Viper Ends Production in 2017; Fiat Chrysler Plans For New Cars, Engines at Its Plants

by Aaron Cole

Updated: December 30th, 2020 Published: October 23rd, 2015

viper ends production in 2017 fiat chrysler plans for new cars engines at its

The Dodge Viper will end production in 2017 when the current model expires, according to approved language included in the United Auto Workers’ contract with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

According to Automotive News, the Conner Avenue plant, which makes the sportscar, doesn’t have future product planned beyond 2017, effectively sealing the fate for the flagging car. The Viper was re-launched in 2011 after a three-year hiatus and has struggled ever since.

According to letters in the approved contract between the union and the automaker, Conner Avenue Assembly would complete production of the Viper in 2017 without a future product.

Included in the product-planning schedule, approved by union workers, are future products for Toledo (Wrangler Pickup), Sterling Heights (Ram 1500 coming in, Chrysler 200 going out) and Warren Assembly (Jeep Grand Wagoneer).

According to the timeline, up to 2,406 workers at Warren Truck Assembly could be laid off. Nearby Sterling Heights could add up to 1,751 workers at its plant. The two plants are approximately 15 minutes apart.

A spokeswoman for FCA didn’t comment on future products at the North American plants.

Included in the product pipeline are two new engines for FCA at its Dundee and Trenton facilities. Dundee currently produces mostly four-cylinder engines, including the 2.4-liter Tigershark in many FCA products. Trenton produces FCA’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6, which was developed in 2007.

A spokesman for FCA didn’t immediately comment on future powertrains for the company.

FCA’s transmission plant in Kokomo, Indiana will also develop a second generation of the 8-speed transmission used by the automaker. That transmission is used in rear-wheel drive vehicles, including the Ram 1500, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Charger/Challenger.

#Chrysler #Dodge #Fca #Jeep #Production #Ram #Truck #Viper

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3 of 29 comments

Carguy on Oct 23, 2015

A pity but not unexpected. Their main competitor GM has has much greater economies of scale (and thus more cars to spread the R&D cost over) with the Corvette by having accessible $60K entry level models. Just ask any super car make how difficult the economics are of dedicated platforms for low selling models.

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- VolandoBajo on Oct 23, 2015
  
  Re: difficulties of the economics of dedicated platforms that are low selling models...I heard that the Bugatti Veyron effectively sold at around a million dollars below total cost. Don't know where the numbers came from, but my first thought was that vanity can get expensive really fast.
  
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Stanczyk on Nov 03, 2015

Let|s not forget that Viper supposed to be .. modern Shelby-Cobra (B.Lutz idea) .. Cobra used to have some engine options, right? > 289 or 427 cu.in .. so they could easlly "water down" this .. "american exotic" >) wtih some V8 option .. (similarly to Vette variants (i.e > base | Zo6 | ZR1{go crazy and "blow" that 8.4L}) ) and no harm (except better sales) would be done .. ... On the other hand Ford would have a chance as well .. They could use "higher-end" Mustangs engines and equipment to build a modern version of Shelby Cobra .. (introducing that shmancy-fancy „exotic race-ready eco-boost V6” GT for "ignorant nouvoriche rentiers" is not enough..>) Cobra would not need to chase Vette, but could rather be more pure american muscle in character(sort of of european muscle Jaguar F-Type-V8 .. >)

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