/4/2012 11:20:12 PM

+1 Boost

Yess!! Classic viper cues still staying strong.

theman440 - 2/5/2012 11:50:18 PM

+2 Boost

Forget refinement - brute force all the way...the Viper has always out corvetted the corvette.