It was going to happen sooner or later no thanks to the lack of effort that has been put into it. If these people were smart they would take a different approach. No matter which direction you could go, the LA based V10 should be given the ax. Here are my suggestions:

1. Make a new V10 out of the much cheaper to build small-block Hemi, mass produce it, and use it in the Ram SRT-10 again, build the Tomahawk, build a Chrysler Imperial using this engine, and possibly offer a very limited production run (500 units) of the Challenger offering this engine. The MDS should be offered to help with overcome the gas guzzler problem.

2. Update the darn interior already. That means that it uses the current radios on the newest and best models, it gets something that looks like it belongs in a Ferrari.

3. Offer more than just a manual. Lamborghini offers an automatic in some of their cars, why not offer an OPTIONAL dual-clutch automatic for those who don't want an manual.

4. Make the Viper earn the SRT badge. To me the dumbest thing ever was to give the base model Viper the SRT badge. Make the Dodge Viper simply the Dodge Viper and make an SRT model that offers four-wheel steering, AWD, and either a supercharged or twin turbo upgrade on a higher output V10 aiming at being the best in the Supercar industry.

Alternate solution:

1. Drop the Supercar dream and make it a sports car to compete directly against the Corvette instead of building a car that should be a Ferrari competitor while actually just aiming to one up the Corvette. Base engine the 6.4L or 6.5L engine with dual clutch auto or manual choices for the base level while trying to price it competitively against the base level Corvette. Offer a 426 cubic inch V8 engine for an R/T level for a mid-level offering, and a supercharged version with AWD and 4WS on an SRT-8 to reach beyond.

Continuing a Viper with a lost sense of direction may not be a good thing, but depending on a muscle car to keep the performance image is not exactly the best idea either. Don't believe me, look at Ford. What models besides the Mustang have any sense of performance in them? The Viper brought Dodge's performance image back which the Daytonas, Omni GLHS, and false Dodge's like the Stealth were unable to do to the degree that the Viper did.