REPORTS ARE circulating that the Dodge Viper may eventually dump its current V10 engine in favour of a modular powertrain developed by Chrysler’s new owner, Fiat.
Fiat is currently developing a new V8 engine range for its Ferrari and Maserati brands: a powertrain that could reportedly be readily adapted for use in the Viper.
The modular design of the new Ferrari and Maserati V8s means extending the block by two more cylinders would likely be a relatively simple process. Twin balance shafts would maintain smoothness and the Viper’s familiar pushrod valve actuation setup could also be accommodated by the new Fiat-designed engine.
If the rumours prove true, the prospect of a switch from an all-American engine to an Italian one may unsettle many Viper purists.
But with looming emissions regulations prompting many manufacturers to redesign their powertrain technology to be leaner and greener, Chrysler Group LLC may well accept an offer from Fiat for a new performance V10 - if such an offer were to be made.
Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne reportedly believes the Viper holds great promise for Dodge: a new engine may be just the thing to revitalise interest in the ageing sports car.
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Don’t see how this is all that feasible. This report has been doing the rounds the last few days and there are some holes in the thinking.
A Ferrari engine is designed to be compact with small bore centres. Even if the new 4.5L V8 added 2 cyl’s it’s still only going to make a 5.6L V10. Nowhere near the 8.4L currently on offer.
Then the talk of OHV operation, well that also requires a different block to allow for the pushrods. Why would they want OHV (apart from weight) when it’s unlikely to make emmission targets too. It would also mean a different head to the Ferrari engine it’s meant to be sharing the architecture with.
What I can see is Fiat adopting their new DOHC DI multi-air tech to a new head design and modifying the current block to suit DOHC.
In the end, there’s one requirement they’ll need to meet- it needs to roar like an American engine, not scream like an Italian.
“Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne reportedly believes the Viper holds great promise for Dodge: a new engine may be just the thing to revitalise interest in the ageing sports car.”
Hahahahaha this “ageing sports car” is still faster around the Nürburgring than anything out of Italy let alone from Fiat/Ferrari. Someone might like to kindly point that out to him. The arrogance.
“Hahahahaha this “ageing sports car” “………”Someone might like to kindly point that out to him”
What - that the viper was released in 1992. And that its now 17 years old.
Sergio didnt say “this ageing, slow sports car”…….
The Dodge Viper was only made to get the brand back in the customers eyes, as it was lost in nowhere land.
It worked!
It was never a world-class sportscar, never sold like it should have, just a vehicle that made up for poor engineering with a mighty big and powerful truck donk under the bonnet.
Ferrari need to give this vehicle the full treatment, a modern powerful and light powerplant [multiair fitted], F1 paddle transmission, HUGE weight loss, high tech aero body, electronic interface, etc etc
Needs to benchmaked against and beat the top Vette Z6, GT Ford and any other American so called sportscar.
Ferrari can do this with ease, how far will they be allowed to go?
Cheers,
F-0