Rumor has it that the beloved Dodge Viper will be making a comeback – but will it be as great as it used to if it comes back without a V10 under the hood?

The last Viper will be hard to beat – we know. I mean, it’s hard to go wrong with a big naturally aspirated V10, rear-wheel-drive, and a manual gearbox.

Car and Driver has announced that the Viper will be returning in 2021, debuting its third generation, and they seem pretty-dang-sure about it; “The second rebirth of a Motown legend. Not many details have surfaced yet, but trust us: A new Viper is happening.”

The expected platform seems to be similar, utilizing a space frame with independent suspension in the front and the rear. A convertible version will be released first, with the coupe coming a few years later. Lightweight materials will be put to use wherever possible, as this new Viper is going to need as much weight savings as it can get. Here’s why.

Viper purists, sit down. It looks like Dodge is downsizing – Chrysler is working on an aluminum V8 to replace the “played-out” and aging HEMI. The new-gen Viper will more than likely be in the same class as the Hellcat and Corvette, with an estimated 500+ horsepower, and a higher level 700+ horsepower variant later on if we’re lucky.

If the actual reveal really is slated for 2021, it would make sense that Dodge would plan the unveil to take place at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show, as it will be the 30th anniversary of the Viper’s very first concept reveal. If so, the V8 Viper wouldn’t be on public roads until late 2020. Here’s the good news, though; the price-point is likely to drop slightly, estimated to be starting at less than $90k.