Ford resurrected the GT supercar years ago, Chevrolet has plans to turn its flagship Corvette into a mid-engine machine and Dodge… well, the brand soldiers on without a sports car. We don’t count the Challenger Demon—it’s a totally different kind of performance car.
However, the mid-engine C8 Corvette may have fresh competition come 2021. A new Car and Driver report alleges the Dodge Viper will once again make a return. But, it won’t be quite like the Viper we’ve come to know so well.
Instead of a raucous naturally aspirated V10 engine, the reborn halo car may feature a new V8 engine instead. In fact, two engines may be on the docket: a naturally aspirated V8 engine, and a supercharged V8 mill. C&D quotes 550 horsepower and 700-plus hp as ballpark figures.
How a reborn Viper could stack up against the C8 Corvette remains to be seen. We still don’t have official information regarding the mid-engine Corvette program, but the car will likely feature three engine choices: a 6.2-liter LT1 V8 engine and two DOHC V8 engine options. We’d imagine at least one of these mills will produce figures comparable to the rumored 2021 Viper outputs.
When could we see a new Viper arrive on the scene? As early as next year. Those keeping tabs on history books will note that 2019 marks the original Viper concept’s 30th anniversary after it debuted at the 1989 Detroit Auto Show. Dodge could pull off a surprise in a similar manner next year.
Comments
Who cares. If the Viper returns without the engine behind the driver it’s irrelevant. The whole reason for a ME vette is to push the platform forward. If the Viper returns as FE it might as well be pushrod too. The ME platform allows for much greater advancement in track capability. GM Is pushing the performance capabilities of the Corvette forward. The Viper’s return will just be an exercise in nostalgia like the Demon and Hellcat….if it’s FE. Yes, the ACR is fast but the platform isn’t capable of hypercar performance statistics.
Nothing wrong with a pushrod, it’s old but carries a lot of benefits over OHC, and GM has proven it’s still very relevant.
And both the old Viper and current Vette are front midengine. They stuff the engine as far back from the front axle as they can. I know what you meant, but it’s not like the Vette/Viper are front engine in the same regard the 911 is rear engine
have there been any threat to the vette ever?
The closest thing to a threat was the Ford Thunderbird, but the threat lasted only 3 years. After 1958, the two cars never crossed paths with each other ever again.
The Corvette continued to get and better and continued to challenge sports cars from all over the world, while the Thunderbird got fat and old and died alone and unloved from a heart attack in a nursing home in 2005.
The end! 🙂
Hell nah. even if there was, the corvette team never lets other cars overrun them
This seems to be an ongoing theme here “Watch out Corvette the _______________________(insert failed sports car model from the last 30 years) is coming back”
Last month it was the turd, taking too long, who gives a big flying f**k new Supra……this month looks like its going to be the fantasy Viper…….
GTR was the last one to make those claims. And while there performance is pretty fantastic the price enflated way beyond competing with the Vette. And now the GTR is almost old enough to legally drink. Sales of it must be 1/4 what they were. Meanwhile with the C7 I bet annual sales are still within 80% of the first year of its production. Enough models have been added to boost sales. And it’s still aging well.
Most big city Nissan dealers are also unwitting GTR museums, with new 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 cars on the lot for viewing……
The problem with the GTR is that most people that really want one can only buy one on their Playstation……
Peel back the carpet and it’ll read Maserati or Alfa Romeo
And anything Italian rates at the bottom of the barrel in terms of reliability.
Same can be said about Chrysler Ram Dodge and Jeep haha, not really a winning combo as a company
They r still better than Fiat or Alfa Romeo.
All Maseratis including the SUV are built on the Chrysler 300 chassis. You can see all the FCA switches inside. It’s obscene what they charge for that garbage. All rate at the very bottom of the barrel.
No they aren’t
Yes they are. Check it out. Ghibli, Levante and the 4 door version.
The italian Wikipedia says that the Quattroporte is built on a M156 platform, a new development started in 2013.
The M157 is a variant of M156 with a shorter wheelbase, used e.g. for the Levante SUV.
FCA can easily do a nice Viper based on the next 4C platform. I think a rival might help Corvette, get more people interested in the segment.
Most future Dodge product will just be reworked Alfa. It will be cool.
Way too small for the American market.
“Has there ever been any that to the Corvette ever?”
“Hell nah. even if there was, the corvette team never lets other cars overrun them”
The Corvette was being over-run from the mid-70’s, all of the 1980’s, 1990’s, and the early oughts (2000’s) – and the Viper DOMINATED the Vette for most of it’s entire run- Chevy didn’t field a true competitor to the Viper until the supercharged ZR1. FACT