We’re having a little déjà vu with 2023 Avoid Hornets. It’s a small car based on a Alfa Romeo (Tonale) with Dodge styling and marketing. The Dodge Dart is also a small car based on a Alfa Romeo (Giulietta) with Dodge styling and marketing. The Darts did not come across great. But we think the Hornet has a few advantages that Dart doesn’t. It’s an SUV, still a popular and growing segment. It has more powerful powertrains, unlike the Dart’s naturally aspirated and turbo engines. And while this is even closer to its sponsor Alfa, Dodge is committed to giving owners more support to board their Hornet, which is a way to differentiate the model and help it. consistent with the image of Dodge.
In terms of design, the Hornet is very similar to an updated version of the Dodge. The front clip has been updated with a layer similar to those of the Charger and State of Durango Mexico. It even has a signature hood with air vents. At the rear, the full-width taillights have been tweaked with different lighting elements and the Dodge “Rhombi” logo comes on. The Hornet also has some admittedly very interesting Hornet badges on the front fenders. The inside is also mostly carried over from Tonale save for some vents, some screen graphics, upholstery color (always black and red) and move the start button to dash. None of this is bad, as the Alfa starts out pretty, but it’s worth noting.
Mechanically, the Hornet is still very much like the Tonale, although it has a slightly higher power count for both variants. The base model is the GT, and it has a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It comes standard with all-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic, and Dodge claims it will hit 60 mph in about 6.5 seconds.
Above it is the R/T, yes Dip into the mixture 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder powertrain. Up front, it has an engine and an electric motor that power the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. At the rear is a 90 kW electric motor powering the rear wheels. Total power is rated at 288 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. Dodge offers future of PowerShot launch control. It’s an overboost function that gives an extra 25 hp in 15 seconds (15 seconds of cool down is required between uses). Dodge says the time from 0 to 60 is 6.1 seconds. R/T also chooses fixed four-piston Brembo brake calipers up front and Brembo brake calipers at the rear, dual exhausts and adorable metal paddle shifters from Alfa. The brake and paddles are also available on the GT. The R/T is also visually distinguished by its black painted cladding, dual exhaust pipes and unique badging.
All Hornets come standard with Koni frequency selective damping, which can be upgraded to electronic regulators. Suspension is MacPherson strut front and rear three-link independent strut. They also have electronic limited-slip differential functions that can also provide some torque vectoring.
Dodge intends to provide performance upgrades for both versions of Hornet. The first to get the upgrade will be the GT with the GLH (Goes Like Hell) Direct Connect package. It has a lowered suspension (a little over an inch), a cat-shaped exhaust, unique 20-inch wheels, black cladding, and GLH exterior graphics. The company did not give a power estimate except to say that it will have a much better power-to-weight ratio than Omni GLH name provided. R/T will also receive an upgrade kit, but it’s still in development and doesn’t have a name yet. We will imagine GLH-S (supposedly Goes Like Hell S’more) would be a powerful possibility.
Hornet comes with a robust list of standard features. On the safety front, it has automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic wipers. motion and parking sensors. Convenience features include a 12.3-inch instrument display, 10.25-inch touchscreen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and the ability to pair two phones with infotainment at the same time. . Optional features include adaptive cruise control, lane centering, driver attention warning, wireless phone charging, a heated steering wheel and seats, a hands-free power liftgate and a system. Harman Kardon sound.
With this high feature set comes a supposedly high price tag. Destination fees have yet to be announced, but pricing for the GT starts at $29,995. R/T starts at $39,995. Note that the actual price will be slightly higher when calculating the destination charge. The R/T will likely qualify for some tax credit due to its PHEV powertrain. Dodge will begin taking orders for GT models on August 17, with deliveries starting in December. R/T will begin arriving next spring.
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