Dodge Hornet
Encyclopedia
The Dodge Hornet is a concept car
mini MPV
designed and developed by Dodge
and revealed in 2006. Dodge's first attempt at building a car this small, the car was expected to be released in 2010, but following the 2009 financial crisis
and the restructuring of the Chrysler Group, the concept was dropped.
The Hornet was to be the first fruit from the cooperation between Chrysler and Nissan
, and following the merger with Fiat
in late 2010, it took on a new, yet unrevealed identity, which will more likely share Fiat's 199 platform with the Alfa Romeo MiTo
. Designed to compete against the Mini (BMW)
, the Hornet is expected to be released somewhere between 2011 and 2013. In May 2011, Chrysler has stated that a subcompact vehicle with a new model name is expected for release in late 2011, as the first of the 2012 lineup.
According to Dodge it is a rally
inspired design based on the Jeep Compass platform
, powered by a 1.6 L supercharged
4-cylinder Tritec engine
rated at 170 hp. This engine was manufactured in a Chrysler-BMW joint venture
in Brazil
.
The Hornet name originates with the Hudson Hornet
built by Hudson Motor Car Company
, later the American Motors Corporation
(AMC), from 1951 to 1957. The AMC Hornet
was the second car to use the Hornet name from 1970 to 1977. AMC was acquired by Chrysler
(Dodge's parent) in 1987.
A car purported to be a Dodge Hornet test vehicle was photographed in September of 2011. The car is now a traditional sedan/hatchback based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, an altogether different platform from the concept vehicle.
Concept car
A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....
mini MPV
Mini MPV
Mini MPV is a car classification used to describe superminis or subcompacts which have taller build, fitting below the compact MPV and large MPV classifications....
designed and developed by Dodge
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
and revealed in 2006. Dodge's first attempt at building a car this small, the car was expected to be released in 2010, but following the 2009 financial crisis
Late-2000s financial crisis
The late-2000s financial crisis is considered by many economists to be the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s...
and the restructuring of the Chrysler Group, the concept was dropped.
The Hornet was to be the first fruit from the cooperation between Chrysler and Nissan
Nissan Motors
, usually shortened to Nissan , is a multinational automaker headquartered in Japan. It was a core member of the Nissan Group, but has become more independent after its restructuring under Carlos Ghosn ....
, and following the merger with Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
in late 2010, it took on a new, yet unrevealed identity, which will more likely share Fiat's 199 platform with the Alfa Romeo MiTo
Alfa Romeo MiTo
The Alfa Romeo MiTo is a three door sporty supermini officially introduced on June 19, 2008, at Castello Sforzesco in Milan, with an international introduction at the British Motor Show in 2008. The car was available in all Alfa's major markets in stages from July...
. Designed to compete against the Mini (BMW)
MINI (BMW)
Mini is a British automotive marque owned by BMW which specialises in small cars.Mini originated as a specific vehicle, a small car originally known as the Morris Mini-Minor and the Austin Seven, launched by the British Motor Corporation in 1959, and developed into a brand encompassing a range of...
, the Hornet is expected to be released somewhere between 2011 and 2013. In May 2011, Chrysler has stated that a subcompact vehicle with a new model name is expected for release in late 2011, as the first of the 2012 lineup.
According to Dodge it is a rally
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
inspired design based on the Jeep Compass platform
Mitsubishi GS platform
The GS platform is a compact car platform co-developed by Mitsubishi Motors and DaimlerChrysler, which underpins the companies' compact cars. After DaimlerChrysler and Mitsubishi went their separate ways in 2004, DaimlerChrysler made substantial changes to the platform...
, powered by a 1.6 L supercharged
Supercharger
A supercharger is an air compressor used for forced induction of an internal combustion engine.The greater mass flow-rate provides more oxygen to support combustion than would be available in a naturally aspirated engine, which allows more fuel to be burned and more work to be done per cycle,...
4-cylinder Tritec engine
Tritec engine
In 1997, Chrysler Corporation and Rover Group formed Tritec, a joint venture to design a new small straight-4 engine for small cars. They built a factory in Campo Largo of Curitiba, Brazil, to manufacture the engine. When BMW sold Rover Group, BMW retained the stake in Tritec.It is also called the...
rated at 170 hp. This engine was manufactured in a Chrysler-BMW joint venture
Joint venture
A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets...
in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
- Engine - 1.6 L straight-4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
(Supercharged) - Power - 170 bhp
- 0-60 mph - 7.5 seconds
- Top Speed - 135 mph (217 km/h) +
- Price - £14,000 (estimated)
The Hornet name originates with the Hudson Hornet
Hudson Hornet
The Hudson Hornet is an automobile that was produced by the Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan between 1951 and 1954. The Hornet was also built by American Motors Corporation in Kenosha, Wisconsin and marketed under the Hudson brand between 1955 and 1957.The first-generation Hudson...
built by Hudson Motor Car Company
Hudson Motor Car Company
The Hudson Motor Car Company made Hudson and other brand automobiles in Detroit, Michigan, from 1909 to 1954. In 1954, Hudson merged with Nash-Kelvinator Corporation to form American Motors. The Hudson name was continued through the 1957 model year, after which it was dropped.- Company strategy...
, later the American Motors Corporation
American Motors
American Motors Corporation was an American automobile company formed by the 1954 merger of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car Company. At the time, it was the largest corporate merger in U.S. history.George W...
(AMC), from 1951 to 1957. The AMC Hornet
AMC Hornet
The AMC Hornet was a compact automobile made by the American Motors Corporation in one generation beginning with the 1970 model year and continuing through the 1977 model year. The Hornet replaced the compact Rambler American marking the end of the Rambler marque in the American and Canadian markets...
was the second car to use the Hornet name from 1970 to 1977. AMC was acquired by Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
(Dodge's parent) in 1987.
A car purported to be a Dodge Hornet test vehicle was photographed in September of 2011. The car is now a traditional sedan/hatchback based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, an altogether different platform from the concept vehicle.