Chrysler Cuts Viper Price 15%

Chrysler Group LLC has lowered the price of its $100,000-plus Dodge SRT Viper sports car by $15,000 to help bolster disappointing sales.

The discount applies to all 2014 models in stock. Chrysler also is offering current owners an additional $15,000 discount if they trade in their car for a 2015 Viper.

Viper sales have averaged roughly 1,500 units per year. But last autumn Chrysler reduced Viper production from nine to six units per day, then suspended output entirely for two months, because of weak demand.

The supercar debuted in 1992 at $50,700 without air conditioning, antilock brakes or traction control. Chrysler says the new price of the considerably more opulent 2015 model is about the same as the original model when adjusted for inflation.

Now in its fifth generation, the Viper comes with an aluminum, magnesium and carbon fiber structure, revised suspension and improved 6-speed manual transmission. The car's V-10 engine, now rated rated at 645 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque, is more than one-third more powerful than the powerplant in the first-generation model.

The 2015 Viper will go into production late this year at Chrysler's Conner Avenue plant in Detroit. Dealers will begin receiving the new model in the first quarter of 2015.