--- title: "Dodge Has a New Completely Unhinged Halo Car Coming and It’s Not Called the Viper" date: "2026-05-21" modified: "2026-05-21" authors: - name: "Joel Feder" job_title: "Director of Content and Product" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/joel-feder" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/dodge-has-a-new-completely-unhinged-halo-car-coming-and-its-not-called-the-viper" categories: - "Dodge News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "sports car" --- # Dodge Has a New Completely Unhinged Halo Car Coming and It’s Not Called the Viper ![Dodge Copperhead]() Tim Kuniskis, the Father of Hellcats, is back, and he's just winding up. On Thursday, as [Stellantis presented its turnaround plans](), Kuniskis, who serves as head of the American brands ([along with SRT]()) and CEO of Ram, had a one-more-thing moment for journalists: the Dodge Copperhead SRT. It's being hailed as a "hyper muscle car" to fill a "white space," according to Kuniskis. This is the unknown Charger-looking cloaked SRT car from [earlier today that was part of Dodge's future lineup](). The question's been answered. Kuniskis joked that the paint wasn't even dry on what looked like a 3D-printed buck and kindly asked that we didn't touch the car. Clearly based on the Charger, the Copperhead features a shark nose front end, a wing so huge that it wouldn't be out of place on a Viper ACR, a massive front splitter, vents on the front fenders, and a ducktail spoiler. Two large oval exhaust tips sat fat lower and centered in the rear. The taillights are horizontal and sit angled into the rear as if pinched. The rear glass have vents on both sides similar to the C8 Corvette, but this isn't a mid-engine car. The mirrors are Viper-esque and circular. The door lines, roof line, and curved sides all angle up to the rear haunches very much in the same way as the Copperhead concept from the 1997 Detroit auto show. ![Dodge Copperhead Concept]() *Dodge Copperhead concept from 1997* Imagine the 1997 Copperhead concept stance and door line with a Viper-esque rear end and the Charger design team saying "you're allowed to be completely unhinged." That's the picture to paint in your mind as to what the new Copperhead looks like. What's under the hood will be anyone's guess. But exhaust tips indicate it'll make the bang bang noises and tiny explosions. A hood scoop sucks in air and vents on both sides of that intake will let heat out of the engine bay. A front aero wing, like on the electric Charger, exists, which is notable and interesting given this is a gas-powered car, it seems. There's no word when Copperhead will arrive or what it will cost, but everything laid out in today's turnaround plan is said to arrive by 2030. This seems like a cake copper. Kuniskis did say, sometimes you don't ask what the price is, you don't ask what the fuel economy is. That seems to be the goal with the Copperhead. Dodge has a halo vehicle coming, and it's not going to wear a Viper badge. *Got a tip about future product? Send us a line at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Overseeing what you see, read, touch, hear, and interact with from the vast lakes of Minnesota, Joel Feder shapes how The Drive looks and operates as the head of content and product initiatives. On a daily basis, Joel leads the newsroom and editorial staff playing point on both short-term coverage and long-term strategic plans. His mission is to help ensure The Drive shapes the future of automotive media by helping the team execute original reporting, breaking news, and exclusive opportunities. Regarded as an industry insider and recognized by colleagues, fellow journalists, and manufacturers as a point-person and leader in the industry, Joel owns and runs the largest automotive professionals group on Facebook in an effort to serve and help others. Joel serves as a juror for the World Car Awards. In addition, he is the board chair and chair of the governance and nominating committee for Move Forward MN, a local non-profit that helps at-risk youth with barrier-free mental health and housing services. While you’re reading this he’s either on his computer or iPhone chasing the latest news or drafting a story. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]() [Bluesky]() [Email]()