Chrysler selling Viper as a brand

[SVT666]

Chrysler to start negotiations for Viper brand in ?another three or four weeks?

Chrysler announced late last month that its Viper brand was up for ?strategic review? ? aka ?for sale? ? and it doesn?t look as though the Michigan automaker will waste any time getting the Snake to market. A new report finds that Chrysler will soon begin taking bids for its Viper line, with the possibility of a sale in as little as a few weeks.

Similar to General Motors? decision to sell its Hummer SUV brand, Chrysler?s sale of the Viper brand is intended to bring in some extra cash while allowing the struggling automaker to focus on its core business.

Although Chrysler just announced that it was considering the sale of the Viper brand less than a month ago, Chrysler?s high-performance vehicle line could find itself with a new owner before 2008 is over. ?We?ve had a lot of excitement,? Chrysler Vice Chairman Tom Lasorda told Just-Auto. ?We will start negotiations in probably another three or four weeks.?

Chrysler is in desperate need of a cash influx after losing $400 million during the first eight months of 2008. The automaker also recently announced its plans to have an electric vehicle to market by 2010, which will require a huge investment.

However, fans of high-performance Dodges might not be left out in the cold after Chrysler parts ways with the Viper. Dodge?s future vehicle plans will likely include the recently unveiled Dodge EV, which has a strong focus on performance with the added benefits of zero emissions motoring.

[Eye of the Tiger]

chrysler blows
bring back the cordoba! 

[ifcar]

Beats just killing it.

[Soup DeVille]

Oh God please let Steve Saleen buy it.
Oh God please let Steve Saleen buy it.
Oh God please let Steve Saleen buy it.
Oh God please let Steve Saleen buy it.
Oh God please let Steve Saleen buy it.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Oh God please let Steve Saleen buy it.
Oh God please let Steve Saleen buy it.
Oh God please let Steve Saleen buy it.
Oh God please let Steve Saleen buy it.
Oh God please let Steve Saleen buy it.

Nope, he's too late. I already have a blank check writtien out to Mr. Chrysler.

[giant_mtb]

"However, fans of high-performance Dodges might not be left out in the cold after Chrysler parts ways with the Viper. Dodge?s future vehicle plans will likely include the recently unveiled Dodge EV, which has a strong focus on performance with the added benefits of zero emissions motoring."

Yeah, 'cause I'd much rather have a whizzing, whirring electric vehicle with no soul than a heart-pounding, high-revving V10 vehicle.

[SVT666]

Oh God please let Steve Saleen buy it.
Oh God please let Steve Saleen buy it.
Oh God please let Steve Saleen buy it.
Oh God please let Steve Saleen buy it.
Oh God please let Steve Saleen buy it.

Hmm.  I like that idea, but what about Hennessey?

[Soup DeVille]

Hmm.  I like that idea, but what about Hennessey?

I've heard some bad things about his business practices.

[SVT666]

I've heard some bad things about his business practices.

Apparently that was to do with delivery of cars and it was a few years ago.  However, I haven't heard about his operation since.

[Raza]

Fire sale?

[Soup DeVille]

Fire sale?

Probably, but Cerberus is being smart about it: breaking the product up into smaller, more manageable segments that may be within the financial reach of many more players. There are very few potential buyers for Chrysler as a whole, but Viper as a stand-alone package may garner lots of interest.

Look for Jeep Wranglers to be packaged next if this move is succesful.

[68_427]

Some random Indian company will buy it.  

[The Pirate]

Fire sale?

[ifcar]

Probably, but Cerberus is being smart about it: breaking the product up into smaller, more manageable segments that may be within the financial reach of many more players. There are very few potential buyers for Chrysler as a whole, but Viper as a stand-alone package may garner lots of interest.

Look for Jeep Wranglers to be packaged next if this move is succesful.

The Jeep brand isn't nearly so badly damaged that only the Wrangler can be saved.

[Raza]

[565]

Toyota Viper.

Hell yeah.

[the Teuton]

Toyota Viper.

Hell yeah.

V10s are so passe.  What that thing needs is a DOHC 5.7 liter V8 with Hybrid Synergy Drive and an 8-speed automatic transmission.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

V10s are so passe.  What that thing needs is a DOHC 5.7 liter V8 with Hybrid Synergy Drive and an 8-speed automatic transmission.

[Onslaught]

"However, fans of high-performance Dodges might not be left out in the cold after Chrysler parts ways with the Viper. Dodge?s future vehicle plans will likely include the recently unveiled Dodge EV, which has a strong focus on performance with the added benefits of zero emissions motoring."

Yeah, 'cause I'd much rather have a whizzing, whirring electric vehicle with no soul than a heart-pounding, high-revving V10 vehicle.

If they could make a good one then I'd drive it. A electric car could have soul if it was made right. But I think that's a long way off at this time.

[giant_mtb]

If they could make a good one then I'd drive it. A electric car could have soul if it was made right. But I think that's a long way off at this time.

Indeed, that's why I'd rather not have the "EV".

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Chrysler needs to sell the viper asap so they can "focus on its core business"

Apparently that core business is making shitty cars.

[Schadenfreude]

And people complain about GM? When they probably make the best vehicles out of all the American automakers? 

[SVT666]

I think Soup is right, the Viper is going to be an SMS model soon. 

[r0tor]

I could see saleen buying it or FoMoCo as the viper has shelby routes and all that is shelby is FoMoCo right now...

[the Teuton]

Having a Shelby Viper would be freakin' sweet, but I, too, think it deserves to be an SMS model.

[Soup DeVille]

The Jeep brand isn't nearly so badly damaged that only the Wrangler can be saved.

Not that the marque can't be saved, but that the Wrangler alone probably has the best ptential of bringing interested parties to the bidding.

[ifcar]

Not that the marque can't be saved, but that the Wrangler alone probably has the best ptential of bringing interested parties to the bidding.

The Wrangler is probably the brand's best asset, but I don't think it would need to be spun off like the Viper was from Dodge.

[sportyaccordy]

Hey if Dodge's next performance car is a hybrid it wouldn't be too bad.

I hooked up a sub to stereo, and because of an awful ground you can hear the revs through the sub. It sounds like an exhaust!

[Vinsanity]

I hooked up a sub to stereo, and because of an awful ground you can hear the revs through the sub. It sounds like an exhaust!

You might have just inadvertently discovered the next riceboi phenomenon

[S204STi]

Hey if Dodge's next performance car is a hybrid it wouldn't be too bad.

I hooked up a sub to stereo, and because of an awful ground you can hear the revs through the sub. It sounds like an exhaust!

That's called RFI and it's due to shitty spark plug wires most likely.