Description
The Dodge Copperhead was a two-seat roadster concept car introduced by Chrysler Corporation’s Dodge division at the 1997 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. The car was designed by Tom Gale, who was then the head of design at Chrysler.
The Copperhead was based on the Chrysler PR Platform and featured a lightweight aluminum chassis with a mid-mounted V6 engine. The car’s sleek design incorporated a long hood and a short rear deck, with a prominent Dodge crosshair grille and side gills.
Powering the Copperhead was a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produced 220 horsepower and 220 lb-ft of torque, paired with a five-speed manual transmission. The car had a top speed of 150 mph and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under six seconds.
Despite its positive reception at the 1997 Detroit Auto Show, the Copperhead was never produced. Instead, the design elements of the Copperhead were incorporated into the second-generation Dodge Viper and the Dodge Stratus coupe. The Copperhead remains a popular concept car and is considered an important part of Dodge’s history.
