What could the new, sub-$30k Dodge sports car look like?

The idea of an affordable performance car from Dodge seems like one that's been long lost to the sands of time. Gone are the days of the turbocharged Neon SRT4, the Challenger R/T, and the glorious, 8.4-liter V10-powered Viper. Instead, we've been left with the Hornet–a crossover that shares its platform with the Alfa Romeo Tonale–an all-electric quasi-Charger, and the Dodge Durango, which is almost old enough to vote. But, according to Dodge's current CEO, Matt McAlear, our luck may turn around.

According to our very own Elijah Nicholson-Messmer, Dodge's CEO has hinted at the possibility of an upcoming, sub-$30,000 sports car. If McAlear's statements are to come true, it could very well mean that we'll see a new roadster from the marque in the not-so-distant future. 

According to an interview with The Drive, McAlear said: "I think there’s a market for people who just want to have that weekend car again, who would like a Viper, but don’t have that $100 or $120K. Something that doesn’t need all the safety features, doesn’t need the heated seats. Just a car.” His idea of a sort of "baby Viper" reminds us of a few of Dodge's past concept vehicles that never quite came to fruition. 

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The Dodge Copperhead Concept lives on in our minds, rent-free

In 1997, Dodge showed the world the Copperhead Concept–a functioning, prototype roadster equipped with a 2.7-liter V6, which sent power to the rear wheels through a 5-speed manual transmission. It not only captured the hearts of car enthusiasts–it helped shape an entire generation of new enthusiasts. Featured as a drivable vehicle in the first two Gran Turismo franchise entries and as a pushable vehicle in the form of a Hot Wheels toy, the Dodge Copperhead Concept inspired automotive awe in children of all ages during the late-1990s and early-2000s. 

That very same year, Plymouth introduced the Prowler–a two-door, two-seater roadster with a unique, open-wheel design and a design that has aged like fine wine, in my own humble opinion. The Prowler packed a more muscular 3.5-liter V6, compared to the Copperhead's smaller 2.7, but in the many years since its debut, enthusiasts have managed to cram Hemi V8s and even supercharged Hellcat motors under their hoods–thus affording the Prowler true hot rod status. 

In subsequent years, Dodge would go on to produce two more concept cars that resembled traditional roadsters but were noticeably more compact than the grizzly Viper. In 2004, Dodge would show the world the Slingshot, a two-seater roadster that packed a turbocharged 3-cylinder engine under the hood. It, too, was equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive. 

In 2007, Dodge showed off a revised roadster concept–the Dodge Demon Concept–which used a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, rear-wheel drive, and a 6-speed manual transmission. This was meant to chase after similar models being offered by rival manufacturers at the time, such as the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky. Obviously, the general idea is also very reminiscent of the legendary Mazda MX-5.

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Unfortunately, Dodge has never actually sent any of these wonderful concept vehicles to the production line. The closest thing we ever saw from Mopar, besides the Plymouth Prowler, was the Chrysler Crossfire–a two-door, two-seater coupe or roadster, which shared its platform and most of its parts with the R170-generation Mercedes-Benz SLK. 

Although it could be had in SRT6 guise with a supercharged, 3.2-liter V6, only the less-powerful, naturally-aspirated models were ever offered with a manual transmission. All models came equipped with rear-wheel drive, but the Crossfire was marketed as something of a "grand tourer", meaning more of them ended up living in retirement communities rather than living out glory on race tracks. 

Now, all that could change... hopefully

Dodge is a brand that has found itself backed into a corner. With a lineup of just three models–all of which are either quite dated or not selling as well as they had hoped–Dodge desperately needs to do something fresh to win over the hearts of enthusiasts and buyers alike. A sub $30,000 roadster could bring some much-needed excitement to the brand without fantastically heavy research and development costs.

Dodge could use a revised version of the Crossfire's Benz-based platform, which isn't entirely unreasonable considering the current Durango still uses a 1990s Mercedes-derived platform, as did the Charger and Challenger up until the end of 2023 when they were discontinued in favour of the new, electric Charger. 

Alternatively, a shrunken Alfa Romeo Giulia platform may also work, if that would somehow be more cost-effective. Regardless of the ins and outs of its development logistics, it's not an impossible task for Dodge to create an affordable, rear-drive roadster.

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Using generative text-to-image artificial intelligence, we take an imagined look at what a revived, true-to-its-heritage Dodge two-seat roadster could look like, incorporating recent Dodge styling cues and imagining what currently existing powertrains it could optimize. These images are for speculation purposes only and in no way depict any actual Stellantis products. 

To keep its base MSRP under the $30,000 mark, a likely powertrain candidate for Dodge's new sports car would be the turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine currently being used in the Dodge Hornet crossover. With a power figure of 286 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, it would certainly pack a healthy punch–enough to provide the Mazda MX-5, Toyota GR86, and Subaru BRZ with a serious showdown. 

As Matt McAlear made clear, things on the inside should remain simple and driver-focused. An infotainment screen with smartphone integration is a must these days, but it doesn't have to be much more than that, and it certainly doesn't need to occupy the entire dash as it does with far too many contemporary vehicles. 

Another must-have feature is rear-wheel drive, but we're praying that a 6-speed manual transmission is made available as well. An optional ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic wouldn't be unwelcome either, and it would certainly help boost those pesky sales figures. 

Perhaps a cheeky V8-powered model could come along at some point, as well. There's just something about the idea of a factory Hellcat-powered two-seat roadster that should raise the hair on the back of every car enthusiast's neck. 

Considering the Dodge Hornet's pricing starts at $31,585, it's not so far-fetched to think that a small roadster with an identical powertrain could end up with a price tag just shy of $30,000, albeit in relatively stripped-down, base model guise. We'd love to see more affordable, enthusiast-oriented vehicles like this from as many manufacturers as possible, so it's comforting to see that a large manufacturer like Dodge recognizes a desire for these kinds of vehicles. 

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Final thoughts

Ultimately, news of a potential sports car with a driver-oriented design focus in this day and age is both massively exciting and a bit of a relief. If you're a driving enthusiast these days, it's easy to feel like manufacturers can't seem to justify offering the exciting, charismatically engaging vehicles that many of them used to. Hearing Dodge's CEO speaking directly to that crowd is refreshing to see, and we hope that this sentiment continues to make its return into the mainstream automotive industry.

For now, nothing is officially confirmed, so we'll just have to await the upcoming turbocharged inline-six-powered Charger, which should arrive sometime this year. We're looking forward to getting behind the wheel and seeing how it compares to its all-electric counterpart.

Do the hairs on the back of your neck tingle at the thought of an affordable roadster from Dodge, and would you like to see one stuffed with a 6.2-liter, supercharged Hellcat V8? Would you like to see more brands hop back on the affordable sports car bandwagon, or do you think the segment is a lost cause entirely? Let us know what you think in the comments–we love to hear from you!

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