It looks as though Chrysler may resurrect the Dodge Magnum. The station wagon was one of several vehicles that got axed during the dark days of Chrysler’s bankruptcy and reorganization in 2008 and 2009.

“That vehicle was single-handedly killed by one executive who is no longer with the company. He’s retired. A lot of people in the company still like that vehicle — a lot,” said Ralph Gilles, the Chrysler design chief who helped style the Magnum. “A lot of things that weren’t possible back then, now are.”

Mr. Gilles also sees the potential for the new Dodge Viper as a likely choice for an SRT version. “Also, we know we need an entry-level vehicle of some kind.”

“With the Magnum, we owned the station wagon segment,” Mr. Gilles said. “It was always a pleasure to go to car shows and trade fairs and see the number of Magnums that owners had personalized with such obvious loving care.” When asked if a sketch for a next-generation Magnum might be found in one of his sketch pad, Mr. Gilles just smile. “Stay tuned,” he said. “Great things are coming. That’s all I can say.”

[Source: Wheels]

As a way to keep the Viper name in the spotlight until the next model arrives, Dodge is spending the summer hunting down as many track records as possible with its now-retired halo performance car.

Called the Viper Record Tour ’11, Dodge has already taken its hard-core ACR street-legal track machine to New Jersey Motorsports Park and Sebring International Raceway and reportedly has plans to claim two more lap records at both Texas World Speedway and Daytona. No details have been provided on who the driver is, but Kumo Wittmer, who drives a Viper Cup Car in the SCCA World Challenge series, is tipped to be a pilot for several of the runs. Whitmer, it should be noted, already set the production lap record in the Viper ACR at Miller Motorsports Park.

Perhaps most exciting, however, is word that the ACR may be headed back to to the Nurburgring in search of the lap record there. A Viper ACR did hold the record there in the past, but has since been surpassed by both the Porsche GT2 RS and the the 2012 Corvette ZR1.

[Source: MotorTrend]

Hit the jump to watch the recently released New Jersey and Sebring record runs:

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Some of you might not have even heard of Jensen’s Interceptor, a hand-built car from the UK that was produced between 1966-1976. The Interceptor was powered by a Chrysler V8 that ranged from a 6.3L to a massive 7.2L. So when we caught wind that Brook Anderson was restoring a Jensen Interceptor with a Dodge Viper 8.3L V10 powerplant, we were all sorts of giddy.

There aren’t many details on the build, but the video reveals that it’s coming along nicely with a completion date sometime in July. The powerful V10 will be mated to a four-speed automatic transmission and the restoration will also include suspension and brake upgrades.

Check out a video of this awesome restomod after the break.

[Source: Autoblog]

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Somewhere, somehow, we think Samuel Hubinette may have something to do with this crazy Viper-powered Saab 9-3. Hubinette, known as “The Crazy Swede” and campaigned a Dodge Viper in many successful bouts of tandem drifting in his days, so it’d only make sense that this Saab 9-3 with a Viper V-10 would have to do with him. But alas, it has absolutely nothing to do with the drifter and apparently there’s a crazier Swede out there.

After an unfortunate accident involving a Dodge Viper, the former owner seemingly wanted to play things safe this time around by getting a Saab 9-3 SportCombi. But clearly he missed the performance of his rugged V-10, so what better way to satisfy both needs than by building a Saab 9-3 SRT10 MegaPower?

Plenty of custom fabrication was done to the chassis in order to support the Viper’s 8.4L V-10 powerplant. And after all was said and done, the Saab 9-3 rolls on a strengthened chassis with a custom suspension. The majority of the exterior of the vehicle – minus some custom wheels – is unsuspecting, but we’re guessing this 9-3 doesn’t exactly sound stock even miles away.

GALLERY: Viper-Powered Saab 9-3 SportCombi

[Source: Worldcarfans]

In what is a clearly a great marketing stunt, BF Goodrich is teaming up with Olympic Gold Medalist Shaun White to teach him how to drive. And by driving, we mean the typical fashion we expect to see with BF Goodrich – tearing up tires all over the track.

White had the privilege of going to San Bernardino Airport where he met up with three of Team BFG’s members: Samuel Hubinette, Lars Wolfe and James Shearer. Each driver represented a different facet of motorsport, drifting, time attack and King of the Hammers, respectively.

Despite not even knowing how to drive a manual when the day began, White seemed to be a quick learner and was extremely fascinated with drifting – something expected from a persona like White.

Check out several videos after the break of Shaun White and BF Goodrich.

GALLERY: BF Goodrich and Shaun White

[Source: Autoblog]

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Last week we reported the news of Kuno Wittmer setting a new lap record at Miller Motorsports Park in a Dodge Viper ACR and now we get to witness it through the beauty of two synchronized cameras. The record-setting lap time, which was just barely shy of 2-minutes (1 minute 59.995 seconds) was close to four seconds faster than the previous record time in a Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.

What is amazing to watch is the ease at which Wittmer pilots the ACR through the course on its way to a record-setting lap. It’s obvious in the video just how well-tuned the Viper ACR is and how balanced of a machine it is on the track. The video features an in-car camera that has been synchronized with video footage of the track, which really gives a great sense of the speed that Wittmer was sustaining throughout the course.

Check out the video after the jump.

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Hennessey Performance is now producing the Ram HPE500 pickup truck, packing a 5.7L Hemi fitted with a TVS2300 Supercharger System and an HPE Air Induction System that is capable of producing 505-hp at 5,400rpm.

For comparison, the Ram SRT10 powered by a V10 Viper engine produced 510-hp. The rumble produced by this truck comes from a new stainless steel cat-back exhaust system, but to get the noise, you’ll have to fork over $12,950. Customers do have the option of buying the kit and installing it themselves for a mere $10,950, while a less powerful HPE425 kit is also available for $6,950 (installed) and 4,950 (DIY).

The 2011 Formula Drift season is just around the corner, and competing vehicles are out in full testing mode. Samuel Hubinette hasn’t been at the top of the podium for a couple of years now, but it looks like this year his two-car team will be something to look out for. He’ll be behind the wheel of his Dodge Challenger, while Dean Kearney of Ireland will be piloting the infamous Dodge Viper SRT-10.

Both cars are sporting new looks for the 2011 season, welcoming sponsorship from Dodge, V-LEDs, BFGoodrich and Federal Tires. Dodge will be the primary sponsor of Hubinette’s Challenger, while V-LEDs is the primary sponsor of Kearney’s Viper. Interestingly enough, it looks like Hubinette will be driving on his traditional BFGoodrich rubber while Kearney will be burning off Federal Tires.

Kearney captured the 2009 European Pro Drift Championship, and with the experienced Hubinette by his side, it’ll be an interesting year to see how these two battle it out with the rest of the field. We’ll be looking forward to the season opener on April 8-9th at Long Beach, California.

Check out the video of Hubinette testing his Challenger after the break, along with the official press release.

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The deadly Ohio tornado that killed seven people last week claimed two more victims, a late-model Dodge Viper RT-10 and a Dodge Ram SRT-10. If we do the math, that’s a total of 950 horsepower put out of commission. Ironically, both of these vehicles would have no problem outrunning a tornado, with the Viper topping out at 187 mph and the Ram, the world’s fastest production truck, topping out at 154. We’ll have to assume the drivers were cowering in fear in a basement at the time. Let’s hope they have full coverage.

[Source: Jalopnik]

The 2010 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR-X is an even more hardcore version of the street-legal ACR, the X being a track-only special edition built specifically for Viper racers who want even more power and less weight.

There is, however, one small problem. No matter how serious a Viper racer you may be and no matter how much your most recent Goldman & Sachs bonus check may have been, Dodge has already sold all 25 ACR-X examples they plan to build, so you can’t have one.

So why are we posting about the ACR-X if they’re already all spoken for? Because come on, look at the thing! It’s outrageous! Not only is it powered by a SRT-developed 8.4-liter V10 engine that’s been equipped with high performance headers and a low-restriction exhaust system for a neck-snapping 640 horsepower (40 more than the production model) and 605 ft-lbs of torque (45 more than the production model), it’s also been put on a 160 lb diet. Combine that with a suspension that’s been tuned and upgraded specifically for on-track usage with unique springs, two-way adjustable shocks and adjustable sway bar links and you’ve got one serious super snake. The ACR-X has also seen some aerodynamic revisions including quad-dive planes and underbody ducts to improve downforce while enhancing stability and significantly improving grip in high-speed cornering.

Unlike the street-legal ACR, the ACR-X includes safety equipment such as a factory-designed roll cage, fire suppression system, fuel cell and race seat. Additional racing components including a transmission cooler, rear differential cooling system, unique front rotors with larger surface area and improved brake cooling via scoops in the front fascia have also been added to meet the significant durability and reliability requirements for on-track competition.

Although it’s too late for you to buy one, if you want to see a Viper ACR-X in action, many of them have been sold to Dodge Viper Cup Series competitors. This newly developed spec racing series, which will be sanctioned by the existing Viper Racing League, has two races per weekend for five weekends. The spec part means every car racing in the Cup Series will be a Viper ACR-X, so show up at the track on any of these dates and you’ll likely see most of the 25 sold in action all at once.

• July 9-11 at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) in Alton, Va.
• Aug. 14-15 at Hallett Raceway in Jennings, Okla.
• Sept. 11-12 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa.
• Oct. 1-3 at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah
• Oct. 22-24 at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch, in Pahrump, NV

For more information on the Dodge Viper in all its forms, check out the new website viperheadquarters.com.

GALLERY: Dodge Viper ACR-X

In the world of luxury you just can’t put a price tag on exclusivity – or can you? The original Maybach Exelero was a high-speed test mule conjured up by the minds at Daimler by Fulda tires. And exclusive it was, with only one ever built, selling for nearly $8,000,000. That’s right, six zeroes.

But with everything that’s so exclusive, somewhere in the world there are individuals motivated enough to make a replica. Over on JamesList is a listing for just that: a Maybach Exelero replica that is apparently based on 2010 Dodge Viper. It sports the 8.3-liter V10 motor pushing out over 800-hp with 23-inch wheels.

Details pretty much stop there but apparently the Swiss company offers any style and colored interior along with any color exterior for whatever buyer may be interested. So if you’ve got $680,000 lying around, place an order and wait four months for it to come. That price tag may seem high, but it’s quite the savings over the $8,000,000 that the original one sold for. And hey, they even toss in free shipping.

[Source: JamesList]

GALLERY: Maybach Exelero

Are Viper loyalists perhaps mourning the death of the venomous snake too soon? Maybe, as Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has announced that as a part of Fiat’s 5-year plan he intends to position Dodge internationally as an “American performance brand,” anchored by the Charger, Challenger, and Viper.

Marchionne mentioned that the Charger and Challenger’s platforms will not be touched, but may be recycled for future Alfa’s, Lancia’s, and Maserati’s. Interesting, since the Charger and Challenger platform is already recycled from the, now 2-generations old, Mercedes E-Class. We can’t imagine Fiat is really planning on tarting up this platform again with a Maserati badge, because if they did, it would make the use of the jarring F1 gearbox in the first-gen Quattroporte seem like a minor quibble by comparison. The most frightening statement though, is that the “Viper will end up as a quasi-Ferrari.”

So, first Ferrari eliminates manual transmissions, then they plan to position the Viper as a “quasi-Ferrari?” We’re not holding our breaths for this one.

GALLERY: Dodge Viper Final Edition

[Source: TopSpeed]

For those of us who grew up and believing that Honda and Acura were the only “cool” auto manufacturers in the world, RealTime Racing had the coolest of the cool. From NSXs to Integra Type-Rs to RSXs to TSXs, RealTime Racing campaigned some of the most beautifully built touring car racers of the last two decades.

Being 11-time World Challenge Champions is no easy task and it looks like RealTime Racing is looking for a whole new challenge for 2010. “Coming into the new year we had a decision to make: Remove a number of go-fast bits and run in Touring Car, or tune up our TSXs to try and be competitive in GTS,” explained ’08 Touring Car champion Cunningham. “It’s a faster group of cars – anything from other Acuras and Lotus, all the way to big iron like Corvette and Viper.”

Those big sports cars probably won’t to be too popular, however, with the field likely to be dominated by the Acuras and a fleet of BMWs that are expected to make the jump to GTS.

By being able to build on top of an already strong and championship-proven platform, RealTime Racing will once again return as the favorites for us enthusiasts growing up loving all things Honda and Acura. This may just be the excitement we’ve all been waiting for from World Challenge; seeing new-generation Acura TSXs competing against heavy American muscle and other nimble counterparts. The official release from RealTime Racing available after the jump.

We’ll be sure to see how the RTR Acuras compete, with the first race of the season taking place this weekend in St. Petersburg, FL.

[Source: RealTime Racing]

GALLERY: Real Time Racing Acuras

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Earlier this month we reported about Samuel Hubinette’s plans for 2010. What some may not remember is that merely three years ago, celebrity and son of Hulk Hogan, Nick Hogan, was actually competitively drifting alongside Samuel in a Dodge Viper SRT-10. Clearly the fame that came with Nick Hogan and fast cars wasn’t from his short drifting career. Instead, it was from the tragic accident that proved that there is such thing as too much horsepower. Nonetheless, the kid’s back out on the prowl and has committed to the Xtreme Drift Circuit (XDC) campaigning a black turbocharged Nissan 350Z.

The good news out of all this is that Nick Hogan will be involved with a group called “Keep It On The Track”, promoting and educating Americans the consequences of participating in illegal street races and driving without a seat belt. Perhaps it’s a day late, especially for the unfortunate passenger during Hogan’s Supra accident, but hey whatever it takes to keep it off the streets.

We couldn’t help but to include one of Hogan’s highlights from his last drifting endeavor, taking a champion-caliber car and finding the wall at Irwindale Speedway. That’s after the jump.

[Source: Motorworldhype]

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2009 was an up-and-down year for Samuel Hübinette who has been a two-time Formula DRIFT champion and Hollywood stunt driver. Notorious for ripping it up in a Mopar-backed Viper SRT10 for many years and nicknamed The Crazy Swede by fellow competitors, Hübinette had a difficult start with his Mopar-backed Charger in 2009; and then mid-season Mopar was forced to back out of their sponsorship altogether due to difficult economic times.

As if the 2009 season couldn’t get any more tumultuous, Hübinette’s NuFormz team owner, Shaun Carlson, tragically passed away in October. Question marks were raised everywhere as one of the most talented drivers in the Formula DRIFT series seemed to be without a full ride. But talent always prevails, and Hübinette has finally announced his big plans for 2010.

Now factory-backed by Dodge, Hübinette will be campaigning his all new Dodge Challenger while teammate Andrew “ACP” Comrie-Picard (new to Formula DRIFT) will be swinging sideways in the familiar and championship-winning Viper SRT-10. Samuel Hübinette Racing also welcomes back the partnership of BFGoodrich tires. Hübinette looks forward to a strong and successful 2010 drifting season and we wouldn’t be surprised if he’ll be back in championship form with all his expertise and experience over the years.

We’ll be sure to keep an eye on both drivers, when the season kicks off in Long Beach, CA on April 9-10.

The official release is available after the jump.

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The mystery of the Dodge Viper LA Auto Show world premiere has been solved, with the automaker announcing it will debut a revised version of its ACR model. With just a few minor tweaks, the 2010 ACR also lays claim to the production car lap record at Laguna Seca Raceway.

In 2008 pro-driver Randy Pobst set the record with the ACR running a 1:35.117, which stood until August 6 of this year when it was trumped by the Viper-based Devon GTX with a 1:35.075 time. As of today, the new 2010 ACR has reclaimed the record with a new lap record of 1:33.915.

The car was driven by SRT engineer Chris Winkler who said that, “It was definitely exciting but a somewhat uneventful lap overall from behind the steering wheel. The Dodge Viper ACR has amazing power and handles like a dream, so following my first practice here last month, I came away pretty confident that we’d be able to set a new record.”

That’s right, Winkler set the record having only ever having driven on the track once before.

Additions to the 2010 model include a shorter fifth-gear ratio of 0.80 from 0.74, as well as a short throw shifter, and a new rear wing design. The car now also gains 4 mph on the top with a new top speed of 184 mph. The shorter fifth-gear came as the direct result of testing on the Nürburgring when the ACR set the (then) production car lap record in 2008.

“I’m still amazed with what the Dodge Viper can do on and off the race track,” said Dodge brand CEO Ralph Gilles. “After our record-setting lap at the Nürburgring circuit, we’re excited to set a second performance benchmark record at another world-famous road course.”

Gilles also gave Viper aficionados hope saying that Dodge is, “investigating what the next-generation Viper is going to be. When we have partners across the ocean who are known as the best sports carmakers in the world, the future opportunities are huge.”

See AutoGuide’s Live 2009 LA Auto Show Coverage Here Starting December 2nd

GALLERY: 2010 Dodge Viper ACR

Official release and a brief video about the record setting lap after the jump:

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Today Chrysler reconfirmed its commitment to the Dodge Viper, saying that it will live on despite the company’s bankruptcy and new ownership. The Dodge Viper was scheduled to be eliminated from the company’s lineup as of December of this year and the automaker had searched to find a buyer. Not only will Chrysler continue to produce the sports car at its Conner Avenue Assembly Plant, but the company is no longer interested in selling-off the iconic exotic.

“The Dodge Viper has successfully captured the hearts and imagination of performance enthusiasts around the globe,” said Dodge CEO Mike Accavitti. “We’re extremely proud that the ultimate American-built sports car with its world-class performance will live on as the iconic image leader for the Dodge brand.”

The new fourth-generation Viper SRT10 was launched in 2008 and for ’09 the Viper boasts a 8.4-liter V10 with 600hp. To date, more than 25,000 Vipers have been built since production began in 1992. Now the only question remains is if Chrysler will look at building a fifth-generation of the iconic V10 machine.

Official release after the jump:

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Most manufacturers displaying at SEMA gave a few different tuner shops their latest and greatest car and let them go wild on it… but not Dodge. And with an in-house group of experts like the ones at the company’s SRT (Street and Racing Technology) division, who needs to.
SRT engineers were tasked with building a high-performance variant of the new Challenger and they did not disappoint. As though the Challenger SRT-8’s stock 425hp, 6.1-liter HEMI engine were not enough, the SRT team decided to stuff the Viper’s big V10 under the hood. Making 600hp and 560 ft-lbs of torque, this is one badass machine.
But the boys over at SRT didn’t stop there.
The Challenger SRT10 gets a Tremec TR-6060 six-speed manual transmission with Viper gear ratios, a four-inch steel drive shaft mated to an aluminum differential with a 3.73:1 final drive and a limited slip differential.
Handling has been improved due to Bilstein shocks and the rear of the car, in particular has been firmed up with a larger sway bar and 20 percent stiffer springs.
The SRT team is known for producing vehicles with exceptional braking capabilities and the Challenger SRT10 is no exception. It has six-piston front calipers with 15.4-inch rotors and four-piston rear calipers with 14-inch rotors. On interesting feature is that SRT engineers designed a system that senses lateral acceleration and will prime the brakes in anticipation of a braking zone.
The Challenger SRT10 also gets an aggressive new look with 20-inch wheels, a carbon fiber hood and a carbon rear spoiler. That spoiler and the front lip have been designed to give incredible amounts of useful downforce – something the SRT team figured out when building the Viper ACR.
While the Challenger SRT10 is only a concept it is likely to see production. After all, Dodge built the Ram SRT10 didn’t they?

Official press release and PHOTO GALLERY after the jump:

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