Dodge CEO: Alfa-Based Hornet SUV, eMuscle EV Concept Will Debut in August
The Dodge Hornet—the brand’s first plug-in hybrid—is planned to debut in August, Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis confirmed on Tuesday, per The Detroit News.
The Hornet is expected to be based on the plug-in version of the Alfa Romeo Tonale, but Kuniskis suggested supply chain issues might delay the Hornet’s launch.
Dodge is also planning to unveil an electric muscle car concept this summer, but Kuniskis suggested this reveal could also be pushed back.
Last fall, Stellantis confirmed that Dodge’s first plug-in hybrid would be shown in 2022. Rumors soon started circulating that the vehicle would be a small crossover SUV bearing the Hornet name (a rendering of which leads this piece). In February, not long after the reveal of the Alfa Romeo Tonale, which offers a plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain, photos leaked of a Tonale sporting Dodge logos and styling cues—purportedly a prototype of the Hornet. Now Tim Kuniskis, chief executive officer of Dodge, has given credence to the rumors and leaked images, as he confirmed on Tuesday the Hornet will debut this summer, per The Detroit News.
During a virtual news conference, Kuniskis shared that Dodge is preparing to show the Hornet in August. However, this plan could be affected by the supply chain issues that have been plaguing the car industry, halting production, and delaying launches. Kuniskis would not comment on where the Hornet will be built, but the SUV is expected to be assembled at the company's plant in Pomigliano, Italy, which also builds the Tonale. The Tonale’s plug-in hybrid powertrain features a turbocharged 1.3-liter inline-four and an electric motor at the rear axle, the combination of which nets a total of 272 horsepower. The Hornet will presumably arrive with a similar, if not identical, powertrain setup when it goes on sale in 2023.
Dodge also plans to reveal a concept version of its electric muscle car, which is due in 2024, before the end of the year. Kuniskis said Dodge is aiming to show the concept before the Hornet’s reveal, but the brand still needs a key piece that is, "outside of my control, it's outside our industry, quite frankly,” before the reveal can happen. Dodge’s first electric car will utilize the “eMuscle” name. A teaser for the vehicle reveals it will feature a boxy front end that's reminiscent of the brand's Chargers and Challengers of the 1960s and 1970s.
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