After a one-year hiatus, Dodge brings Viper back with more bite for 2008 at the Detroit Auto Show. Also on stage was a refreshened 2008 Dodge Magnum SRT-8 with new race-inspired hood, hood scoop, and revised grille and front fascia. 

The 2008 Viper SRT-10 gets more horsepower than ever and a sub-four second zero-to-60 time. Viper's new 8.4-liter V10 engine boosts horsepower by 90 versus the 2006 model for a total of 600 hp. It mates to an enhanced 6-speed manual transmission with 10 percent wider gears and a redesigned shifter that reduces travel.

Viper's restyled hood features a bigger hood scoop to accommodate the air intake and cooling needs of the larger engine. As in the past, two body styles will be offered: coupe and convertible with a manual folding fabric top.

Both inside and out, the '08 Viper comes in a new array of colors and combinations. Five new exterior colors include Venom Red, Snakeskin Green, Viper Violet, Viper Orange, and Bright Blue. Inside, customers can choose between combinations of black/red, black/blue, black/slate, and black/natural tan. Other new choices available to Viper customers include three styles of wheels for Viper's 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels. Five-spoke, H-spoke, and U-shaped Razor-spoke designs are now available.  

The 2008 Viper will be built at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit, Michigan and will strike dealerships this summer.  

2008 Dodge Viper and 2008 Dodge Magnum

Sebring's more muscular twin was unveiled in production form at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show after making its concept debut last September in Paris. The 2008 Dodge Avenger is an all-new sedan in the competitive, jam-packed midsize segment filling the gap left by Stratus' 2006 departure. Also announced was Avenger's entrance into the Nextel Cup this spring.

Riding on a 108.9-inch wheelbase, Avenger is 1.2 inches wider and 4 inches taller than its predecessor, and gives passengers an additional 7 cubic feet of interior room. According to Dodge, Avenger's menacing glare comes from large quad headlamps surrounded in black housing, aggressive exterior lines, the signature crosshair chrome and black textured grille, and Charger-like muscular rear shoulders.

Avenger will come in four models: SE, SXT, R/T, and R/T AWD, making it Dodge's first midsize car to offer all-wheel driving capability. Standard features include side curtain airbags, seat mounted side airbags, and a ChillZone cooled glove box. Available is Dodge's MyGIG information, entertainment, and navigation system. This voice-activated system has a 20-gigabyte hard drive for holding music and pictures, an MP3port, and a video screen for pictures, movies, and navigation. It also has the ability to record up to three minutes of speaking via a rearview mirror-mounted microphone.

Three engines are available: the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine heavily shared throughout the Chrysler Group, the flex-fuel capable 2.7-liter V6 engine, and 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a new 6-speed automatic transmission. Dodge says its 4-cylinder delivers over 30 mpg on the highway. The 2.7-liter V6 gets close to 30 highway mpg.

Avenger prices start over $1000 less than the base Stratus at $18,895. Avenger hits U.S. streets this winter and global markets in mid-2007.

2008 Dodge Avenger