Dodge to launch new supercar and compact SRT

Dodge is preparing a lineup of new performance vehicles that includes a two-seat sports car called the Copperhead, a revived GLH hatchback, and an updated Durango SUV, according to details shared during Stellantis investor presentations. The moves signal the brand’s continued push into higher-performance segments without abandoning its traditional muscle-car roots.

The Copperhead name first appeared at the 1997 North American International Auto Show in Detroit as a concept car. Back then, it was positioned as a more affordable alternative to the Dodge Viper, with a target price around $30,000 and a 2.7-liter V-6 engine. Production plans were canceled and the car never reached dealers.

Now, more than two decades later, Stellantis showed a new Copperhead concept during Investor Day events in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The vehicle appeared in light gray with blue racing stripes, sculpted side panels featuring large air intakes, a low front splitter, a prominent rear wing, and dual tailpipes. No details on powertrain or production plans were provided.

Tim Kuniskis, the head of Stellantis’s North American brands, said the Copperhead is not a successor to the Viper. “But it is a snake,” he added. He declined to say whether a Hemi V-8 would go under the hood. The car could accommodate several powertrain options, though a pure electric version is considered unlikely.

The Copperhead concept reinforces Dodge’s identity as a performance brand that doesn’t pretend to be practical. It is a two-seater developed by the SRT performance division, placing it at the lower end of the company’s performance hierarchy but still firmly in enthusiast territory.

Dodge also plans to bring back the GLH name — which originally stood for “Go Like Hell” — on a midsize hatchback before 2030. The original GLH was a modified version of the compact Omni economy car from the 1980s. The new version will have nearly 300 horsepower, making it a back-to-basics muscle hatch.

The GLH will share its underpinnings with the forthcoming Chrysler AirFlow crossover, both using the new STLA One platform designed for small to midsize vehicles. Stellantis says the platform can reduce production costs by 30 percent compared to current architectures.

The two-door and four-door Dodge Chargers are also getting a refresh. The SRT variant will be offered in both electric and internal combustion versions, giving buyers a choice between battery power and traditional gasoline performance.

A new Dodge Durango is in the works as well. The three-row SUV will get a redesigned exterior and interior, with updates expected within the next two years. The brand is currently profitable, and Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa said adding more models will increase volume and improve margins.

Dodge’s strategy appears to be about filling gaps rather than chasing trends. The Copperhead fills a slot below the Viper that has been empty for years. The GLH revives a cult name from the 1980s with modern hardware. The Durango refresh keeps a profitable SUV competitive in a crowded segment.

Whether any of these vehicles actually make it to production remains an open question. The Copperhead concept has failed to reach showrooms once before. But the brand’s current profitability gives it more room to experiment than it had in the late 1990s, when the original Copperhead was shelved.