Killing all the controversy over its Viper business, Chrysler Group LLC announced today that the production of the Dodge Viper SRT10 will continue through 2009. The company said today that its Viper business is no longer for sale and that it will continue making the model through 2010 and beyond.

“The Dodge Viper has successfully captured the hearts and imagination of performance enthusiasts around the globe,” said Mike Accavitti, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dodge Brand. “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.”

Chrysler put the Viper business up for sale in August of last year. It was looking for $10 million for the Conner Avenue plant that produces the Viper.

Chrysler will continue on with its 2009 model year lineup and is expected to switch over to the 2010 model year in January.

Click through for the press release.

Press Release:

Dodge Viper SRT10 Will Live On

Auburn Hills, Mich., Jul 10, 2009 – Chrysler Group LLC announced today that production will continue for the legendary Dodge Viper SRT10.

Originally slated to cease production in December 2009, the Chrysler Group Conner Avenue Assembly Plant – the exclusive home of Dodge Viper production since 1995 – will continue to build the V-10 powered sports car. Chrysler Group is no longer pursuing a sale of the Viper business assets.

“The Dodge Viper has successfully captured the hearts and imagination of performance enthusiasts around the globe,” said Mike Accavitti, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dodge Brand. “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.”

Introduced as a concept car in 1989 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the Dodge Viper was designed and engineered to test public reaction to the concept of a back-to-basics, high-performance, limited production sports car.

The reaction was so overwhelming that customer orders began to flow in even before the auto show was over. Chrysler Corporation immediately decided to determine the production feasibility on transforming the crowd-pleasing Dodge Viper show car into a limited-production sports car in no more than three years.

In May 1990, after months of intensive study and testing, Chrysler Corporation announced that the Dodge Viper, powered by an aluminum V-10 was a “go.”

Dodge Viper production began in May 1992 at the New Mack Assembly Plant and was moved to Conner Avenue in October 1995. Viper V-10 engine production transferred from Mound Road Engine to Conner Avenue Assembly in May 2001. In 2008, Dodge introduced the all-new, fourth generation Dodge Viper SRT10. With more horsepower, more torque and more than 30 exterior and interior color combinations, the latest Viper gives enthusiasts the performance they expect on the track and off, with more factory customization options than before.

For 2009, the Dodge Viper SRT10 offers outrageous power, with an 8.4-liter, 600-horsepower (450 kW) V-10 engine contributing to blistering acceleration (0-60 mph in less than four seconds, 0-100-0 mph in the low 12-second range), setting an American sports car benchmark.

To date, more than 25,000 Dodge Vipers have been built.

- By: Omar Rana

While General Motors is disbanding its High Performance Vehicle Operations to focus more on mass-produced cars and Ford continues its SVT operations, Chrysler has confirmed that is SRT department will not get the cut.

“SRT is sticking around and we have to make final calls on the lineup,” said Chrysler’s vice president for global product planning, Steve Bartoli. “We are big fans of SRT, what it does for us and our customers.”

Bartoli would not comment on what Chrysler model SRT is currently working on but said that the division “will weather the storm” and “will not sit around and await fate” He said that the department is currently working on a sedan.

2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8:

Source: Red Letter Dodge (via Inside Line)

In a time of economic turmoil and in a time where gas-guzzling models aren’t popular, Chrysler’s hottest-selling vehicle is its most expensive and one of its least fuel-efficient – the Dodge Viper. According to Chrysler’s Vice Chairman Jim Press, the Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR is basically ’sold out.’ In reality, dealers still have a few units left according to Chrysler’s spokesman Nick Kappa.

Press says that the horrible economy is exactly the reason why Viper sales have been steady.

“Those customers are in a high-income group, and [a Viper] is a safe haven,” Press said. “Look at what’s happened in their stock portfolios: The resale value of Vipers shows they’re still in great demand. Smart investors figure out it’s a safe place to put their money — and also have a lot of fun.”

Chrysler is selling about 100 units of the Viper a month. In the meantime, talks for the sale of the Viper business are progressing. Sources say that even if Chrysler ends up merging with GM, the Viper business will still be sold.

2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR:

Source: InsideLine

Last week we told you about Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR’s record breaking 7:22.1 lap around the famous Nurburgring in Germany. Chrysler has now released an official video of the lap. The car was driven by Dutch WTCC driver Tom Coronel who beat Corvette ZR1’s 7:26.4 time.

Refresher: Power comes from an 8.4-liter aluminum V10 engine that produces 600 horsepower and 560 lb-ft. of torque. Pricing starts at $98,110 including an $850 destination charge. Oh, and Chrysler may sell its Dodge Viper business.

Click through for the video.

2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR:

We’d just like to start off by saying – what a horrible time for Chrysler to announce that it may sell its Dodge Viper business. According to Motor Trend, which makes it pretty official, the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR recently brought in a Nurburgring lap time of 7:22.1, beating the Corvette ZR1’s 7:26.4 and Nissan GT-R’s 7:29 time.

FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) driver Tom Coronel piloted the Viper SRT10 ACR around the Nurburgring with his first attempt bringing in a time of 7:42. The second and third attempts came in at 7:35 and 7:24 respectively. The fourth time Coronel took the Viper SRT10 ACR around the Nurburgring he shocked the crowed with his record breaking time of 7:22.1

You can check out the video of the run over at Motor Trend.

Refresher: Power comes from an 8.4-liter aluminum V10 engine that produces 600 horsepower and 560 lb-ft. of torque.

Click through for more pictures.

2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR Gallery:

Source: Motor Trend