Dodge has released a short online documentary showcasing the development and assembly of the 5th-generation Viper hot on the heels of its announcement of a new “1 of 1″ Viper GTC exclusivity program.
The program, which takes advantage of the Viper’s hand-built assembly process, allows buyers to custom-tailor their vehicles in more than 25 million unique combinations, including 8,000 exterior paint colors, 24,000 stripe combinations, 10 wheel packages, 16 interior trims, 6 aerodynamics packages and several à la carte options.

Buyers who order a Viper under this program will receive a 1:18 scale model of their exact build, and each car is personalized with a plaque which includes the customer’s name.

“The Dodge Viper is an iconic, one-of-a-kind, hand-built American Supercar with a 645-horsepower hand-built aluminum V10, a hand-crafted body comprised of hand-laid carbon fiber, aluminum, magnesium and high-strength steel and a racing pedigree,” said Tim Kuniskis, President and CEO, Dodge and SRT, FCA – North America. “Because every Viper is hand crafted with such an extreme level of detail, we have the unique opportunity to make each one even more special by giving buyers the opportunity to customize each vehicle to their exact specifications. Now, Viper owners will be able to say their Viper is truly one of a kind.”

At ~22 minutes, the film is far from comprehensive. Enthusiasts get an inside look at the development of the engine, chassis and interior of the 645hp supercar along with an overview of the assembly process. Built in Michigan at Chrysler’s Conner Avenue Assembly Plant, the Viper has only recently begun to recover some of the volume of its previous generations following a price cut earlier this year. Not long after, FCA (Formerly Chrysler Group) announced the discontinuation of Viper’s factory-backed racing efforts.

“The Dodge Viper is a precision-handcrafted machine expressively built to stimulate all the senses of an enthusiast’s soul,” said Kuniskis, “It’s not widely known what it takes to create this supercar, including the 140 to 160 hours to hand paint each Viper, so we produced the film to show what sets the Viper apart from everything else in its segment.”

Check out the documentary below.

Honda has agreed to pay $70 million in fines for under-reporting warranty claims and more than 1.700 injuries and deaths that could potentially be related to defects in its vehicles.
“Today’s announcement sends a very clear message to the entire industry that manufacturers have responsibility for the complete and timely reporting of this critical safety information,” said NHTSA Administrator Dr. Mark Rosekind in a statement. “The actions we are requiring will push Honda to significantly raise the bar on the effectiveness of its EWR reporting program. Our ongoing oversight will ensure compliance and determine if there is cause for additional actions.”

In addition to the fines, Honda will also be subjected to stricter oversight Going forward, Honda will be required to “develop written procedures for compliance with EWR requirements, train appropriate personnel on at least an annual basis, and complete two third-party audits of the automaker’s compliance with its reporting obligations,” according to NHTSA. Honda will also be required to submit additional information regarding the under-reported cases to the agency so that regulators can evaluate any potential defects to determine their worthiness for potential recall campaigns.

According to Automotive News, Honda’s violations may have hampered the agency’s ability to identify potential safety issues in its vehicles.

A new round of spy shots suggest that the world will finally get a mid-engined Chevrolet Corvette.
It’s been several decades in the making, but Car and Driver finally has some hard evidence that Chevy is moving forward with its oft-rumored mid-engined Corvette. The magazine recently spotted a mule on General Motors’ testing grounds with all the signs of a mid-engined Corvette.

The front of the mule is borrowed for an Australian-market Commodore, with the center section of the car coming courtesy of today’s C7 Stingray. More importantly, that cabin is position very close to the front axles, suggesting there isn’t an engine under hood.

There is, however, plenty of room for a high-performance mill under the mule’s elongated rear section. Side air inlets are further proof that this mule is motivated by an engine located mid-ship.

Wide fender flares and a large rear wing denote this test mule’s high-performance chops.

Exact timing for the launch of Chevy’s mid-engine Corvette remains unknown, but the car will likely be introduced as the C8 ZR1. Recent trademark filings also suggest that Chevy is working on a an all-out performance version of the C8 that will be sold as the Zora.

Power for both models could be provided by a small-displacement V8 with turbocharging technology.

Although just a guess at this point, the Chevrolet Corvette C8 could be ready in time for a late 2016 unveiling as a 2017 model year.

Mercedes-Benz has revealed that it will unveil the high-performance AMG version of its all-new GLE Coupe crossover at next week’s North American International Auto Show.
It was originally thought that Mercedes would save the world debut of the GLE 63 AMG Coupe for the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, but the German automaker confirmed via its Facebook page that the BMW X6 M rival will make its formal introduction in the Motor City.

Mercedes is holding back until the start of the Detroit show next week to publish official details, but the GLE 63 AMG Coupe is expected to use a version of the company’s latest 4.0L turbocharged V8 engine. Under the hood of the C63 AMG, that 4.0L mill makes between 469 and 503 horsepower, depending on trim.

Also like the new C63 AMG, the GLE 63 AMG Coupe will wear the company’s new Mercedes-AMG badging.

Following its Detroit introduction, the GLE 63 AMG Coupe will make its big screen debut in the move Jurassic World. Mercedes has historical ties to the Jurassic Park franchise as The Lost World: Jurassic Park helped introduce the world to the original M-Class SUV.

General Motors CEO Mary Barra believes the U.S. auto market will grow to between 16.5 and 17 million units in 2015.
“We believe there is still plenty of room for the auto industry to grow,” Barra said. “The strength of the labor market, better job security and the recovery in home prices have consumers feeling pretty good about the future. The recent sharp drop in fuel prices and rising incomes should only add to their confidence.”

According to the Detroit Free Press, low oil prices, increased job security, and greater employment levels for entry-level professionals will likely all contribute to growth over an already-strong 2014. The industry grew from 15.6 million units in 2013 to 16.5 million in 2014, or roughly 6%, and put the market back on the pace it abandoned in 2007 when the recession began.

Analysts projected a strong end to 2014, with most predicting a total volume of between 16.3 and 16.4 million. A bump to 17 million units would represent only 3% growth, but would put the industry on pace for another historic year.