So Long Viper, See You In a Couple of Years.

When the Camaro was having a break, deep inside we knew it will be back. The people really believed it was the end. But the feeling was still there. A couple of years later the concept roared in. Teaching a lesson. It only takes a couple of brave enthusiastic with deep roots in passion. On the right places.

Thriving market
Which is not the case this time. However the same deja vu feeling returned. Viper died. For now. But you should be aware it did not die of natural causes. It has been meticulously destroyed. Killed. Willingly or not, but killed. By taking the right steps. If you want to destroy a healthy company in the shortest time period possible, follow these very guides. Not understanding, not knowing and of course incompetence. First by DC (that almost took down the entire Chrysler empire like a virus) and then by FCA closely following its footsteps. Which was even worse. The market is still there. Alive and kicking. Stronger than ever. Look at Porsche sales numbers, look at Lamborghini sales numbers, look at Aston Martin sales numbers, look at AMG Merc's sales numbers, look at Corvette, F-type, R8, they're all doin' well. Or look at Challenger for a change - the market is definitely there!

"There are several good protections against temptation, but the surest is cowardice." - Mark Twain 
But the right product is not. This leads us to the next point. Maybe is better off this way. Instead of completely dishonoring the brand, loosing its core values and ruining its credibility they just closed the shop. Better for everyone. And here we have to say - respect to those Viper-lovers who teamed up for the Nurburgring lap, respect to those from the Conner Ave who kept the snake on life support. These people, this spirit managed to keep the Viper alive. Until now. But with no proper factory back-up (know-how) no brand can survive. Not even the mighty Dodge Viper. Don't underestimate the power of cowardice and/or pure incompetence.

If they are deliberately this dumb or we are talking of preventive dumbness - at this point is regardless. But it is safe to say that it means one thing. If you have the market, and still can't sell a name with a resonance like the Viper, there is something wrong in the picture. Probably the product lacks something. Or? It means those guys who run the show, have other priorities. You know. Anything but cars. To put it mildly - Neither the right people in the right places. Nor the balls.

Marketing alone doesn't cut it
But when the perfect match will occur - the right people will be just in the right places - Viper will be back. In a proper body. Wild and untamed. Designed by its own spirit. Like the original concept. Just be patient. Build it and they will come. One thing the car industry is always teaching. From time to time. Never say never. You'll see.

Try design
Only two things have to click.

• It needs a proper administration. (Not FCA-joke - a company that somehow managed a close to unbelievable performance to disgrace Lancia and Maserati - even Alfa Romeo) Proper administration means people with skills. People with real car-guy attitude, like Lutz, Iacocca, Gale. People who can do it. People, who finally understand car industry, have taste, and some marketing skills, too.  
• A proper, sinful, hot, emotional, passionate, and last but not at least - original design. Some words long forgotten, yet to be learned. But it was there in the original concept. In the RT/10, GTS as well. When it showed up, the car world stopped breathing. For a moment. Something that made the Camaro come back. Something that made the Challenger come back. Something the sixth Camaro also lost along its way. 

When you see a snake. Your heart stops beating. You are paralyzed from the sight.
All that it takes is that single moment. A moment without breath. In other words, the value of life is measured not by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. 

#viper