Stellantis is planning a number of muscle cars for Dodge and RAM, using its 2026 Investor Day to confirm a sweeping, combustion-heavy revival of the Street and Racing Technology (SRT) division. At the bleeding edge of this aggressive course correction is an entirely new flagship muscle car; the Dodge Copperhead.
Resurrecting a badge last seen on a 1997 design study, the new Copperhead SRT operates as a spiritual successor to the Viper, albeit built on modified Charger architecture. Shown in a closed-door preview, the two-door coupe features a massive aerodynamic S-duct, a towering rear wing reminiscent of the old Viper ACR, and a highly unapologetic mechanical footprint.
While Dodge executives remain tight-lipped on final powertrain specifics, the visual presence of heavy-duty cooling vents and exhaust hardware points definitively toward a high-output V8, potentially a hybridised evolution of the supercharged 6.2-litre Hellcat V8. However, nothing official has been revealed at this stage.
The performance onslaught does not stop at the flagship coupe. Dodge boss Tim Kuniskis confirmed the SRT treatment is being applied across the broader Stellantis portfolio. The current Hornet is effectively being superseded by a new performance crossover wearing the legendary ‘GLH’ (Goes Like Hell) moniker. Over at the commercial division, the incoming mid-size Ram Dakota will gain a dedicated SRT street-truck variant to run alongside the beastly RAM 1500 Rumble Bee.
A new RAM Ramcharger is also being planned with an SRT variant, along with a new Jeep Wrangler Scrambler SRT, and RAM Dakota SRT. These are set to feature a powerful V8 of some description, along with a range of SRT-specific enhancements such as suspension, brakes, and cosmetics cues.
For a brand that recently spent millions trying to convince enthusiasts that fake electric exhaust noises were the future, this is a colossal and highly welcome backflip. The immediate question for local buyers is Australian availability.
While Dodge’s direct factory presence Down Under remains dormant, the sheer volume of SRT hardware entering the global pipeline provides serious ammunition for local right-hand drive remanufacturing programs. If local outfits can make the business case stack up, getting an 800-horsepower Copperhead onto Australian tarmac isn’t entirely out of the question.
