Dodge Hornet goes official

We all knew it long before the official announcement, but Dodge has a new compact crossover SUV ready to ship named the Hornet. It is a clone of the Alfa Romeo Tonale, and the manufacturer describes it as ‘the fastest and the most powerful compact SUV under $30,000.’

In its most basic form, the Hornet GT utilizes a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine along with a nine-speed automatic gearbox. The wheels receive around 269 PS (265 hp / 198 kW) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque, enough to hit 60 mph (97 km/h) in 6.5 seconds.

Next up the lineup is a Hornet R/T spec with a 6.1-second launch time, Koni FSD shocks, independent suspension at both ends and Brembo brakes all around. The front axle receives its momentum from the same 1.3-liter turbo-four mill as the one that powers the Jeep Renegade. The rear axle gets its own thrust thanks to an electric motor good for 122 PS (120 hp / 90 kW). A 15.5-kWh lithium-ion battery located between the two grants up to 56 km (35 miles) of all-electric range and takes two and a half hours to replenish from a 7.4kW charger. The output of the system amounts to 290 PS (286 hp / 213 kW) and 519 Nm (383 lb-ft) of torque.

Interior highlights include a 12.3-inch digital dashboard and a 10.3-inch infotainment system powered by Uconnect 5 software with extended smartphone connectivity options.