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Dodge Tomahawk Concept Vehicle
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The Dodge Tomahawk was a non–street legal concept vehicle introduced by Dodge at the 2003 North American International Auto Show. The Tomahawk attracted significant press and industry attention for its striking design, its use of a large-capacity 10-cylinder automobile engine, and its four close-coupled wheels, which gave a motorcycle-like appearance, and fueled debate on whether it was or was not actually a motorcycle. The Retro-Art Deco design's central visual element is the 500-horsepower (370 kW), 8.3-litre (510 cu in) V10 SRT10 engine from the Dodge Viper. The vehicle has two front wheels and two rear wheels, which are sprung independently and theoretically allow it to lean into corners and countersteer like a motorcycle.
Dodge's claims of a hypothetical top speed of 300 to 420 miles per hour (480 to 680 km/h), probably based on horsepower and gearing calculations, were debunked by the motorcycling and automotive media. No road tests of the Tomahawk have ever been published. Hand-built replicas of the Tomahawk were offered for sale through the Neiman Marcus catalog at a price of US$555,000, and up to nine might have sold. As they were not street legal, Dodge called the Tomahawk a "rolling sculpture", which was not intended to be ridden.
The Tomahawk was a resounding success in its true purpose: to generate media buzz, and send the message that Chrysler was a bold, ambitious company, unafraid to take risks.
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