Are YOU Going To Miss The Dodge Viper Or Is It Good Riddance To BAD Rubbish?

I remember it like it was yesterday. After discontinuing the Dodge Viper, the automotive community lost its marbles when SRT announced that the vehicle would be making a comeback in an all-new way. Although many supercars were getting more accommodating and comfortable, something deep within the automotive world wanted something that was brash, pure and — relatively speaking — reasonably priced.

That’s the gap the Viper fills.

Equipped with the sharpest exterior design yet and the most dressed up Viper, the first road tests confirmed that it still was a naturally aspirated 8.4-liter V10 supercar that was not for the faint of heart. Though the reviews were skewed towards the positive side, the reality is that it wasn’t compelling enough in a crowded space.

Sales of the Viper weren’t bowling over anyone. And while Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has pivoted the Viper from being a pure driving experience to a hand-built one, that marketing doesn’t seem to have struck a chord with the market.

At last after 25 years, this generation Viper’s run is coming to an end. Rather than kill it off though, FCA is — predictably — ringing the Viper’s last days out in style. That’s kind of all it has left at this point.

That means there will be a few special editions for public consumption and, as you’d expect, they’ll come in limited numbers. Hopefully the automaker doesn’t build too many that languish on dealer lots.

Check out the company-issued release below for the FULL details about the 2017 model year Viper and its respective special editions.

FCA's press release follows:

Dodge Celebrates 25th Anniversary and Final Year of Viper Production with Five Exclusive Limited-edition Models

New 25th anniversary limited-edition models feature exclusive content to commemorate the final year of Viper production
1:28 Edition ACR (American Club Racer) – Celebrating the current Laguna Seca single-lap record of 1:28.65
GTS-R Commemorative Edition ACR – One of the most iconic Viper liveries of all-time
VoooDoo II Edition ACR – Rebirth of the VooDoo ACR
Snakeskin Edition GTC – Inspired by the original Snakeskin, now with unique snakeskin stripe
Dodge Dealer Edition – Viper ACR special edition available through Tomball and Roanoke Dodge dealers
Each limited-edition Viper model features a serialized instrument panel badge with the model name that can be customized with the customer's name
Customers can begin ordering special edition Vipers on June 24, 2016The 2017 Viper is available in more than 50 million unique build configurations, including the ACR package, through the "1 of 1" customization program for a truly one-of-a-kind snake American hand-built supercar

The Dodge brand is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Dodge Viper with five limited-edition models that commemorate the final year of Viper production and highlight several of the most iconic special edition Vipers of the past.

"The Dodge Viper has had a great run, and 25 years after it was first introduced, it leaves the supercar world reaching for the records it continues to set," said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Cars, Dodge, SRT, Chrysler, and Fiat – FCA, North America. "With more track records than any production car in the world, the Dodge Viper ACR will live on as the fastest street-legal Viper track car ever, the car that has set the benchmark for all that follows in its tracks."

One of the most unique and exotic high-performance machines on the road today, Dodge is honoring the Viper's rich, colorful and exceptional performance heritage on and off the track by paying tribute to some of the most iconic Vipers in its history. Beginning on June 24 and new for 2017 model year, customers can order their special snake in the following exclusive special edition configurations:

Viper 1:28 Edition ACR

Pays tribute to the current production car single lap record of 1:28.65 set by champion driver Randy Pobst in a 2016 Dodge Viper ACR at historic Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, Calif., in October 2015
Features black exterior and painted rear wing with red ACR stripes, Extreme Aero Package, Carbon Ceramic brakes, 1:28 Edition exterior sill decal, ACR interior with red accent stitching, serialized instrument panel 1:28 Edition badge, along with a custom car cover that matches the exterior paint scheme and showcases the customer name above the driver's side door
As many as 28 units of this new special edition configuration will be built for the 2017 model year
Looking back in Viper history: Using the same track record theme, Dodge previously produced 33 units of the 2010 Viper ACR 1:33 Edition to tout its previous track record of 1:33.915 set by SRT dynamics engineer Chris Winkler at Laguna Seca Raceway in November 2009

Viper GTS-R Commemorative Edition ACR

Designed to pay tribute to one of the most distinguishable and iconic Viper paint schemes of all time – the white and blue combination of the 1998 Viper GTS-R GT2 Championship Edition
Features Pearl White exterior with Blue Pearl GTS stripes, Extreme Aero Package, Carbon Ceramic brakes, Exterior Carbon Package, unique red Stryker badge decal, GTS-R exterior sill decals, USA flag B-pillar decals, ACR interior with red accent stitching, Header Red seat belts, serialized instrument panel GTS-R badge and a custom car cover that matches the exterior paint scheme and showcases the customer name above the driver's side door
As many as 100 units of this new special edition configuration will be built for 2017
Looking back in Viper history: 100 units of the 1998 Viper GTS-R GTS Championship Edition were produced to commemorate the Viper winning the 1997 FIA GT2 championship

Viper VoooDoo II Edition ACR

Modeled after the original 2010 Viper VooDoo edition
Features black exterior and graphite metallic ACR driver's stripe with red tracer outline, Extreme Aero Package, Carbon Ceramic brakes, VoooDoo II exterior sill decals, ACR interior with silver accent stitching, serialized instrument panel VoooDoo II badge and custom car cover that matches the exterior paint scheme and showcases the customer name above the driver's side door
As many as 31 units of this new special edition configuration will be produced for 2017
Looking back in Viper history: 31 units of the original VooDoo Viper ACR were built in 2010

Viper Snakeskin Edition GTC

Color was inspired by the original 2010 Snakeskin ACR
Features new Snakeskin Green exterior with a custom snakeskin patterned SRT stripe, Advanced Aerodynamics Package, GT black interior, serialized instrument panel Snakeskin badge and a custom car cover that matches the exterior paint scheme and showcases the customer name above the driver's side door
As many as 25 units of this new special edition configuration will be produced for 2017
Looking back in Viper history: 31 units of the original Snakeskin Viper ACR were built in 2010

Dodge Dealer Edition ACR

Available exclusively through Dodge's highest sales volume Viper dealers, Tomball Dodge of Tomball, Texas, and Roanoke Dodge of Roanoke, Ill.
Features Viper White exterior with Competition Blue center stripe, Adrenaline Red driver stripe, Carbon Ceramic brakes, Extreme Aero Package, ACR interior with red accent stitching and custom car cover that matches the exterior paint scheme and showcases the customer name above the driver's side door
Serialized instrument panel ACR badge
As many as 33 units of this new special edition configuration will be produced for 2017

Industry-first '1 of 1' Viper customization program continues
Continuing for the 2017 model year is the exclusive Viper "1 of 1" customization program that enables buyers to create their one-of-a-kind "Snake" from the ground up. With 16,000 exterior color options, including matte exterior finishes, 24,000 custom stripe colors, 11 wheel options, 16 interior trims and seven aero packages, three brake packages and four suspension options, there are more than 50 million ways for buyers to customize their one-of-a-kind Dodge Viper. Each "1 of 1" model Viper features a personalized instrument panel badge with customer's chosen name to commemorate their exclusive design. No two customers can order the same configuration, including color, in the same model year

ACR model returns as ultimate street-legal racer
The Dodge Viper ACR returns in 2017 as the indisputable "ultimate street-legal race car" with significant aerodynamic and suspension upgrades. Relaunched in 2016, the third edition (1999-2002, 2008-2010) of the Viper ACR has taken the performance car world by storm with more track records than any production car in the world — a total of 13 road course lap records as certified by the Sports Car Club of America.

About Viper
All 2017 Dodge Vipers are powered by the iconic all-aluminum 8.4-liter V-10 engine that delivers 645 horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. of torque — the most torque of any naturally aspirated sports car engine in the world. Standard safety features include electronic multistage stability control, traction control and a new four-channel anti-lock brake system.

Since 1992, Dodge and SRT have built approximately 30,000 Vipers at the Mack Avenue Assembly (1992–1994) and Conner Avenue Assembly Plant (1995–current), both in Detroit.

MDarringer - 6/25/2016 7:10:51 PM

-3 Boost

I have mixed feelings.

Being a TVR fan, I should love the Viper, but I don't.

On one hand the Viper is a BAD ASS muscle car and, yes, it's fast at the track, but hustling one around is a LOT of work.

The V10 has an iconic sound, but I cannot help but feel the Hemi would have made it a better car.

Driving a Viper is like driving a truck.

On the other hand, the Viper needed to be reimagined to target the Corvette. That would have been a genius move. It had the name recognition and reputation and making it a dollar-for-dollar Corvette competitor would have multiplied sales.

Unexploited synergies existed between the Viper and a product like the AMGGT and between the Viper and Maseratis/Ferraris. Huge opportunities missed.

And YES it is about sales because the lack thereof has caused its demise.

I'm thankful to have driven several, but the Stingray is so much better for so much less and and Sagaris is 100% as brutal but so much better behaved.

We may need to comfort the "pinky" men who needed this penis on wheels and gobs of cash to do the horizontal lambada and tell them it really is the motion of the ocean than counts and that it's OK to drive a Miata.

See what I did there?

Car4life1 - 6/25/2016 9:05:30 PM

+3 Boost

I hear you guys but yes I am going to miss the viper. This thing was so menacing and badass when it came out and it's now about the same age as me.

I just remember my 10 year old eyes being glued to any poster or magazine the viper graced.

It may have not been the best driving, fastest, or most comfortable, but the viper had personality, heart, and was an awesome machine to behold.

Rest In The Fast Lane Viper!

TomM - 6/26/2016 7:03:58 AM

+2 Boost

The Viper took me back to the old days - it was nothing more than an old Drag Racer - its ride was at best - punishing. But the thing could MOVE. Lets just stick a Blown Hemi into a small car and go to Englishtown and blow everybody away! They never changed it to be a real car though - and there are only so many purists who will endure that car for that price - when there were other options. And people also outgrew it too - you can only stand that for so long.

mini22 - 6/25/2016 7:13:22 PM

+1 Boost

Frankly no. I'm not going to miss it. The reason is that it was ultimately too compromised a vehicle. The original had tricky handling at the limit, heat soak from the engine compartment and not all that well built. The 2012 refresh improved things but still not to a Corvette level. It might have been better to go with a smaller engine and a supercharger.

TheSteve - 6/25/2016 7:44:11 PM

0 Boost

I've always thought of the Viper as a cartoon car, a parody of a car, rather than a real car. Also, that rough running engine feels like unrefined bruce force. Not my cup of tea.

iamdabest1 - 6/26/2016 12:31:13 AM

+2 Boost

ill always love the viper. as a diehard vette fan, i think the rarity of viper makes it more desireable than a vette. the fact that the vette is the original american sports legend makes it harder to make room for a viper considering the higher asking price for a car that isnt really better.
i think if the viper was priced the same as the vette and offered with an auto or PDK like transmission it would have sold much better.
im hoping it makes a 3rd comeback down the road.

PUGPROUD - 6/26/2016 1:40:42 PM

+2 Boost

Not perfect by any means but few cars have the street presence of a Viper. I have owned two in the past and at every fill up someone would come over to start a conversation. Rough around the edges, poor exhaust note but great dynamics when you put your foot in it. Will be missed.

MorePower - 6/27/2016 4:38:49 PM

+4 Boost

Viper for Life!

Probably one of Lutz's, if not the, best projects.

MDarringer - 6/27/2016 7:29:29 PM

-4 Boost

Deeply flawed. Never engineered. Never capitalized on. #Clusterduck

LaLmeida617 - 8/8/2018 4:58:15 PM

+1 Boost

The viper was exactly as it was intended. A no frills bad ass fast and exciting driving experience. Not really a sports car but a race car for the road. If you want a fluffy comfy car that he goes fast go buy one of a pile of sports cars. You can blend in with all the other sheep. Sorry but the fact a company has the nuts to build something as crazy as the Viper and keep building it for over 20 years is outstanding. Taking chances is something the USA used to do. Now everything has to be politically correct, sustainable, and safe for the children. Well I say F that and good for Dodge.

Think about it. No windows, No roof, No door handles, the trunks got a prop rod, hand assembled and hand painted, 400hp no traction control or ABS, No airbag 3200 lbs of Joy. Just crazy. Ya it’s hot ya it’s interior has to much plastic but if you stop complaining and push the right peddle down......ZOOM The damn thing is like driving your own demon! Go America! The Viper will always be a true piece of Americana just like a classic Vette, and If you don’t miss it then you aren’t a true car lover. I respect everyone’s opinion and I hope you enjoy your Prius. ?? ??