The Dodge Viper has been Chrysler’s halo car since it was introduced back in 1992, but times are tough. Faced with the fact that it might not be able to continue making the brutish sports car, the Auburn Hills-based automaker is reportedly considering doing something that’s never been done before by a domestic automaker (as for as we know): selling the Viper’s future to a third party. Automotive News quotes Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli saying, “We have been approached by third parties who are interested in exploring future possibilities for Viper.” Nardelli claims that whatever happens, his company will work to make sure the best interests of Viper fanboys are served and that Chrysler would continue to offer “operational and financial” support for the car if a transaction takes place.

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Chrysler is developing a compact car model based on the concept car Hornet, which it presented at the 2006 Geneva auto show, Financial Times Deutschland reported, citing Thomas Hausch, the company’s vice president for international purchasing.

“We are working intensely on the Hornet study,” Hausch said.

“I think we will announce something on this in the future.”

The new model will likely be launched in 2010 in Europe, the United States and other markets, Financial Times Deutschland said.

U.S. carmakers including Chrysler and Ford Motor are turning to smaller cars as soaring gasoline prices weigh on demand for gas-guzzling SUVs and pickup trucks in the U.S.

Also, building compact cars may help reduce their dependence on the U.S. market, where the financial market crisis and high gas prices have led to a slump in car sales in past months.

“The international share will continue to rise,” Hausch said.

The company in May sold 10.7 percent of its vehicles abroad, though U.S. sales that month slumped 25 percent.

Hausch declined to say whether the new compact car will be sold under the brand Chrysler or Dodge.

“But I cannot rule out that there may be a Chrysler that is smaller than our economy model, the 2-liter Sebring,” Hausch said. Read more »