--- title: "The Dodge Viper Era Is Dead, Head of SRT Says" date: "2026-05-29" modified: "2026-05-29" authors: - name: "Joel Feder" job_title: "Director of Content and Product" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/joel-feder" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-dodge-viper-era-is-dead-head-of-srt-says" categories: - "Dodge News" - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Regulations" tags: - "sports car" --- # The Dodge Viper Era Is Dead, Head of SRT Says ![2017 Dodge Viper ACR with Extreme Aero package.]() Mopar, SRT, and Dodge fanatics hoping, wishing, praying the Viper will be resurrected for sixth generation are about to have a bad day. It's not happening. In Detroit, Michigan during an exclusive one-on-one discussion for the [latest episode of *The Drivecast*](), [Head of SRT](), Tim Kuniskis told *The Drive* when asked if the Dodge Viper makes sense anymore or if that era is gone, "As much as it pains me to say that, it reached the end of its life cycle." Listen to the entire conversation starting at the moment Kuniskis discusses the Viper and its death. Most armchair critics might think the Viper died due to emissions regulations, it did have a V10 engine, or low sales, but neither was the case. Kuniskis revealed the real reason the Viper died. "I mean, when they came out with the new rule for ejection mitigation, we had to discontinue the car because you would have to put airbags right over you—as a driver, right over your ear. And you sat in the car. It’d be impossible," Kuniskis said. During the discussion Kuniskis made a point to note, "The track capability of that car was absolutely astounding. If you think about what it was—I mean, it was an analog car with a manual transmission, and it could hold its own against anything in the world. Technology doesn’t matter. I mean, it was just that good." But the Father of the Hellcats isn't blinded by love as he quickly followed that statement with, "But it had its downsides. I mean, let’s be honest. I own one, so I’m allowed to bash it. If you don’t own one, you can’t because we’ll fight. But if you own one, you can bash it." And to that point, the Viper was an analog car in a timeline where technology, and performance metrics, were marching on. The quickest and fastest Porsche 911s around a racetrack require a dual-clutch automatic transmission. "Honestly, in today’s day and age, it would have needed to become an automatic or a dual-clutch or something like that," Kuniskis noted. Imagine a world with a Viper featuring an automatic transmission. Hard to think about, but clearly on the executive's mind. Earlier in the conversation just before talking about the Viper, Kuniskis [noted that "I think about the C8 \[Corvette\] all the time]()." Explaining further, Kuniskis went on to say, “I am incredibly impressed with the engineering of that car. There’s some things I don’t like, of course, you know, and I’m biased, obviously. But there’s some things that were in that car—and I’ve had a chance to meet [Tadge]() and talk to him about the car in the past—and it’s an impressive car, and the engineering in it is highly impressive.” Closing the topic of the Viper and its place in the world Kuniskis said, "It reached the end of its life cycle." *Got a tip about future product? Send us a line at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Overseeing what you see, read, touch, hear, and interact with from the vast lakes of Minnesota, Joel Feder shapes how The Drive looks and operates as the head of content and product initiatives. On a daily basis, Joel leads the newsroom and editorial staff playing point on both short-term coverage and long-term strategic plans. His mission is to help ensure The Drive shapes the future of automotive media by helping the team execute original reporting, breaking news, and exclusive opportunities. Regarded as an industry insider and recognized by colleagues, fellow journalists, and manufacturers as a point-person and leader in the industry, Joel owns and runs the largest automotive professionals group on Facebook in an effort to serve and help others. Joel serves as a juror for the World Car Awards. In addition, he is the board chair and chair of the governance and nominating committee for Move Forward MN, a local non-profit that helps at-risk youth with barrier-free mental health and housing services. While you’re reading this he’s either on his computer or iPhone chasing the latest news or drafting a story. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]() [Bluesky]() [Email]()