Quick Answer
Yes, the Viper is effectively coming back, just under a new name. Stellantis has confirmed that a hardcore two door performance coupe called the Dodge Copperhead SRT is in active pre production as the new flagship of the reborn Street and Racing Technology brand. It is not a literal Viper continuation, but it is the closest thing Dodge has built since 2017.
The Copperhead will sit on a heavily modified version of the STLA Large architecture shared with the new Dodge Charger, carry visible exhaust tips that confirm a high output internal combustion powertrain, and use a brand new stylized snake badge that explicitly nods to the original Viper. A public concept reveal is expected later this year, with production cars projected for the road within three to four years.
What Is the Dodge Copperhead SRT
The Copperhead is a clean sheet halo sports car, not a rebadged Viper. Stellantis executives were careful during recent investor presentations to draw that line, partly because the original Viper used a low volume bespoke chassis that made it extremely expensive to build, and partly because the brand wants room to grow this nameplate over multiple generations.
Instead, the Copperhead is engineered to carry the Viper spirit, raw, loud, front engined, rear drive biased, into the modern Stellantis era. Parts sharing with the Charger keeps service costs sane, which directly answers one of the biggest pain points of the old V10 cars.
The Platform: STLA Large, Heavily Modified
The STLA Large platform is the same architecture underpinning the next Charger and several other Stellantis flagships. For the Copperhead, engineers have widened the track, dropped the floor pan, shortened the wheelbase, and reworked the structure for a stiff two door layout.
That platform sharing is the real headline. It means the Copperhead can be built on existing tooling, validated using existing crash and electronics work, and serviced through the standard Dodge dealer network. Compared to the bespoke Conner Avenue Viper line, that is a far more economically defensible halo car.
Powertrain: V8 or Hurricane Six
Visible exhaust tips in the leaked design imagery confirm one critical fact for purists: this car burns gasoline. The two leading candidates being discussed inside the industry are a high output supercharged 6.2 liter Hellcat V8 or a heavily boosted Hurricane inline six twin turbo.
The Hellcat V8 is the emotional pick. It would put the Copperhead in direct line with the SRT muscle car heritage and give the car a soundtrack that lives up to the badge. The Hurricane inline six is the rational pick. It is lighter, more compact, more efficient, and already engineered for high boost applications elsewhere in the Stellantis range.
The smart money inside the enthusiast press is split. Some expect a single Hellcat halo, others expect a Hurricane base with a Hellcat top trim, badged Copperhead SRT Demon or similar.
Design: Long, Low, and Aggressive
Early concept imagery shows a long and low body with a tall, prominent hood, a deep front splitter, side vents behind the front wheels, and a fixed rear wing sized for genuine downforce. It is not as cartoonishly long as the V10 Viper, but the proportions clearly come from the same family tree.
The new snake logo on the fender is the most direct callback. Dodge has not used a Viper style snake badge on a production car since 2017, and the choice to revive it on a different nameplate is a deliberate signal to the original Viper community.
Where the Copperhead Fits in the SRT Lineup
Stellantis has been clear that SRT is being reborn as a full performance sub brand, not just a trim level. The roadmap calls for at least ten dedicated SRT badged vehicles across the American Stellantis portfolio by 2030, covering Dodge, Jeep, Ram, and Chrysler.
The Copperhead is positioned as the crown jewel of that lineup, a halo product that justifies the SRT badge on cheaper Chargers, Durangos, and Grand Cherokees by demonstrating what the engineering team can do when given no compromises. Its closest target competitor is the Ford Mustang GTD, with the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 sitting just above on price.
Pricing and Launch Window
Nothing is official on price, but the combination of STLA Large parts sharing and a strict performance brief points to a window somewhere between $150,000 and $200,000 for the base car. A track focused top trim would likely push beyond $250,000.
The expected timeline is a public concept reveal in late 2026, prototype testing through 2027, and production cars on the road by 2028 or 2029. That is conservative for a Stellantis program, which suggests management wants to avoid the late delays that have plagued the wider EV transition.
Why This Matters for American Performance
The Viper has been gone for nine years. In that time the only true American front engined halo cars have come from Ford with the GT500 and GTD, and from Chevrolet with the Z06 and ZR1. Dodge has been visibly absent from that conversation.
The Copperhead changes that. It puts Dodge back at the table with a flagship that carries the Viper spirit without inheriting the Viper financial problems. For muscle car fans who spent a decade mourning the loss of the snake, the answer is simple: the snake is back, and this time the business case behind it actually works.
Common Questions
Will the Copperhead use the original V10?
No. The V10 program was retired in 2017 and the tooling no longer exists. The new car will use a current Stellantis engine, most likely a high output supercharged V8 or a heavily boosted Hurricane inline six.
Is the Copperhead front engined or mid engined?
Front engined and rear wheel drive biased, consistent with the Viper philosophy and required by the STLA Large platform shared with the Charger.
Will there be a hybrid or electric version?
A plug in hybrid trim is highly likely later in the model cycle. A full electric variant is possible but not on the initial product roadmap.
How does it compare to the Mustang GTD?
The Copperhead is positioned as a direct competitor on price, performance, and track focus, with the same goal of beating European supercars on lap time per dollar.
The Takeaway
The Dodge Copperhead SRT is a fresh start for the Viper philosophy. Real internal combustion power, real rear drive bias, a real snake badge, all built on a platform that makes economic sense. The wait is not over yet, but the era of mourning is officially closed.
