Many cars made their North American and world debuts at the New York International Auto Show last week, but the SRT Viper stole the show. The 2013 SRT Viper is the first of its namesake to not bear the Dodge name, and its stunning design was more than enough to keep Auto Show guests mouths watering.

Designers created the car with functionality in the forefront, and also paid attention to subtle details, such as the menacing snake-like headlights and the muscled "hips" that stand out above the rear wheels. The car, much like Vipers of years past, features an extremely pronounced front-end with numerous air intake cut-outs. The roof bubbles over the driver's and passenger seats, which allows for racecar drivers wearing helmets to comfortably fit inside the decadent muscle car.

Under the hood, the SRT Viper is even more impressive than many may imagine. The 8.4-liter V10 engine that comes standard in this sporty car boasts 640 horsepower and 600 lb-ft. of torque, making it one of the most powerful vehicles in its class. It also features a revamped suspension to allow for better control.

The headlights feature low-profile LED dayrunners, and the turn signals mirror their shape across the top of the light. When the turn signals are used, they give the vehicle a devilish appearance similar to "angry eyebrows," one of the designers told CarBuzz. The rear lights are equally as eye-catching, and the recessed turning lights are nearly invisible, appearing black in the middle of the taillights when they're not in use instead of the typical amber associated with turn lights.

The new SRT Viper may not be in everyone's price range with an expected asking price of $100,000, but there are plenty of affordable used sports cars for the car enthusiast who is shopping on a budget. New Jersey State Auto Auction has a wide selection of makes and models from sports cars to more conservative vehicles.

Consumers in the market for a tough, powerful, truck-like sports utility vehicle may want to check out the 2005 Dodge Durango, one of the more rugged SUVs on the road today.

Although three different engines are available for the ’05 Durango, the 5.7-liter hemi V-8 is the most powerful and popular option. The hemi produces 335-horsepower and 370 pound-feet of torque.

Even with its tall, massive frame, the Durango handles curves exceptionally well. It possesses off-road capability, has expansive cargo space and an impressive towing capacity of 8,700 pounds.

The 2005 Dodge Durango is not your traditional 21st century SUV.

“There’s nothing cutesy about its shape or its bulk,” says About.com. “This is a full size working truck. For someone who has a genuine need for a large, powerful truck, the Durango is an excellent choice.”

The obvious downside to the Durango is that it gets below average gas mileage. However, it has an optional rear seat DVD-entertainment system, satellite radio, a sunroof and an above average sound system.

In early November, Dodge CEO Ralph Gilles announced the company would stop manufacturing one of its most powerful sports cars, meaning used Vipers in New Jersey could become a hot ticket item.

Only 500 more Vipers will be built by July, 2010, when manufacturing will cease in Detroit, according to MotorCrave.com. Dodge decided to limit production because it wants to preserve the value of the Vipers that are already on the road, rather than flood the market with the model in hopes of squeezing every last penny out of the muscle car.

The Viper was first displayed at the North American International Auto show in 1989, reports Edmunds.com. The first generation model was originally called the RT/10 Roadster, which became available for purchase in 1992. The most striking features of the Viper were its massive 8-liter V10 and six-speed transmission, which allowed the car to accelerate to 60 MPH in 4.6 seconds and then on to 100 in just 4.6 more.

Since its inception 20 years ago, the Viper has been redesigned three times. Its third generation was built under DaimlerChrysler beginning in 2003, says the website. Critics liked this version of the Viper because it was faster than past generations and also more practical.

“There’s no denying the functional improvements afforded by the new Viper’s exterior design – not to mention the collective sigh of relief by every new Viper owner’s insurance agent due to the elimination of the expensive one-piece hinged front end,” wrote the publication’s Karl Brauer after driving the 2003 Viper for the first time.

The third generation Viper was built until 2006 and also featured a V10, according to Edmunds. But this motor was 0.3 of a liter bigger than the original and produced 510 horsepower, a 110 HP gain. Combined with a burly T56 Tremec six-speed manual gearbox, the ’06 Viper got to 60 in 3.9 seconds and to 100 in about 8.4.

In 2007, no models were produced and America learned the fourth generation would only become available the following year, meaning Viper lovers know how to play the waiting game. That’s fortunate because they’ll have to wait until 2012 for the fifth generation Viper, according to Motor Trend.

The future of the Viper is uncertain since, as most Americans know, the U.S. auto industry has been on the ropes lately. On June 1, 2009, Chrysler and Fiat announced they would be joining forces because the American manufacturer was suffering financially.

“We are very grateful to loyal Chrysler customers who have supported us throughout this process and assure them Chrysler Group is well prepared to produce and support quality vehicles under the Jeep, Dodge and Chrysler brands,” said Robert Nardelli, CEO of Chrysler.

Reaction to Chrysler-Fiat deal has been mixed. Some American car enthusiasts are excited because Fiat owns Ferrari and Alfa Romeo, meaning new Chryslers could offer a certain amount of European charm. Others are afraid the Italian company will go too far and try to tame Chrysler muscle cars like the Viper.

“I fear that the Italians don’t want a $90K Dodge to outperform a $200K Ferrari,” wrote one Motor Trend contributor. “It’s possible they will hold the Viper back and keep it from being the monster that it is today.”

It seems Americans are going to have to say goodbye to the Viper for a little while, like it or not. Officials aren’t sure whether the sports car will come back, menacing V10 and all. What is almost certain, however, is that used Vipers in New Jersey could become quite popular when car buyers learn only 500 more purely American models will be manufactured in the foreseeable future.

A man in Texas recently drove his expensive sports car into a salt marsh because of a pelican and the amusing details of this story might inspire car shoppers to look for slower and cheaper vehicles like used Caravans in New York.

Many men and women spend their lives longing for an exotic sports car, but what they don’t dream about is what it’s like to completely ruin one. The Huffington Post recently published a story about a man in La Marque, Texas who drove his $1.25 million Bugatti Veyron into a marsh after a pelican came in for a closer look at the masterpiece and distracted him. Stricken, the man dropped his cell phone and lost control of the car when he reached to the floor for it. He was not injured.

“Salt water isn’t good for anything,” said local police officer lieutenant Greg Gilchrist to the news source.

Unfortunately, car accidents are just a fact of life. Most motorists are responsible and protect themselves by car paying for auto insurance. Moreover, most motorist don’t drive Veyrons because they’re too expensive and useless for people who need a car they can bring their kids to school in, like a Dodge Caravan. Perhaps this Bugatti crash will make auto shoppers look for vehicles like used Caravans in New York instead of this year’s hottest sports car.