Fine-tuning ensures the price is right

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

Chrysler executives apparently worked late into the night before the New Zealand launch of the Dodge Viper, fine-tuning the price of the two models.

They wanted to keep the price on paper as close as possible to the $A250,000 ($276,000) retail price in Australia.

They eventually priced the RT/10 Roadster at $257,000 and the GTS Coupe at $259,000.

Right-hand-drive variants of the all-American muscle car, first launched in 1992, were unveiled at the Pukekohe race track.

They are first-generation models and are among a limited number converted a couple of months ago by Melbourne company Viperformance, a specialist operation since 1994.

The second-generation Viper went on sale in America in September. The first year's production is already sold out.

Race driver Owen Evans, New Zealand's fastest man on four wheels, wheeled the car and passengers around the track.

How did he feel about the V10-powered Viper and its 336kW/664Nm output.

"It is not a car to be taken lightly," he said. "But it rewards the skilful driver."