| It's very hard to 'crack America'. Many have | | | | car would be more civilised and upon initial |
| tried and failed, whether it's film, TV or | | | | inspection this appears so. The windows now |
| music. For every Ricky Gervais, there's a | | | | go down and then back up again, the tent on |
| multitude of unsuccessful suitors, including | | | | the roof has been correctly erected and the |
| the likes of Oasis and the Manic Street | | | | pedals can even be adjusted to your shoe size |
| Preachers. Mention either of those bands in | | | | - by electronic means would you believe. |
| Europe and you'll be inundated with fans. | | | | Thankfully despite this, the car is as |
| Ask the question in America and no doubt a | | | | civilised as Borat at a dinner party and |
| blank face will point you in the direction of | | | | Chrysler should be thanked for keeping their |
| a desert or church. | | | | cocktail, ten parts whisky and zero parts |
| | | | mixer. Power has rocketed from 400 to 500 |
| You see, whilst the world becomes | | | | horsepower, with the car's weight remaining |
| Americanised, the US is very picky about what | | | | unchanged. This healthy equation results in |
| it accepts onto it's shores - with the one | | | | 0-60 in 3.9 seconds and a top speed |
| exception of cars. For every Chevrolet or | | | | surpassing 190 mph. |
| Chrysler dealer there are BMW and Mercedes | | | | |
| Benz franchises competing. Europe you see, | | | | If the devil was a car, then look no further. |
| knows how to build a car and historically, | | | | The exhaust bellows and the tyres squeal as |
| despite Henry Ford getting things rolling | | | | they struggle to get any of the power onto |
| with the Model T, America has lagged behind. | | | | the black stuff. The interior is cramped, |
| Therefore, flying in the face of the American | | | | the materials used are so cheap that having |
| Dreamâ„¢, European cars dominate the | | | | got my calculator out, I can confirm the |
| roads around the globe, with the US begging | | | | total is the same as two pints of beer. If |
| Europe for acceptance of it's motoring | | | | you've played Gran Turismo, you'll know the |
| offerings. | | | | car handles like a hippopotamus on ice and |
| | | | that at the end of any corner you'll be going |
| Well America's deliverance may well come from | | | | backwards. The real version shows just how |
| your local Chrysler dealer, although there | | | | realistic the game is. |
| are a few stipulations first. You need to be | | | | |
| extremely rich, have no children and be | | | | It looks like the work of Lucifer too. The |
| prepared to receive whiplash every time you | | | | car literally bulges with aggression and |
| accelerate. Has the Chrysler Grand Voyager | | | | looks like it's going 150 mph standing still. |
| been fitted with a turbo where the rear seats | | | | The front bumper could easily eat a number |
| should be? No - with a riotous bellow the | | | | of small children and the vents on the bonnet |
| Dodge Viper is back in town. Ok, so this is | | | | look like they could suck a country the size |
| a car only the top 1% of the world's | | | | of Wales into the engine. Chrysler's big |
| population could even consider buying, but it | | | | problem then is who will buy the devil on |
| clearly demonstrates that when they put their | | | | wheels? Even David Beckham may think the car |
| minds to it, America can build a car that | | | | is too bling, leaving the likes of 10 cent |
| quite simply is a brilliant monster. | | | | and his rapper friends…oh, 50 cent, my |
| | | | apologies, to foot the bill. |
| The old Viper was conceived and born when | | | | |
| Chrysler were in one of their financial | | | | Compare the Viper on paper to a Ferrari, |
| crises. Despite this, for approximately $50 | | | | Porsche, Lamborghini et al and it'll lose. |
| million (car design usually cost $1 billion) | | | | It isn't the fastest; it's not the prettiest |
| and only 17 men the Viper was launched and | | | | and definitely not the best handling. All |
| showed little signs of cost cutting. | | | | this though, is like saying "no" to Cindy |
| Admittedly you couldn't open the windows and | | | | Crawford because she has a mole. Despite a |
| the roof looked like the last time I | | | | flaw or two, the Viper is - no arguments |
| attempted to build a tent, but under the | | | | please - a supermodel for the road. Yes it's |
| bonnet was an 8-litre V10 engine that threw | | | | high maintenance, hugely expensive and shouty |
| 400 horsepower onto the road. Subtlety was | | | | but isn't that the idea of a supercar? What |
| not a strong point, but it is widely | | | | Chrysler have done is create the perfect |
| recognised and loved all over the globe - | | | | monster and show that America has what it |
| even if that is thanks to a strong showing on | | | | takes to compete with Europe's finest. |
| the Gran Turismo racing game. | | | | Chrysler and financial crisis will hopefully |
| | | | never be mentioned in the same sentence |
| So what's changed with the latest offering? | | | | again. |
| Well worryingly, Chrysler announced the new | | | | |