Viper to get larger engine

With the trend to make engines smaller, you'd think the next Viper would have a smaller motor, but according to rumors, you'd be wrong.

In the current economic situation, with ever-increasing fuel prices and constant pressure from environmentalists, most carmakers are downsizing the engines that are used in their products, adding turbos and other clever pieces of technology to improve performance, while keeping the green movement happy.

Not Dodge though, at least not with the Viper. The last Viper had an 8.4-litre V10 engine, so you would expect them to use a smaller one for the new car, or at least a more economical version of the same sized engine. Well you’d be wrong – it seems the firm is sticking to the "There ain't no replacement for displacement" motto so many Americans have, because a new report has indicated that the next Viper will use the largest engine ever used in a Chrysler/Dodge product.

It’s believed to be a massive 8.7-litre V10 and although power figures aren’t confirmed yet, it’s a safe bet to assume it will have at least 600HP and 560 ft-lb of torque, big big numbers.

Regardless of what the final power figures are, it will be a lot – of that you can be sure – and it’s expected to go on sale in late 2012.