Dodge Copperhead

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The Dodge Copperhead, also known as the Dodge Concept Car and Dodge Concept Vehicle, is a concept car created by Dodge, and was intended to be a version of the Dodge Viper for people who couldn't afford the Viper's $75,000 USD price tag. Today, the car is owned by DaimlerChrysler, and it frequently tours car shows.

Overview

The Dodge Copperhead was unveiled in 1997 to great praise. Many were impressed with its aerodynamic, yet rugged styling and the fact that its production price tag would be about $30,000 USD ($45,000 less than the Viper). The Copperhead, unlike the Viper, was made more for handling and driving pleasure, while the Viper was made more for raw power. The Copperhead had excellent handling due to its low, wide stance. Dodge engineered the Copperhead to make the driver feel the road and the pavement, and this was done by stretching the wheels to the end of the frame, adding 5" of ground clearance and a stiff suspension, making this car marketed more towards enthusiasts.

The Copperhead's Specifications

The Dodge Copperhead concept car was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in 1997.

"If Dodge Viper is credited for re-inventing the Shelby Cobra, then Dodge Copperhead should be credited for re-inventing a car in the tradition of the Austin Healey 3000," said John E. Herlitz, Chrysler Corporation's Vice President of Product Design. "Copperhead will fit comfortably into any sports car enthusiast's garage — and budget."

The Dodge Copperhead is a Copper Fire Orange, front engine, rear-wheel-drive, two-seat roadster convertible. While comparisons to the Dodge Viper are inevitable, Copperhead strikes its own distinct image with its sleek dimensions. Compared to its older sibling, the Dodge Viper (also introduced as a show car), Copperhead is three inches (76 mm) narrower, eight inches (203 mm) shorter, and has an extra 12 inches (304 mm) of wheelbase.

"Copperhead will be the sports car of choice for those enthusiasts who like lithe, aerodynamic treatments combined with a low center of gravity," said K. Neil Walling, Chrysler Corporation's Design Director. "We designed Copperhead to look fast by utilizing minimal overhang and pushing the wheels way out to the front and rear corners."

When conceiving the Copperhead, Chrysler designers incorporated proportional lessons learned during the development of Plymouth Prowler, proportions which emphasize a sports car ancestry and street rod heritage. Designer's achieved Copperhead's sleek dimensions by moving the front and rear wheels to the limits of the vehicle's frame. The styling cue is enhanced with cast aluminum wheels (18"x8"/front, 20"x9" rear), making for an almost serpentine vehicle profile. An air scoop grille, deep-set quad headlamps, elongated hood with dual air scoops, drastically-sloped windshield and scaled-down dorsal fin on the rear decklid contribute to the Copperhead's sinuous feel.

Copperhead's interior is designed to complement the exterior and features contoured bucket seats with an unconventional Deep Amethyst snakeskin-like leather finish. The tachometer is placed at the centerline of the driver while gauges, HVAC, radio/cassette controls are smartly placed in the center stack. The center console features a gear shift and door lock/window controls. When viewed in its entirety, the center console and instrument pod has an uncanny likeness to the head of a copperhead snake.

Copperhead's performance is defined by an all-new, aluminum block, high-output 2.7 liter four cam V-6 which churns out 220 horsepower (162 kW). The vehicle's powerplant is coupled with a close ratio, five-speed manual transmission, which ensures the necessary power for immediate torque and traction. Copperhead's significant footprint and wide tires (complete with snakeskin tread) provide stability and precise handling.

A short-and-long arm (SLA) coil/shock front and rear suspension provides comfort and handling. With a mere five inches of ground clearance, the Copperhead provides sports car enthusiasts with what they crave most — a true feel for the machine and road combined.

Dodge Copperhead dimensions (inches/mm):

Overall Length: 167.0/4242 Overall Width: 72.0/1829 Overall Height: 49.7/1262 Wheelbase: 110.0/2794 Front Track: 60.0/1524 Rear Track: 60.4/1534 Wheels: Cast Aluminum Front 18 x 8 Rear 20 x 9 Tires: Goodyear Front P225/40 R 18 Rear P255/40 R 20 Engine: 2.7 Liter, V-6 220 hp (162kW) (ACT) Drivetrain: Five Speed Manual Rear-Wheel Drive Body: Two Door Roadster Steel Unit-Body Suspension: Front SLA coil over shockSemi-Trailing "A" Arm Brakes: ABS Four Wheel Disc 

Name controversy

After the unveiling of the Copperhead, Dodge got complaints from another company that had the copyrights to the Copperhead name, and as a result, Dodge could not use it. To avoid lawsuits, DaimlerChrysler unofficially renamed the car, with it being referred to as the 'Concept Vehicle' instead of 'Copperhead' in modern press kits, and on scale toys and merchandise. This makes press kits or items with the Copperhead name collectibles. The Copperhead's name controversy is accredited as the most likely reason why the car never reached the production line.

In popular culture

The Copperhead is a very well-known concept car, and has appeared all over the market. Toy car makers like Hot Wheels, Maisto, and Matchbox, among others, have created scale toys and models of the Copperhead. The Copperhead can also be found on just about any calendar or media relating to concept cars.

The Dodge Copperhead appeared in the PlayStation game Gran Turismo, but under the name of the Dodge Concept Car because of the restrictions on the Copperhead name.

External links

• Brief overview
• Specifications
• Picture gallery
• Concept Car Central page