Viper Production to Restart in Mid-November

2015 Dodge Viper SRT (Credit: © Dodge)

When Dodge decided to hack $15,000 from the MSRP of its slow-selling Viper, its monthly sales went through the roof as they immediately jumped by 140 percent when compared to the previous year. That certainly was a promising sight, and now we have even more promising updates, as Automotive News is reporting that the Conner Avenue plant in Detroit — the one that builds the Viper — will reopen and start stamping out Vipers in mid-November.

As it stands, there is still too much unsold Viper inventory, but the needle is finally pointing in the right direction. According to the report, the plant will start building 2014 GT and SRT trims and will not start cranking out the TA and GTS trims until inventory is where it needs to be.

Additionally, manufacture of the 2015 Viper is on hold until all of the remaining 2013 and 2014 models are at the “proper inventory levels.” Tim Kuniskis, CEO of Dodge, did not give an anticipated time table for the 2015 Viper’s production to kick off, but given sales keep at the pace they were in September 2014, it shouldn’t take too long.

There does remain one huge question for the Viper once Dodge green lights 2015 production. Will the current $86,800 price tag be enough to keep buyer interest moving forward. As of now, the Viper is essentially uncontested, but the Corvette Z06 with its 2.95-second 0-to-60 sprint, upscale interior, insane handling and $78,995 MSRP will be breathing down the Viper’s neck starting in early 2015. Fortunately, Dodge already has 200 preorders for the 2015 Viper — that’s nearly half of the number of Vipers sold in 2013 — so it is off to a good start.