Only one in five Chrysler Group dealerships will offer the redesigned 2013 SRT Viper, according to Ralph Gilles, the head of the high-performance SRT brand. For dealerships to get the chance to offer the sportscar, they would need to train staff, purchase special tools, and improve their facilities. Gilles said that the opportunity will be open to any dealer who could put up the money, set up the facilities, and conduct the training aside from having been able to sell Vipers and SRTs. He said that about 15 or 20% of its dealers will carry the redesigned Viper, which debuted last April at the New York auto show. It is powered by a 640-hp, 8.4-liter V-10 that delivers 600 pounds-feet of torque. The modified engine offers 40 more hp than what the previous Viper uses. This older Viper carried a Dodge brand and was phased out in 2010. Chrysler has yet to reveal the pricing information for the 2013 Viper. The previous hardtop had a sticker price of slightly below $100,000. It is slated to start selling this fall. Gilles said that the company can’t prevent dealerships that had sold a Viper in the past from selling it but then, it will be a “little difficult” with their expectation that there will soon be a “new breed of customer.” Gilles wants these customers to get a “great experience." According to David Kelleher, chairman of the Chrysler National Dealer Council and a dealer in suburban Philadelphia, the car has a limited production run so it won’t be possible for all of 2,400 dealerships to offer even one unit each.
One in five Chrysler Group dealerships will sell the redesigned 2013 SRT Viper
by Andrew Christian, Email, 25 Jul, 2012
