Is The Dodge Viper Coming Back With A V8 Under The Bonnet?

According to a new report, the Viper is making a return for 2021, but it won't use a V10

25 May 2018

Is The Dodge Viper Coming Back With A V8 Under The Bonnet?

You can’t help but love the Dodge Viper. Its recipe is simple, bonkers and effective: stick a huge naturally-aspirated V10 up front, send its power to the rear wheels via a manual gearbox and keep it light-ish. How can you argue with that?

However, not enough people made the transition from admiring to actually laying down their hard-earned for a Viper, and amid poor sales in 2017, Dodge pulled the plug. So the Viper is down, it seems, but not out: Car and Driver is reporting that the genre-blending coupe is making a comeback for 2021.

The format, to begin with at least, sounds quite familiar. It’ll utilise a spaceframe platform, and have a long bonnet with the engine mounted just behond the front axle. But there’s one rather large departure from the Viper norm: there may not be a V10.

The C&D report claims that Chrysler is cooking up an all-new V8 to replace the ancient iron-block Hemi engine. The publication is merely “guessing” that this V8 will be used as the Viper’s first powerplant, but that would make sense: it seems unlikely that the US firm would develop an all-new V10 just for this car.

We’re getting into pure speculation now, but the report reckons the starting point would be around 550bhp, with a supercharged 700bhp+ version - “essentially a second-gen Hellcat engine” joining later.

What do you think of the idea of a V8 Viper?

Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.

Comments

I think this is a good thing. The v8 will probably be lighter, higher revving, and still sound great because ‘murica. If anything this will increase the competition between the corvette and viper, consumer wins.

When mclaren introduced the 12c, it forced the 911 and the 458/488 to get better. When Ford makes a fast shelby, the camaro gets faster too. This v8 will only result in a better, more competitive american car market.

Revving higher isn’t inherently better. The v10 isn’t the problem, even with the 8.4L it’s almost the same weight as a 911. The reason why the viper isn’t competitive it because it’s hard to live with, hell the side pipes still burn people’s legs.

I don’t care so long as it’s not fully electric or a crossover!!!!!!!

As long as we get a big winged, track-slaying version, I’m good.

Kinda ruins the viper for me, I’m sorry America but a V8 in everything ever gets rather boring if you ask me.

V8 is a great engine. Viper is a great car. But a V8 Viper would be as sacrilegious as a V6 Shelby GT500 or a turbo 4 Mazda RX. Just no. I don’t care what you gain in fuel economy or weight, just no.