Chrysler Group sliced $15,000 from the price of its Dodge Viper supercar for 2015 models on sale early next year, bringing the starting tab to $84,995.
Chrysler says that's about the same as the first Viper's inflation-adjusted price of $86,130. That 1992 Viper was priced $50,700.
To boost the car's infinitesimal sales, Chrysler says:
-All Dodge dealers now can sell the car, not just specially selected dealerships..
-2014 Vipers on dealer lots get the same $15,000 price cut.
-Current Viper owners get $15,000 discount coupons for the purchase of a new Viper, in addition to the price cut on the new one.
-In Chrysler's view, the move is "reconfirming its commitment to the future of the Viper and re-positioning the iconic Detroit-built supercar for 2015."
Viper also gets higher mileage ratings and a boost in horsepower to 645 hp from the 8.4-liter 10-cylinder engine.
Dodge sold only 38 Vipers in August, down from the likewise small number of 67 the year earlier
Comparisons: Chevrolet sold 2,679 Corvettes in August, Maserati, 1,233 cars, Ferrari sold 166 cars.
Viper is hand-made at the Conner Avenue assembly plant in Detroit, a converted Champion spark-plug plant that built the Chrysler/Plymouth Prowler before it began Viper production.
