Business Notes AUTOS

Chrysler has tantalized car buffs for more than a year with glimpses of a muscular two-seater called the Viper. The roadster won rave reviews at U.S. auto shows, but Chrysler coyly refused to say whether the Viper would ever become a production car. The fan dance ended last Friday when Chairman Lee Iacocca said the company will build the car, but only about 500 annually. Powered by a 400-h.p., ten-cylinder engine, the Viper will be built for speed and handling. Chrysler insiders claim that the car will be able to accelerate like a rocket sled, zooming from 0 to 160 k.p.h. in about ten seconds, faster than the Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1. The first Vipers off the line should be available late next year at a price of $30,000 to $40,000. Chrysler hopes the new vehicle will demonstrate that the company is still a creative force in the industry, despite its recent decline in sales and market share.