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Dodge has recently announced the creation of a new sports car. This novelty will not be a direct continuation of the legendary Viper model, but will be named after another reptile. The developers decided to name their creation Copperhead, which completely duplicates the name of the 1997 concept car presented by Dodge at the Detroit Auto Show.
Although Dodge has refrained from releasing official photos, members of the automotive press attending Stellantis’ Investor Day 2026 event had a unique opportunity to view the Copperhead design prototype and recreated its image in as detailed a manner as possible. Due to the lack of official and confirmed data, a huge number of bold assumptions and theories are currently circulating around the future of the Copperhead.
The Dodge Copperheadis expected to make its debut as a 2029 model year. This car will take its place at the very top of the Dodge model line, receiving the top SRT modification. The heart of this version may well be the Hellcat Hemi V8 compressor engine, which currently produces 777 horsepower under the hood of the Ram SRT TRX pickup. In addition, there is a possibility of developing a hybrid powertrain with the addition of electric motors that can raise the dynamic performance of the Copperhead to an even higher level. In terms of speed, the Copperhead should surpass the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, which is a unique and exclusive source of driving pleasure.
Analysts do not expect that the Dodge Copperhead will be based on the architecture of the current Dodge Charger, but the new sports car will demonstrate significantly more powerful parameters than the Charger, which is quite capable of its inline six-cylinder engine. The Copperhead silhouette is characterized as a two-door coupe with a low stance and elongated body proportions, and the front of the car is emphasized by narrow LED headlights.
The Copperhead concept shown to journalists featured a light gray body color complemented by blue racing stripes, and the rear of the car was decorated with a massive wing. The car is equipped with a predominantly classic internal combustion engine, which is clearly indicated by the numerous vents and radiator grilles on the front, as well as a pair of exhaust pipes at the rear. Other design elements that testify to the extreme potential of the car include large air ducts for cooling the brake system behind the front wheels, a characteristic elevation on the hood, and a special slot for supplying outside air to the power unit for additional cooling. As noted by Car and Driver, the Copperhead is also decorated with a stylish snake logo, which clearly evokes associations with the famous Viper emblem.
Some expert estimates, again cited by Car and Driver, indicate that the starting price of the new model will be at least $100 thousand. Tim Kuniskis, head of North American brands at Stellantis and head of the SRT division, in a recent interview with The Drive noted that the Copperhead does not use the Charger’s platform. The latter’s base requires additional space for the battery pack, which leads to a raised floor level in all modifications of this architecture. Instead, the Copperhead will share the platform with another Stellantis vehicle borrowed from one of the conglomerate’s many brands, and production of this model is already underway elsewhere in the world.
Such a move is the only way to achieve the necessary economies of scale that allow for the creation of low-volume image supercars without the risk of incurring huge financial losses. Kuniskis’ latest statements indicate that the Copperhead will not receive a hybridized V8 engine, but the top manager intrigued us with the phrase that a completely different engine may appear under the hood, the existence of which no one even knows at the moment. So all that remains is to follow the news.
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