The Dodge Hornet debuted at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show as a boxy crossover concept car. The production version was never launched, until recently, foreign media photographed a mild camouflage prototype under development on the road in Detroit.
Hornet, which went into mass production, looked completely different from the original concept. Instead, there are some similarities with Alfa Romeo Tonale, as both cars use the same platform.
In the front part, the Hornet has a panel with air intakes in the four corners and a trapezoidal opening in the middle. There is a narrow grille in the middle of the front of the vehicle and a larger opening above it. The headlights are narrow and the edges are pointed.
On the side of the body, hornet features an overlay around the wheel cover and the lower edge of the body. Above the C-pillar there is an arched roof line and sloping windows that prevent the crossover from looking too boxy. The lower part of the window on the rear door has an upward tilt. The wheels on this car seem to be the same as tonale's.
The rear part of the car has a spoiler on the roof, and its wrap around outlines the sides of the window. There are three rectangular taillights on each side.
Hornet's powertrain is reportedly the same as that provided by Tonale. In the U.S., dodges will be supplied with a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a rear axle driven by an electric motor and a system with a total output of 272 horsepower. A 15.5 kWh battery pack will provide more than 30 miles of range.
If it follows the full engine lineup of the Tonale, the U.S. will also get a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 256 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque. In Europe, Alpha has two options: a 1.5-liter mild hybrid system and diesel.
Another link between Hornet and Tonale will be where they are produced. Both will come from the Pomigliano d'Arco assembly plant in Italy. Dodge brand owner Tim Kuniskis has confirmed that the small crossover will launch in 2022.