Something began to move again inside Dodge. After several years focused on SUVs, muscle cars and electric versions, the American brand seems determined to recover part of that wild identity that made it an icon among fans of American sports cars.

Read also: The most searched cars on Google are not the best sellers in the US.

The signs appeared during Stellantis' Investor Day 2026 event, where the group showed off its brands' roadmap through the end of the decade. Among so many advertisements, there was one that quickly aroused the attention of enthusiasts. Dodge is preparing a new sports model called Copperhead, a name that inevitably brings to mind the unforgettable Viper.

You can read: Five car noises that can empty your pocket

Although the company made it clear that it will not be a direct new generation of the Viper, the intention seems quite evident. The objective would be to recover that philosophy of an extreme, powerful and emotional car that made the Viper a true legend.

The Copperhead aims to revive the SRT essence

For now, Stellantis is keeping almost all details of the project under lock and key. It did not show official images or confirm technical specifications. Even so, some American media such as Car and Driver were able to see mock-ups of the model and anticipate that it will have an aggressive aesthetic clearly inspired by large high-performance sports cars.

According to those first descriptions, the new Copperhead will feature huge air intakes, a very low body, ultra-thin LED optics and a prominent rear spoiler. All this accompanied by modern proportions, although maintaining certain visual nods that inevitably remind us of the old Viper.

The project will also be part of the SRT division, Dodge's high-performance branch.

The return of the V8 is still possible

One of the biggest questions revolves around the engine. Dodge has not yet confirmed what will power the Copperhead, but everything indicates that the V8 will continue to play a leading role within the brand.

Stellantis' recent decision to return to producing HEMI engines further fueled speculation. It would not be strange if this new sports car used some variant of those large displacement blocks.

At the same time, a hybrid solution is not ruled out either. Stellantis is already working on high-performance electrified technologies with Ram and other internal projects, so the Copperhead could combine traditional power with electrical support.

A name that already has history within Dodge

The name Copperhead didn't appear out of nowhere. Dodge had already used it in 1997 for a quite particular concept car.

That model sought to become a more accessible alternative to the Viper. While Dodge's flagship supercar was around $70,000 at the time, the Copperhead aimed to offer sporting sensations for less than half that.

It was a two-seater roadster, compact and much lighter than the Viper. It even aimed to compete against models like the BMW Z3, ​​Mercedes-Benz SLK and Mazda MX-5 Miata.

The Viper remains an obsession for many fans

Although Dodge insists that there will be no new Viper for now, the memory of the model is still more alive than ever among American enthusiasts.

The Viper debuted in 1992 and quickly built a wild reputation thanks to its massive naturally aspirated V10 engine and brutal handling that never tried to smooth things out too much for the driver.

Its final generation said goodbye in 2017 after years of low sales and high production costs. Even so, it ended up becoming one of those cars that never completely disappears in the collective memory.

Now, with the Copperhead in development and the return of SRT gaining momentum within Dodge, many feel the brand is finally looking back to its more radical roots.