Dodge Viper to get Ferrari power – report
August 11, 2009 by Matt Brogan
The Dodge Viper brand has been the victim of many rumours since Chrysler’s emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June, but this latest piece of news, from US magazine Car and Driver, is by far the best yet.
According to the publication, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is currently working on a plan to use a V10 engine derivative of Ferrari’s next generation V8 in the iconic Amercian sports machine.
It’s a bold move, but one that could not only help Fiat to cut costs, but to also re-launch the Viper as Chrysler’s hero car.
the initial plans indicate the new engine family would be based around a 90 degree, modular V8. The Ferrari version would use a flat-plane crank layout, with Maserati adopting a more conventional cross-plane crank. Staying true to its American roots, the Viper version would gain two-cylinders and employ a pushrod setup.
There is no word yet on when the final decision will be made but if it does come to fruition, we would expect a Fiat-powered Viper within a few years.
Print it: 
It already has an engine.
Why waste money buiding another one? Beats me…..
be like siring ‘tony the pony’ with a fine thoroughbred.
and, do ferrari actually know what pushrods are??
2x
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So – :
Nothing unexpected here, his is going to happen more and more.From truck engine to race engine!
AlfaRomeo, ["35 tons anywhere" N.D.] Lancia and perhaps some big Fiats like the Croma and vans will use the all-new 2 billion dollar Chrysler developed Pentastar V6, its perhaps the BEST and most modern mass produced V6 ever made!
Lots of Chrysler vehicles will have Fiat diesels fitted in coming years, the whole deal is coming together nicely!
Further -
Why stop with just the engine?
I think Ferrari should re-engineer the complete vehicle, make/add some decent brakes, lose a whole bunch of weight, aero-body that’s functional and not just for looks, handling improvements, F1 tipo transmission etc etc on and on and on, basically should end up being America;s fastest track AND straight line production vehicle ever made.
Benchmarked against the GT Ford and Corvette Z6, and both thrashed, bettered and beat!
Ferrari can do it easy, how far are they allowed to go?
8 1
Ferrari engines require very expensive regular maintenance, why is part of the reason Ferraris often spend much of their life in their owners garages.
Part of what makes a Viper is its big low-tech engine and its rawness.
Putting a Ferrari engine in a Viper would double its cost and create a car that is not desirable to either Viper fans or Ferrari fans.
Skybreak – I agree,high revving engine dosen’t seem right in an American sports/muscle car,it needs big bottomend and midrange torque.
Good job using a pic of the best looking viper ever, the old model, and original Viper GTS. Those of you at Mopar Sunday on the 26th (which was awesome by the way) would have seen a silver one do a few quarter mile drags with an RT-10. Such a stunning car in the metal.
Firstly the Viper is a muscle car renowned for its grunt at any rpm in any gear. The use of a high revving, high maintenance and probably less reliable drivetrain is silly.
It is the old big cube, pushrod V10 that makes the Viper a Viper and there is nothing wrong with modern day OHV engines. The engine in the ZR1 silences a few critics even when compared to the Italian exotics.
Whatever our new FIAT OVERLORDS say, is correct.
If they want us to toil in their sugar caves…then thats what we do.
I think they’ll make it work. I’ll reserve my final judgement for when it is unveiled.
LONG LIVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!
Not a fan of yankie cars but the Viper is pretty awesome.
Interesting drag race attached, Viper (Not sure which type) vs Tesla Roadster….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiLhyx80RYM
I’m not sure what I find more disagreeable here; the fact that they’re putting something as precise and perfect as a Ferrari engine in something as brash as a Viper, or that they’re taking away the Viper’s rough brashness by putting something as precise and perfect as a Ferrari engine in it.
Surely the charm of a Viper is that they’re no nonsense super cars? I don’t think Viper owners would want something as delicate as a Ferrari engine in it. You’d have to pay a lot in maintenance fees.
I wouldn’t drive a Ferrari powered Dodge across America. A Dodge powered Dodge on the other hand…
V10 truck engine is what makes Viper a Viper. Please don’t put the typical V8. Try something new.
Putting a highly stressed high revving small displacement italian engine in a viper is contradictory to its purpose. 8.4 liter v10 600 hp at 5600 rpm and 560 lb ft at 5100 rpm
We dont want 600 hp at 9500 rpm and 400 lb ft at 7800 rpm The whole point of american muscle and super cars is while knowing higher output is possible, we dont have to thrash on the engines to get them to go.