Dodge Announced a New Compact SUV
The long-awaited Dodge Hornet compact SUV is finally in the works, with a hybrid variant available as well.
Written by Allison Stone
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Dodge
CEO Tim Kuniskis recently confirmed that the Hornet will be the next SUV to join Dodge’s fleet. The Hornet is a legendary name in the automotive world with a long history, and auto enthusiasts are eager to see what Dodge has planned for the 2023 Hornet. Like many automakers, Dodge has faced delays and
supply chain issues
as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, so many details of the much-awaited car are still up in the air. If you’re hoping to catch a first glimpse at the 2023 Hornet, Dodge is targeting August, around the same time as the company’s annual Speed Week. Speed Week occurs amid a few of the largest Detroit-area automotive events including the Roadkill Nights drag racing and the Woodward Dream Cruise.
Why reviving the Hornet namesake makes sense for Dodge
The Hornet gets its namesake from the popular Hudson Hornet, a muscle car of the 1950s that dominated NASCAR. It was produced by Hudson until its merger with American Motor Company in 1957. In 1987, AMC was acquired by Chrysler, who first licensed the Hornet name to Dodge in 2006.
The 2006 Dodge Hornet concept—a 170-horsepower subcompact hatchback—was first revealed at the Geneva Auto Show. The car was anticipated to be released in 2010, but Chrysler shelved the mini, European-style model following the 2009 financial crisis.
Many details about the new model are still up in the air, but the little that is known shows a car very different from the small, sporty 2006 Hornet.
The new Hornet shares a platform with the 2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale SUV, but Dodge is more withholding when it comes to details of the new compact SUV. Dodge and Alfa Romeo both operate under Stellantis, which also owns Jeep, Ram, Fiat, Maserati, and other brands sold overseas.
The Tonale also sports a notable AWD plug-in hybrid drivetrain that delivers 272 horsepower and over 30 miles of electric range. When asked if the Hornet would be similarly equipped, Kuniskis confirmed that a hybrid variant was definitely in the works.
"I think we’ve actually even said when we get back into the small compact space this summer when we launch the Hornet, we will have a PHEV or variant of that," said Kuniskis, as reported by the
Detroit Free Press
. MORE: Could Young Car Buyers Spur an Increase in Electric Muscle Cars? Dodge Thinks So
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