Viper's end won't affect VLF supercar

The end of Dodge Viper production in August won't affect VLF Automotive's plans for the Force 1 V10 supercar, which shares its underpinnings.

Henrik Fisker, a partner and head of design at the boutique car company, said VLF has access to enough Vipers through a partnership with race car driver Ben Keating, owner of a Viper specialty dealership in Texas, to complete orders for the low-volume vehicle.

"We have more than enough donor cars to be able to do the Force 1," Fisker told Automotive News. "He bought them early on for this project."

VLF plans to produce no more than 50 of the $268,500 cars, and recently started delivering cars to customers, according to Fisker.

"These are hand-built specialty cars for collectors," he said.

The Force 1 features an 8.4-liter V-10 engine with 745 hp It is marked by its carbon-fiber body, 21-inch wheels and thin headlights, as well as its rear-wing spoiler and long hood. The car can reach a top speed of 218 mph and can go from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds.

Fisker, who is awaiting delivery of his Force 1, unveiled the car alongside Keating and fellow VLF partners Bob Lutz and Gilbert Villarreal at the Detroit auto show in 2016.

VLF is separate from the famed designer's Fisker Inc., which is preparing to officially unveil its all-electric Fisker EMotion car in the coming months. Another company that once bore the Fisker name failed and was reincarnated as Karma Automotive.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is ending production of the Viper on Aug. 31 because the two-seater cannot meet new safety regulations that go into effect Sept. 1.