Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is reportedly planning to discontinue the Viper within the next two years.
The revised FCA-UAW contract proposal is said to include provisions that put the Viper and its Conner Avenue production plant on the chopping block, according to Allpar.
Rumors circulating last year suggested Dodge was considering significant upgrades to help revitalize the troubled serpent amid sluggish sales. Potential changes are said to include a convertible variant and a supercharger, bringing its 8.4-liter V10 up past 800 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque.
FCA slashed the Viper’s MSRPs by $15,000 across the board for the 2015 model year, resulting in a brief revival but failing to fuel a long-term reversal in sales declines. The nameplate was down by 55 percent to just 49 units in September, with deliveries falling by eight percent for the first nine months of the year combined.
The iconic sports car has largely taken a back seat to Dodge’s more powerful Hellcat models. FCA’s new supercharged V8 provides the Challenger and Charger with 707 ponies and 650 lb-ft of twist. Both cars have been hot sellers, forcing the company to cancel approximately 900 orders for the 2015 model year and increase production — and pricing — for 2016. Total output for the current year is said to have exceeded 4,000 units, more than triple the Viper’s projected sales numbers for the year.
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