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Ma Mopar's made it official: Viper's coming back, with production slated to start next fall at the reopened Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit. Come on in for more...including rumors we've heard...and the company press release...
Here's what we've heard so far: -Debut: At the New York International Auto Show in April, with a private showing to the Viper Club of America possible before it hits the show stand.
-Viper will still be a front-engined 2-seater, with the powerplant still an LA-based overhead-valve pushrod V10. Making a V10 out of the new Pentastar V6, or Hemi V8, would be cost-prohibitive--money for R&D and tooling for such an engine project hasn’t been there,
given what Ma Mopar’s been through the last few years.
-That V10’s displacement will be 8.7 liters, and engineering support for it could come from a number of sources, like Lotus or McLaren, or maybe one of FIAT’s high-performance groups.
-Ferrari influence? Yes…we’re hearing that weight-saving and advanced-materials tech will make its way from Maranello to the next-gen Viper, but no existing Ferrari or Maserati platform will be used, nor any of their existing hardware. (One rumor we’ve heard is that the new Viper could be the basis for an upcoming Maserati Gran Turismo.)
-Chassis tech: The Viper’s chassis will be tuned/and refined, and will include Electronic Stability Control so it’s more easily controlled by “ordinary” drivers (i.e. those without a current competition license).
-Styling: The new Viper will wear new body panels, but the styling change will be more along the lines of what Dodge’s design crew did with the ’11 Charger. We’re also hearing that front and rear overhangs will be reduced, and that it will have a “more upscale” appearance.
-Model availability: Once again, there’ll be race-only versions like the previous ACR and GTS, plus a “Venom” version that we’re guessing will not be aimed at Prius drivers.
_____________________ Meanwhile, here's the text of the press release from Auburn Hills: The Snake Returns to Chrysler Group’s Conner Avenue Assembly Plant
* Conner Plant reopens to produce 2013 SRT Viper
* Nearly 150 jobs to return to Detroit
* New Viper to roll off the line in late 2012
Chrysler Group LLC announced that it will reopen its Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit for the production of the next generation SRT Viper. With the plant’s reopening, nearly 150 jobs, both hourly and salaried, will return to the City of Detroit.
The Conner facility was idled when production of the Dodge Viper ended in July 2010.
“The next generation Viper will make its return to the product lineup in late 2012 as a 2013 model,” said Ralph Gilles, President and Chief Executive Officer-SRT Brand and Motorsports, Chrysler Group LLC. “We’re extremely excited that our ultimate American sports car will continue to live on and be produced exclusively here in the Motor City.”
 Current Chrysler Group hourly employees who previously worked at Conner were first offered the opportunity to return to their home plant. The balance of the positions will be filled by hourly employees volunteering to transfer to the Conner Avenue plant.
Conner Avenue will begin building the new Viper in late 2012, but employees began reporting for training and orientation this fall.
In preparation for the reopening, the Conner facility will begin its transformation by implementing World Class Manufacturing (WCM), a system that is focused on reducing waste and making continuous improvements throughout the assembly process to improve quality and productivity.
Viper production began in May 1992 at the New Mack Assembly Plant, then moved to the Conner Avenue site in October 1995. All Vipers that rolled off the line were hand-built in a low-volume, modular process. Over the course of 15 years, Conner Avenue employees built
about 12 vehicles a day for a total of 22,070 Vipers.
The reopening of the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant reaffirms Chrysler Group’s commitment to the City of Detroit as the only auto manufacturer with two assembly plants in the city.
About the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant
The Conner Avenue Assembly Plant was built in 1966, and purchased by Chrysler in 1995.
Viper production began in May 1992 at the New Mack Assembly Plant and was moved to Conner Avenue in October 1995. Prowler production began in May 1997 and ended in February 2002. Viper V-10 Engine production was transferred from Mound Road Engine to Conner Assembly in May 2001.
In 2003, the newly engineered SRT10 Roadster hit the market and the SRT10 Coupe followed in 2005.
With a production run of 28,056, Viper production ended on July 2, 2010. As a result, the facility was idled.
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