Why they didn't make a V-12 based on an existing V-8 for the Dodge Viper?

[culver]

An american sportscar with a V12 is somewhat strange to me... I really can't think of a single one (except the Chrysler ME-4-12 which was never built). Apart from that, V12s are super complicated an would have made the Viper less reliable. The V10 is fine, the only thing that has to change is the fuel economy .

I always thought of V12's as truck motors...
http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/pi...ure/page05.jpg



Seriously though, before WW2 the US had a number of V12s including the Packard V12s which enchanted Enzo Ferrari.
1936 PACKARD V12 SPEEDSTER | Motor Cars Auction</li> | Pre War | Christie's


I think America moved away from V12s basically because they had little going for them over the very good V8s we had. There really isn't any reason to make a V12 when the US manufactures were so good at producing cost effective (and just out right great) V8 motors. This is likely why the V12 passed into obsurity in the US.

I suspect the Viper V10 came about in part because a V12 would be too long to fit in a truck. While Chrysler might have been able to extend the Viper chassis for a V12 I doubt they could have fit a V12 in the trucks. The V10 was meant to be Chrysler's big dog gas motor (Ford did the same thing). As thirsty as that might have been when Chrysler was making that choice, my Miata now cost more per mile than a V10 Ram truck did when the V10 first came out. I can imagine a V12 being any harder to produce from a V8 than this V10.

There is still a certain coolness to the V12 which will ensure it doesn't die out too fast in the highest end cars but really, there is little reason to pick a V12 over a V8 given a quality V8.