The Viper is Dodges primary sports car. Yes they have the Challenger and the Charger, but the Viper is their fasted and highest quality car. It has been recently announced that the Viper will be discontinued in 2011. The question is, will they replace it with a new sports car, or will they let that aspect of the company die away?
The Viper was initially thought up in 1988 by Chrysler. It appeared as a concept in 1989 in the North American International Auto Show. Lamborghini even helped cast some prototype aluminum blocks based on a Dodge Trucks engine. 85 engineers called Team Viper started development in 1989. The car started out having a V8, but then it was later decided that a V10 would be a better choice. In early 1991 an early pre-production Viper was used as a pace-car in the Indi 500.
The Viper started production in 1992. It started out as a 7.998L V10 engine with 400bhp, doing 0-60 in 4.6 seconds. The 2010 version has an 8.4L V10 engine with 600bhp, doing 0-60 in 3.5 seconds. The AC Cobra inspired the first production Vipers. Carroll Shelby even helped design this version Viper.
The Viper has a lush and full history, and sadly due to production cuts, it will be end its legacy in 2011. Cerberus, the company that nows owns Chrysler and Dodge, says they need the money being put into the Viper is required to pad the money lost from the new car the Sebring. The Viper is doomed to become a rare collectible classic because of this poor economy.
Porsche Panorama
Recently, I have been seeing a lot of those four door Porsches, the Panorama I believe. The more I see of them the more I dislike them. I think it's weird for a company built on it's image, to divert from that so hugely. It looks like a stretched out Carrera with a hatch back. It's base model only has 300 bhp with a 0-60 of 6.0. It's base price is $74,000! For less than that, you could buy an E550 Mercedes or BMW 740i, both similar but better cars. What makes a Porsche a Porsche is it's speed, agility, size, and looks, all of which the Panorama has none.
Porsche Panorama
Recently, I have been seeing a lot of those four door Porsches, the Panorama I believe. The more I see of them the more I dislike them. I think it's weird for a company built on it's image, to divert from that so hugely. It looks like a stretched out Carrera with a hatch back. It's base model only has 300 bhp with a 0-60 of 6.0. It's base price is $74,000! For less than that, you could buy an E550 Mercedes or BMW 740i, both similar but better cars. What makes a Porsche a Porsche is it's speed, agility, size, and looks, all of which the Panorama has none.
