2024 Dodge Hornet: Is Dodge Bringing Back The Hornet? At Dodge, a new era is about to begin. At least throughout the course of the last ten years, a significant portion of the company’s success has been attributable to the production of V-8–powered, retro-themed blockbusters like the Charger and the Challenger.
Hell, they even had a Durango with 710 horsepower and a projected 13 miles per gallon combined. Dodge has announced that production of its muscle cars would end in 2023, despite the fact that the Hellcat SUV and several special versions of the Charger and Challenger will continue to be produced.
This decision was made while the company is making a sharp turn to the left in the direction of an electric future, a transition that will begin with the brand-new 2023 Dodge Hornet.
A base and other components for the Hornet and the Alfa Romeo Tonale are interchangeable between the two vehicles. The Hornet is a subcompact SUV.
It has a length of 178 inches, a height of up to 63.8 inches, and it sits on a wheelbase that is 103.8 inches long. It is also the first completely new vehicle that Dodge has released since the Dart small sedan, which had a short production run from 2012 to 2016.
The Dart was only available for those years. In addition, the Hornet is the first plug-in hybrid model produced by the firm; however, rather than highlighting the vehicle’s increased fuel economy, Dodge is highlighting the new hybrid’s improved performance. Even Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis called the Hornet the “first electric performance vehicle from Dodge” in marketing materials for the car.
Don’t let the fact that Dodge wants to reveal a concept version of its electric muscle car this week distract you from the fact that the automaker also intends to reveal a concept version of its hybrid crossover performance cars in the near future.
Therefore, it is not completely abandoning its origins. In addition, the 2023 Hornet has certain genuine performance characteristics, and these characteristics are not exclusive to the plug-in hybrid version of the vehicle. There is also a nonhybrid basic model that is equipped with a turbocharged gas engine. This model is supplied with many of the same features and customization choices as the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.
A torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system, a completely independent suspension, and Koni dampers are among of the standard components that are shared with the Alfa.
The PHEV is equipped with Brembo four-piston fixed front brakes as standard equipment, and these calipers are also an option on the basic model. In a same vein, the 20-inch wheels, improved dampers, and one-of-a-kind cosmetic elements that come with the Track Pack are an option for every single Hornet.
Powertrain Comparisons
The Hornet GT serves as the starting model. It is equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine that is capable of producing 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.
A nine-speed automatic gearbox is mated to the engine of this vehicle. On its route to a maximum speed of 140 miles per hour, Dodge forecasts that the GT will accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 6.5 seconds.
The plug-in hybrid version of the Hornet is called the R/T. It has a six-speed automated transmission, a turbocharged 1.3-liter inline-four engine, and a 121-horsepower electric motor that is positioned on the back axle. The overall output of the system is 288 horsepower, and it has a torque of 383 pound-feet.
In addition to that, it comes with a function called “PowerStop,” which provides an additional 25 horsepower and immediate torque for bursts of 15 seconds. Even though it can only reach a high speed of 128 miles per hour, it should be much speedier than its nonhybrid version.
According to Dodge, the PHEV will reach 60 miles per hour from a standstill in 6.1 seconds. To put that into perspective, a Mazda CX-30 that we evaluated had 250 horsepower and reached 60 miles per hour in 5.8 seconds.
The lithium-ion battery pack in the Hornet R/T has a usable capacity of 12.0 kWh, and the onboard charger has a capability of 7.2 kW. Dodge believes that a Level 2 connection can recharge the battery in around 2.5 hours. Although we have been informed that it would have an electric-only driving range of around 30 miles, the EPA ratings for any of the powertrains have not yet been made public.
Designed by Dodge
It is clear to anyone looking in from the outside that the Tonale and the Hornet are connected. Both were constructed in Italy as well. The most obvious visual distinction between the Dodge and other vehicles is the presence of large heat extractors on the hood of the vehicle, which are reminiscent of those seen on more powerful versions.
The element that looks like a mail slot and divides the top and lower grilles is something that can be found on other performance-focused Dodges as well. The look of the Hornet is further differentiated by having a set of narrow headlights, accent lights in the shape of upside-down boomerangs, and taillights that are full width.
A Blacktop option that includes black 18-inch wheels, gloss-black exterior emblems, and mirror caps may be added to either the GT or the R/T model. This kit is available for both models.
Canted to the driver’s left, the controls on the Hornet’s dashboard give the impression that the vehicle’s primary focus is on the person behind the wheel. The driver is provided with a steering wheel that has a flat base and paddle shifters in addition to a button that allows them to pick from a variety of driving modes.
Every model comes included with a digital gauge cluster measuring 12.3 inches and an infotainment display measuring 10.3 inches that runs Uconnect5 software. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto both come wired and wireless as standard features in this comprehensive system.
The base inside is black fabric with red contrast stitching; however, selecting the GT Plus or R/T Plus trim adds leather upholstery that is available in red. The normal interior is black cloth with red contrast stitching. These better trims also have wireless smartphone charging and a finer sound system in the shape of a 465-watt, 14-speaker Harman Kardon unit.
In addition, these premium trims have more storage space. Every single Hornet has as standard equipment driver aid technology like as automatic emergency braking, monitoring for blind spots, and lane-keeping assistance. When you purchase the Tech Pack, you have access to features such as adaptive cruise control, parking assistance, and more.
Setting The Stage
The chassis that underpins the 2023 Dodge Hornet is a modified version of the Fiat 199 SCCS platform, which was first introduced in 2005 with the supermini version of the Fiat Grande Punto. It is similar in concept to the Jeep Commander and the Alfa Romeo Tonale, both of which are small-wide four-wheel drive vehicles.
This second point is particularly noteworthy due to the fact that the Hornet shares the majority of its external and interior components with Alfa’s small SUV. According to certain insiders in the automotive industry, the Italian carmaker is not pleased with this situation.
Since Dodge exclusively produces thirsty muscle cars and SUVs, some people working within the industry believe that the new Hornet is a “compliance vehicle” designed to boost the brand’s CAFE ratings (Corporate Average Fuel Economy).
In any event, the most recent model of the Hornet offers a glimpse of what is to come from Dodge’s electric future, notably the hybrid-powered Hornet R/T.
Dodge Hornet R/T: Head of Hive
The plug-in hybrid R/T version of the Dodge Hornet is the most badass model available. It has a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine, an electric motor, and a 15.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
The all-electric range offered by Dodge is 30 miles, and the company says that it has more than 285 horsepower and up to 383 pound-feet of torque. The all-wheel drivetrain that comes standard has a six-speed automatic transmission.
However, while having a comparable plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) engine, the Alfa Romeo Tonale has a lower maximum horsepower rating than the Hornet R/T. It also has a range of 30 miles on electric power alone.
In addition to that, the Dodge Hornet R/T comes standard with a PowerShot feature, which was initially brought to our attention when the Charger Daytona SRT concept was unveiled. When activated, PowerShot provides an additional 25 horsepower from the electrified powertrain for a period of 15 seconds.
This additional power is sufficient to accelerate the Hornet R/T from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 6.1 seconds. The battery pack can be fully charged with a Level 2 charger in as little as 2.5 hours thanks to the system’s high-power inverter and charging module, which together have a capacity of 7.4 kW.
Release Date and Price
Although Dodge lists the beginning price of the 2023 Hornet GT as $29,995 before destination, we anticipate that the vehicle’s real starting MSRP will be closer to $31,000. The same is true for the R/T, which can be purchased for a starting price of $39,995 before the destination.
Beginning tomorrow, you’ll be able to place your orders for the GT model, and it will be available at retailers in December. Although Dodge has not disclosed the exact date on which it will begin taking orders for the R/T, the vehicle is expected to arrive in showrooms the following spring.
