2015 Dodge Viper Coupe

It was early 1989 when then Chrysler president Bob Lutz realized that Chrysler had all the hardware it needed, including a (truck-intent) 8.0-liter V10 engine and five-speed manual gearbox and a (Dodge Dakota pickup) heavy-duty independent front suspension, to make a muscular Cobra-Type sports car. Design Vice President Tom Gale and Engineering Vice President Francois Castaing liked the idea. Gale had designer Neil Walling to do some sketches, then they built a concept called Viper for the January, 1989 North American International Auto Show. Reaction to it was so enthusiastic that CEO Lee Iacocca approved it for production.

The very Spartan 400 horsepower Gen I Viper reached production in 1991 and retail sales in January, 1992. Gen II (1996) brought 450 horsepower and GTS coupe version. Gen III (2003) saw a major redesign with an engine upsize to 8.3 liters and 500 horsepower and a name change to Viper SRT10. A new 510-horsepower coupe arrived for 2006, and Gen IV (2008) offered 8.4 liters and 600 horsepower.

With the company recovering from bankruptcy following its merger with Italy's Fiat, Viper production ended on July 1, 2010. Yet a redesigned Gen V SRT (Street and Racing Technology) Viper returned for 2013 with an all-aluminum 640 horsepower 8.4 liter V10 and a premium GTS model. Then the SRT brand was eliminated in 2015, and the now 645-horsepower sports car was renamed Dodge Viper GTS. As of now, the 25th-anniversary 2017 model is said to be the last.