Dodge Viper
The Dodge Viper is yet another sports car with a relatively recent production history, spanning from 1991 to 2017. There was, however, a brief break from 2010 to 2013. The Viper is known for its sporty aesthetics and performance. This two-seater sports car has also been recognized for its high percentage of parts manufactured within the United States.
The idea for the Viper began back in 1988 at the Advanced Design Studios of Chrysler. Shortly after, the Chrysler president suggested a modern version of the Cobra, which led to a clay model. This was turned into a sheet metal concept at the 1989 North American International Auto Show. The public loved the vehicle and it was quickly decided that it would go into production.
The first generation of the Dodge Viper actually began with two pre-production vehicles that served as pace cars in the Indianapolis 500. The V10 engine that sat inside the first Vipers was the result of design assistance from Lamborghini, which owned Chrysler Corporation at the time. The V10 was based off the LA V8 from Chrysler. The engine delivered up to 400 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. The aluminum alloy wheels had a larger-than-average diameter, thanks to the bigger brakes.
The engineers behind the first Viper wanted it to be a performance car. As such, there was no air-conditioning or exterior-mounted door handles at first. There were also other performance-focused features, like a canvas roof and vinyl windows. Even so, the first Viper got some amenities, such as interior carpeting, AM/FM radio, a cassette player, sport leather-trimmed bucket seats with manual adjustment and lumbar support, and high-fidelity sound.
The second generation of the Dodge Viper carried over many features with some minor changes. These included moving the exhaust pipes to reduce backpressure and increase engine output. The third generation included a major redesign in 2002, including a larger engine.
The fifth and final generation of the Dodge Viper lasted from 2013 to 2017. The fifth generation was very unique. It debuted during the 2012 New York Auto Show with a 640-horsepower, 600-pound-foot V10 engine, and a 6-speed manual transmission. By the final model year, the Viper was available in five different trim levels, each with their own set of features. At this point, the Viper was no longer bare-bones and even the base SRT trim had an 8.4-inch touchscreen, Harman Kardon sound, and satellite radio.
