It has been three years since Dodge last offered the world a V8-powered muscle car. While we might have an internal-combustion-powered Charger on the market again, it has not featured the powertrain that many associate with all-American muscle: the good old V8 motor.
But it looks like that will soon change. Many expect a new V8-powered Charger to come for 2028, adding the legendary powertrain back to the range, which has so far just seen straight-six and EV powertrains under the hood. But there might be another twist in the tale by then.
The Dodge Copperhead is on its way back in 2029, and the model was first teased at the Stellantis Investor Day a few months ago. The company teased it alongside the new GLH crossover, which is also set to get a new SRT variant. But the return of the Copperhead is the one that has really got people excited.
Revealed as a concept in 1997, this would be the first time the name has been on a production car. While we don’t know what it looks like yet, digital artist Avarvarii Automotive Artworks has created their own Copperhead, giving us a preview of the car ahead of its expected 2029 launch.
What Does the Rendered Dodge Copperhead Look Like?
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The rendering of the 2029 Dodge Copperhead certainly looks striking. The artist has posted several angles of the car on their Instagram page, giving us an interesting glimpse into the future. It is a very aggressive-looking car, with a vented hood and large air intakes located in the bumper. It also has wider tracks than we see on the current Dodge Charger.
At the back, there is a very chunky wing, and there is a big diffuser located underneath the tail of the car. At the front, a beefy splitter is present, adding to the aggression of the design. In contrast, the car has very thin LED headlights and taillights, adding a touch of elegance to what is quite an aggressive and vicious-looking car.
Beyond that, the digital artist has given the car a stunning paint scheme. There are a couple of designs, but the best is surely that of a red overall body color, with a black roof and rear wing, and white stripes down the center of the car. This is very reminiscent of the colors seen on many Dodge Vipers, and it feels like a classic Dodge look; this is something we should definitely get on the real car.
What Was the Original Dodge Copperhead?
The original Dodge Copperhead was built as a concept car in 1997 and designed by John Herlitz. Only one was ever built, and it was created as a slimmed-down and cheaper version of the Dodge Viper for those who could not afford the Viper, which at the time cost $75,000. Powering the Copperhead was a 2.7-liter LH DOHC V6 engine making 220hp and 188lb-ft of torque. It should have been released to the public in 2000, but Dodge decided to cancel the car.
There was some controversy around the original car’s name. A customized 1950 Ford Coupe, owned by Billy Gibbons from the American rock band ZZ Top, had been assigned the Koppheard name. This led to DaimlerChrysler unofficially renaming the concept, calling it the Concept Vehicle instead. Clearly, that is not a problem anymore, as we are only 2-3 years away from getting to see a production Copperhead for the first time. The big question is: will it be based around that original 1990s concept, or has Avarvarii seen into the future with their rendering?