2012 Dodge Viper Set For New York Debut

That's it, it's locked in. That an all-new Dodge Viper is on the way was no secret - Chrysler confirmed it this time last year - but now it has a date: the 2012 New York Auto Show.

Speaking with the Viper Club of America magazine this week, Dodger SRT boss Ralph Gilles promised a Big Apple debut for the big snake in early April.

We can expect more details to filter down through leaks and teasers over the coming months, but what do we know right now?

Two years ago, it was rumoured that the new Viper would be the most exciting result of Chrysler moving under Fiat control, gaining a big back of Ferrari tricks and all of Maranello's know-how. 

That report was debunked soon after, although it is likely that Fiat has ensured that the smiling snake has benefited from at least a few tips from the prancing horse.

In December last year, Giles confirmed that a new Viper would debut in 2012, promising "a more forgiving car." 

"Fiat has an awesome ability to tune cars. I want the new Viper to be a more forgiving car to drive and accessible to more people. We've never had stability control on a high-performance car, which is about to happen on the new car," he told The Detroit Bureau.

Now, only one week ago, Giles' boss Reid Bigland told industry paper Automotive News that the new Viper will bring wider market appeal to the 'super muscle car', while retaining its image as a thrilling ride.

"It was a little crude in the past, and to a certain extent that was its appeal because you really needed to have your wits about you when you got behind the wheel to keep that thing on the road. And that thrill of driving a Viper was kind of unlike any other," Bigland told Automotive News.

"Those who were attracted to the Viper in the past will certainly be attracted to this new Viper. Guaranteed," he added.

For now, little else is known. Reports suggest that the new Viper will retain its 10-cylinder setup (as it should), although the brand has yet to offer any word on that front.

The new snake will likely pull some tricks from the Fiat catalogue, but we suspect the engineers at Chrysler will be eager to resist the temptation to stray too far from the car's "all-American" image.