Dodge has just announced a new sports car. It will not be the second coming of the Serpent, but it will be named after another serpent. Dodge will name its new sports car the Copperhead, which is also the name of the car shown above, a concept car that Dodge produced at the 1997 Detroit Auto Show. Although Dodge hasn’t released any photos, the automotive press team that gathered for the 2026 Stellantis Investor Day were allowed to see a prototype of the Copperhead’s styling and describe it as best they could. Since there are no concrete facts about Copperhead, there are many wild theories flying around.
The new Dodge Copperhead is expected to debut as a 2029 model. It will sit at the top of Dodge’s lineup, with a full-blown SRT model likely powered by a supercharged Hellcat Hemi V8, which currently makes 777 horsepower in the Ram SRT TRX. There’s also the potential for a hybrid-based setup, which includes electric motors that could increase the Copperhead’s performance even more. Copperhead performance should improve on the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, a rare and guilty pleasure.
The Dodge Copperhead isn’t expected to be based on the current Dodge Charger, but it will feature much higher performance levels than the current Charger, which does just fine with an inline-six. The body of the Copperhead is defined as two low and tall doors, with small LED headlights that turn off at the front.
What else should you know about the 2029 Dodge Copperhead?
The Copperhead shown in the press is finished in light gray with blue racing stripes, with a large rear wing. It is primarily powered by an internal combustion engine, as evidenced by the numerous vents and grilles at the front, as well as dual exhausts. Other styling cues that promise high performance include large brake cooling vents located behind the front wheels, a power bump on the hood, and an engine exhaust hood for an additional cooling effect. According to Car and Driver, Copperhead also features, “…a cool snake logo reminiscent of the Viper badge.”
Some speculation has seen initial price estimates of “at least $100,000,” again according to Car and Driver. Tim Kuniskis, head of Stellantis North American products and leader of the SRT, recently told The Drive that the Copperhead is not built in the charger area, which requires space for the battery pack which has a lifting effect on all versions of the platform. Instead, the Copperhead will share its platform with another Stellantis-type vehicle from one of the company’s many brands – already made elsewhere in the world. This is the only way to achieve the economies of scale needed to make low-production “halo cars” that don’t lose a lot of money. Kuniskis’ latest comments indicate that the Copperhead will not have a hybrid V8, but that “…there may be another engine coming that no one knows about…” Stay tuned.