NYIAS guesses on announcement(s)

[Dman]

How about speculation as we count it down.

We've heard they are announcements coming in April, rumors on vert, ACR, engines, etc. There may be news and announcements on other SRT products, which wouldn't surprise me, but those aside ... What do we think about Gen5 oriented news/announcements?

Mopar stuff?
Vert?
ACR?
Refresh for design cues or a power tweak?

I'll put my guess out there:
1. Vert announcement & maybe example/model
2. Refresh with some tweaks overall, I think they're done on the paint maybe, perhaps some HP oriented Mopar parts, like they did with the green GT car and the wing, they could do a coupe with some tweaks on it for display with a power bump.

Those are my crazy-ass guesses.

Dave.

[ViperSmith]

Nothing.

Sadly.

[Bruce H.]

A significant shake-up. Add the Vert and re-jig of models/features to include availability of 5 mode ESC and perhaps brake options across the board. Adjustment of prices for options that seemed expensive. Perhaps base GTS (if it continues) priced at or below TA price. Maybe GT model will replace SRT as it includes the ESC 5 mode. New GT and vert models will require new media reviews and tests and hopefully be stellar like the TA's reviews. A TA replacement for sure, since they can't make more than the original 159, and demand for it continues. Perhaps the new TA will be a seperate model as opposed to an SRT option package. 3 models only, probably Vert, GT, and whatever TA becomes.

I expect part of their goal will be to get as many new models in front of the media and into comparison tests and the above stategy might just do that.

[Simms]

Same stuff from Mopar that we have been seeing (with some still not available to buy). But I hope I am wrong and they have a Mopar controller available for Gen V.

I'll go out on a limb and say no real refresh, but a vert.

[mnc2886]

If anything for 2015 is planned, we would see it now. I would love to see something, but SRT has hinted at nothing and I don't even see rumors anymore so I have to say SRT may not do anything Viper related. I hope I am wrong though. I really want to see this platform continue to evolve.

[ViperSmith]

A significant shake-up. Add the Vert and re-jig of models/features to include availability of 5 mode ESC and perhaps brake options across the board. Adjustment of prices for options that seemed expensive. Perhaps base GTS (if it continues) priced at or below TA price. Maybe GT model will replace SRT as it includes the ESC 5 mode. New GT and vert models will require new media reviews and tests and hopefully be stellar like the TA's reviews. A TA replacement for sure, since they can't make more than the original 159, and demand for it continues. Perhaps the new TA will be a seperate model as opposed to an SRT option package. 3 models only, probably Vert, GT, and whatever TA becomes.

I expect part of their goal will be to get as many new models in front of the media and into comparison tests and the above stategy might just do that.

If anything, I think the GTS "package" is dead, they will stick with the base SRT and the GT package will "get you" what you get with the GTS (electronics wise).

[Coloviper]

It is most likely a convertible! Timing is perfect as what better time to unveil a convertible then after the worst and longest winter on record in a long time (or at least in people's short memories) They would be smart to do so at this time. The factory is not just closing to let the unsold, be sold; they are also retooling. You don't just retool unless you have something you are retooling for so there is devil on those details.

As far as the SRT/GTS package thing, it will sort itself out. I suspect they will end up with just a GTS package model as the base car and drop the SRT name from the model. That makes sense as a 2015 SRT SRT Coupe just does not flow right in the naming. The company is SRT so why add it as a model yet? It is not SRT squared!Aa 2015 SRT GTS Coupe sounds better. It will get straightened out!

Guys and gals, you have to remain positive. I went to the 2014 Denver Autoshow this past weekend, not to look at performance cars but to look at a potential daily driver replacement for one of our family Cayenne Turbos if we needed to pull the trigger fast as it has 108,000 miles on it now. I was very disappointed in what the vast majority of manufacturers are putting out today. It is just like they let the bad taste run wild with some of these cars or they have reduced the sizes to fitting a family of mice. The hyped new Lincoln MKC is just way, way too small and my anticipation of the Porsche Macan was, a very nice machine but just way, way too small for a family, etc..

I will say that the Chrysler/Jeep/FIAT booth was far and away the most exciting manufacturer of the bunch. I wanted to look at a new 2015 Jeep SRT8, but after the horrible experience we had with our 2007 Jeep SRT from new, my wife could not get over the hurdle. The fit and finish was great on that new 2015 but it is not going to happen. Funny as out of all the vehicles there, in the entire show, my wife loved the new 2015 Durango R/T the most, even out of the sport cars it was her favorite. When I mean love; she flipped for it which I was not expecting at all. Too bad there was not a new Durango SRT with the Hellcat otherwise I would have written a check right then and there. I will have to look into that model one a little further.

Now in all that excitement, they had a new 2014 White GTS Coupe. Looking over at "the General" and that horrid looking rear end on the new vette, then looking back at the GTS Viper, then turning and looking to the side at the new Austin Martin DBS, then back to the Viper GTS, I can tell you the new GEN V Viper is an extremely sexy looking beast that can hold it's own against anything else I saw there at the show and that included the Lambo, Ferrari and Porsches. It is just a timeless beauty.

I sat back and people watched for a while near the GTS, listening to the people talk. I was surprised at how the car was embraced and admired by the women in the crowd while the guys hanging off them were just interested in power levels and cost. I think it is best described in the one couple I witnessed (judging by how they were dressed, they looked like they could afford anything at the show);

Husband: "Here is the new Viper"
Wife: "Is that ever look good, it looks like that Austin Martin over there. The body is just so fluid."
Husband: "It looks okay but the new Corvette costs $70,000 and is faster." (must have been referring to the as yet build C07 theoretical numbers)
Wife: "It has over 600 HP how much more do you need? Just look how awesome this car looks and the interior is amazing. Oh I love that interior."
Husband: "It is an all new interior but the new Corvette is all new too and the interior is just as nice. I can buy two Corvettes for the price of this one Viper"
Wife: "And yet you can only drive one car at a time. What good do two Corvettes do for you? This new Viper is timeless and this is a car to drive. It makes a statement."
Husband: "What statement is that? That I paid to much for a car as opposed to another with the same or better performance."
Wife: "No it is a statement that you are no longer a child, you have graduated to a place in life where you can enjoy the finer things in life. You value class, fit finish and the entire package as much as just figures, figures you could not hit anyway if you drove it like that."
Husband: "you like this new Viper"
Wife: "Yes I love it! This is the kind of car I would like to see you in, the kind of car you deserve to be in. The Vette is a middle age crisis car, one that someone buys in desperation to try to relive their youth. Now this Viper is a car that tells the world, everything you did went according to plan and is a symbol of your success. It tells the world that you are a success. It doesn't need to prove anything to anyone. It is just there in all it's beauty and says here I am"
Husband: "You really think so?"
Wife: "Yes dear, it is time to be a man among boys. You already have a couple of Vettes in storage, what is that new Vette going to do for you. It is just going to be another car in your collection, big deal. This Viper would be THE Car in your collection. I bet you will want to sell your other cars after driving this one."
Husband: "You may be right, I should look into it a lot closer. I have always wanted one since they came out but just never bought one. They have always been too expensive when I looked. You are right, I can afford one now. Hey look at that purple Challenger over there. "

Then they walked away. True story and I think sums it up. Usually the wives are the ones that can hold back those auto dreams for most. His was definitely a keeper! Mine is definitely a keeper as she freaked out when I sold my 06' Viper SRT-10 Coupe two years ago and was the one who highly encouraged me to get back into a Viper, though all we could afford at the time last year, with a new growing family, was a 1996 Viper RT/10. Ether way she loves the Viper out of all the cars out there for the same reasons. I am big into Saleens as it is just my thing, well that and Vipers! She doesn't mind the Saleen crowd but much prefers the Viper crowd and on general most owners are successful business owners and just hard working people.

In the end, outside of the pure performance and specs, etc. there is just something about the Viper that says "hey I made it!" The fact it is hand built is even more special.

Okay back to the task at hand.......it will be a convertible. Ha! Ha!

[Capt Van]

I've been saying for 6 months a V8 was on the drawing board so I'll stick with that

[Bruce H.]

Great post, Coloviper. My wife saw a picture of a Viper and loved it instantly. Didn't have to think about it, or dwell on the any of the stuff guys would debate endlessly...just loved it for the sexy thing that it is. Finally got into a dealer to see one after ordering ours and she thought it was stunning. It can be that simple if you're looking in that price range.

Bruce

[XSnake]

I've been saying for 6 months a V8 was on the drawing board so I'll stick with that

lol, no.

[mnc2886]

I've been saying for 6 months a V8 was on the drawing board so I'll stick with that

Ralph addressed this directly. There is zero chance of this happening ever.

[Capt Van]

Ralph addressed this directly. There is zero chance of this happening ever.

Just sayin, when I was at CAAP about 6 months ago it was being heavily discussed. I was with a couple other Vipers owners a couple weeks ago having brunch with them and Ralph, and he gave no indication of anything, it was just a nice lunch with a bunch of car folks and no business talk. I don't think it's as far out the realm as you might think. I'm not saying I have any inside info just a hunch.

I will say that while at the plant I did see the fixture (I think it's called) and the tech that showed it to me said that it was easily able to be used for a vert.

[Dman]

I think we say the V8 is dead because Ralph said, very strongly, just like last month, that they've looked at it 100 ways, & it just won't fit the chassis, so it's not going to be an option, and further that the only engine they have that'll fit the viper chassis is the V10, so he said, they are focused on tweaking it and not other options. I guess anything is possible, frankly, I'd prefer it, I couldn't careless about V10 or V8 or whatever, just give me the performance & reliability, the viper is more than a V10 engine.

BTW, I'm updating my guess to a strong one in favor of a Mopar announcement ;-)

[ViperSmith]

I'd love to know what the deal is with this that Ralph posted on his twitter

Video:
http://instagram.com/p/mtLU5JI3OP/

Screen Grab:

[RedTanRT/10]

Heading over there tomorrow but I've got to head home that night and will miss the dodge press event Thursday at 11:30 am. If I see anything interesting there tomorrow I'll post a picture