Where were you the last time Dodge released a new car? I just started college, it’s a decade formerly. It took Dodge what felt like eternity instead did not receive Dartso Hornet 2023 better give Stellantis muscle makers a viable entry-level nameplate – at this point.
Dodge announced the Hornet as part of its Speed Week celebrations in Michigan on Tuesday night. The brand is considered Alfa Romeo Tonale– based on the compact crossover, its “gateway muscle” product, sounds more intense if we didn’t have to live through an industry-wide purge of coupes and sedans.
To its credit, the Hornet is clearly aiming to be one of the multitude of small SUVs on offer today. It comes in only two flavors: GT and R/T. Both come standard with all-wheel drive, and the base powertrain in the GT is a turbocharged, two-liter four-cylinder that produces power. 265 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque mated to a nine-speed transmission – segment-leading numbers, the Dodge is quick to highlight. It is supposed to start under $30K.
Meanwhile, the top-spec R/T plug-in hybrid will boost output to 285 HP and 383 lb-ft, combining a 1.3-liter engine with a 90-kW electric motor that spins the rear axle, moving through the rear axle. through a six-speed automatic transmission. It should hit 60 mph from a standstill in 6.1 seconds, as long as you use the car’s “PowerShot” feature – a temporary 25 HP boost activated by pressing both the shifter and accelerator. . The R/T can also travel on battery only for about 30 miles.
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Power’s only part of the equation here. Every Hornet benefits from fully independent front and rear suspension, dynamic torque vectoring and an electronic limited-slip differential when Sport Mode is active. Brembo four-piston front fixed calipers are standard on the R/T and optional on the GT, while driver-selectable damping is available through the Track Pack option for both trims.
As with the Charger and Challenger, Dodge is pushing factory-backed upgrades hard with the Hornet. To illustrate this, the brand brought a Hornet GLH “concept” to Speed Week, inspired by the Shelby-upgraded Omni GLH of the ’80s.
This one-off has suspension and exhaust upgrades as well as GLH graphics, all of which will be available to consumers. It’s nice that an owner could make their own GLH if they so choose, but it’s disappointing Dodge isn’t simply offering this package straight from the factory. You’d think with all new special editions will be available for final run same of Charger and Challengerthey will stock the GLH on a lot of dealers.
Like it or not, small crossovers like the Hornet and Kona WOMEN are modern hot windows. However, there are not many players in this segment, at least on our side where we miss Ford Puma ST and Cupra Formentor. It will be interesting to see how much muscle Dodge can fit into a grocery package – at least until we get a real SRT version. That’s something Dart never had.
