The Dodge Hornet is an American-only SUV made in Italy. Clone of Alfa Romeo Tonale

From Pomigliano d'Arco to the United States. Dodge, the American brand of the Stellantis group, will produce a model in Italy and in the dust off the name Hornet which had already appeared in the history of the American brand. 

The sequel to the 2006 Geneva Motor Show concept failed to materialize. Developed in Pomigliano, it is Dodge's first attempt at the compact SUV market. A revolution in electric power is also coming to the stars and stripes brand with the new BMW X1.

A new Dodge Hornet is available in two variants, both based on the Alfa Romeo Tonale. It will be equipped with a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine of 1,300cc, working in tandem with an electric motor on the rear axle with 121hp or 90kW. 

A combined 285hp and 519Nm of torque are delivered by the Dodge Hornet R / T. A six-speed automatic transmission are used in conjunction with the 1,300cc engine to deliver power to all four wheels. A 15.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a starter generator also recharge the battery.

With the power supply alone, you can travel up to 30 miles. Hornet R/T also has the PowerShot function that can reduce acceleration time from 0-60 mph from one second to about 96 km / h by 25 hp. A hybrid drive mode is also available. Hybrid engines combine thermal and electric motors for maximum efficiency. 

The SUV runs in electric mode in Electric Mode, while in E-Save Mode, the 1,300cc engine is prioritized to preserve battery power. Hornet GT is the second version. 

The Hurricane engine is 2,000cc and produces 268 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque. The vehicle comes with an automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive is also available. In 6.5 seconds, the GT sprints from 0 to 60 mph.

The new Dodge Hornet comes with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch Uconnect 5 infotainment system. In line with other Dodge models, the Uconnect system runs on Android but also supports Apple CarPlay wirelessly. 

With the Plus version, the most complete available for both variants, a powerful Harman-Kardon audio system is available as an option, featuring 14 speakers and 465 watts of power, while wireless charging is standard.

The vehicle comes with many safety features, including automatic emergency braking. The optional Tech Pack adds Level 2 Autonomous Driving with Intelligent Speed Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, and Traffic Jam Assist.

The Hornet GT will go on sale late in 2022, followed by the R / T in spring 2023. The Hornet is one of the two Alfa Romeo models produced in Italy along with the Tonale, another Alfa Romeo model.