Dodge Copperhead SRT Could Recreate Viper Magic On Charger Bones

Last week, Dodge teased two new performance-focused muscle cars, one of which was the Copperhead SRT, which will be the halo vehicle for the SRT performance brand. The name refers to one of the most common and widespread venomous vipers in North America, and it’s a clever choice not only because it reminds us of the Dodge Viper, but also because it’s clearly something different. It was also previously used by Dodge on a 1997 concept that was similar in layout to the Viper production car. Car and Driver got to see a model of the new Copperhead, and interestingly, the publication’s description of the car closely matches a few renders Autoblog has been working on for the past week, imagining what a new Viper might look like. We’ll discuss what we imagine the looks will be like first, and then talk about the engine and the car’s possible targets.

Dodge Copperhead SRT Will Be a Mashup of Charger and Viper

The model C&D saw was described as a long, low, sleek, and aggressive two-door. The hood isn’t as long as a Viper’s (because a truck-derived 8.3-liter V10 doesn’t need to fit under it), and the publication says “the hard points suggest that this range-topper is based on the Charger.” We’re also told there are plenty of vents and grilles, slim LED headlights in the openings, a big S-duct in the hood, a vent behind the front wheels helping cool the brakes and reduce wheelhouse pressure, a massive rear wing, exhaust pipes confirming combustion power, and a “cool snake logo that is definitely reminiscent of the Viper badge.”

Our render may be a little too similar to the Toyota GR Supra in the glasshouse, but like both the Supra and the Viper, we wouldn’t be surprised to find the Copperhead come with a double-bubble roof to lower the car’s overall height while still leaving enough headroom for helmets. We also expect to see plenty of carbon fiber, potentially a few copper-colored accents, and an interior that is focused on the driver. In summary, the new Copperhead will likely be a V8-powered Charger-based coupe with more aggressive styling, greater performance focus, and more power; “you saw what we did with Ram [and the 777-horsepower Rumble Bee],” Ram said, hinting at a Hellcat-based powertrain. And with a nomenclature that calls to mind the brilliance of the Viper without placing itself in quite the same niche, Dodge will avoid upsetting the purists.

Copperhead SRT Could Be Dodge’s Answer to ZR1 and GTD

Dodge hasn’t indicated that this new creation will be quite as extreme and capable as the Chevy Corvette ZR1 and Ford Mustang GTD, but it hasn’t suggested otherwise either. With a new halo that celebrates V8 power for the SRT performance brand, potentially bolstered by hybrid shove, Dodge may be capable of turning the fight for all-American performance supremacy into a three-way fight. Expect a supercharger, over 800 horsepower, and plenty of clever aero tricks, but we’ll have to wait some time to see exactly what Stellantis has agreed to for the Copperhead SRT, with a debut only anticipated to occur for the 2029 model year at the soonest.

Note: The images in this article are AI-generated renders and should not be considered official Dodge concepts.