This is Dodge’s first electrified vehicle

DETROIT – The first electrified vehicle from the Dodge brand under Stellantis will be a plug-in hybrid crossover called the Hornet, a resurrected name more recently used for a station wagon from the 1970s.

The compact crossover will be Dodge’s new entry-level vehicle, with a starting price of less than $30,000 for a Hornet GT model with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The plug-in hybrid model, which Dodge calls the Hornet R/T, will start at around $40,000.

Although the Hornet is not one of the Dodge’s Iconic Muscle Carsit is an important vector for brand sales and electrification strategy. It marks a return to the low-cost mainstream market following the discontinuation of the Dart sedan and Journey crossover in 2016 and 2020, respectively.

“We believe the potential is huge with the growth of this segment,” Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis said during a press briefing. He declined to discuss sales expectations for the vehicle, which was unveiled Tuesday night at an event in Pontiac, Michigan.

The compact crossover segment is one of the biggest segments in the industry, but Kuniskis said Dodge will position the Hornet differently than its competitors.

Dodge says the Hornet will have the best performance in the segment and offer unique aspects including a “Power Shot” mode for the plug-in hybrid that instantly delivers 25 more horsepower to the vehicle.

The Hornet R/T PHEV will have more than 285 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, according to Dodge. It will be able to travel more than 30 miles before a 1.3-liter turbocharged internal combustion engine fires up to power the vehicle. Dodge claims the GT model will have at least 265 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.

The Hornet GT is expected to hit US showrooms late this year, followed by the plug-in model next spring. The vehicles will be produced at a plant in Italy alongside the Alfa Romeo Tonale, which shares a platform and components but different design features.

Dodge also showed off a concept vehicle called the Hornet GT GLH (Goes Like Hell) – another name resurrected from the Dodge Omni GLH in the mid-1980s – which could be built using aftermarket parts or go into production at a later date. later date, providing additional performance to the vehicle range.

The unveiling of the Hornet comes a day after the company confirmed it would ditch the Dodge Charger and Challenger muscle cars at the end of next year. They should be replaced by at least one new high-performance electric car from 2024.

Stellantis was formed by the merger of automaker Fiat Chrysler and the France-based Groupe PSA. It has 14 car brands including Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep and Peugeot. The company invests $35.5 billion in vehicle electrification and supporting technologies until 2025.

The Hornet name was first used for a car produced in the 1950s by Hudson Motor, made popular in recent years by Disney’s “Cars” franchise. It was then used by American Motors in the 1970s, followed by Chrysler, now known as Stellantis, for a concept car that never entered production in 2006.