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Dodge performance trio thrashed on Roadkill

Of all the shows that Motor Trend does, Roadkill is probably the last one we'd pick to evaluate the latest performance automobiles. That's not a slight against David Freiburger or Mike Finnegan, who host the show: they're certified gear-heads and the go-to guys when it comes to hot rods, rat rods and anything grungier than it is shiny. But as exemplary as they are of Detroit muscle, the Charger Hellcat, Challenger Hellcat and Viper are also shiny new pieces of metal. Still, since it will now be sponsoring the show, someone at Dodge apparently thought it would be a good idea to hand Freiburger and Finnegan the keys to the company's top performance models. So to ring the best out of them, they solicited help from some of their colleagues at MT, gained access to a closed-down air strip, devised as many ways as they could to destroy the tires, and proceeded to set about doing exactly that. Watch the grin-inducing mayhem unfold in the half-hour clip above. Related Video:

Dodge launches 1 of 1 Viper configurator

Get comfortable because you might be spending a good chunk of time in front of the computer on this. The configurator for the 2015 Dodge Viper GTC 1 of 1 is now online, and it's a ton of fun to play around with. Mechanically, the GTC is just like every current Viper with a 645-horsepower, 8.4-liter V10. But for the special editions Dodge lets buyers tinker with practically everything aesthetic thing. For the exterior alone, the choices include some 8,000 available body colors, two stripe styles in innumerable shades, two hood designs and various brake caliper hues. Plus, there are 16 upholstery colors inside, and options like red seat belts and carbon fiber trim. Dodge reckons there are over 25 million possible combinations, and the models are available to customers on a first-come-first serve basis for each model year. Although, two people wanting identical cars seems pretty unlikely. The configurator is a beauty too. It makes all of these myriad options extremely easy to pick from, and there are even four resolution settings to see your creation in the best possible way. Prices for the GTC start at $94,995 and deliveries are set to start in the second quarter of the year. Although, even if you have no intention of buying one, specifying these custom coupes is still highly entertaining.

Chop the top of your new Dodge Viper for $35,000

We have good news, and we have bad news. First, the good: It's now possible to get a brand-new Dodge Viper roadster, which is nice, considering we're in the dead of summer and many of us like wind-in-the-hair motoring. Now, the bad: This is not a factory option from the automaker, instead coming courtesy of an aftermarket company called Prefix Performance, and that means it's going to cost you some serious coin.
Called Medusa, this drop-top Viper was created without the knowledge or consent of Dodge, but that's probably fine because Prefix works with the automaker already for the final preparation of the American supercar, including paint. According to the company, the current, fifth-gen Viper was built with a convertible version in mind, so no chassis strengthening is required. From the looks of the somewhat grainy photos available, the conversion appears of very high quality.
Want one? Well, that means you're going to need to procure a Viper - Prefix has 10 units ready for transformation as it stands - and that's going to cost at the very least $102,485. Then, you'll need to write a check for an additional $35,000 for Prefix to surgically remove the car's roof. Thing is, for that kind of cash, a prospective owner could buy, among other very nice options, a Viper hardtop and a loaded Miata, or a Corvette Stingray convertible and several pockets full of change. Or, perhaps a new Viper hardtop and a used, first-gen Viper convertible?