A striking prototype of the 2023 Dodge Hornet has been spied testing in Turin, Italy completely free from camouflage, letting us get a feel of what it looks like on the road. Dodge took off the covers to its Alfa Romeo Tonale-based crossover in August to much fanfare. Sure, it may be a Tonale with a slightly different bodywork but buyers don’t seem to care, so much so that Dodge received more than 14,000 pre-orders for it in the first 24 hours after its unveiling.
This particular Hornet prototype is
finished in the same shade of Acapulco Gold that we saw in person at the
crossover’s launch. While we think it’s probably a little too flashy for most
buyers, it certainly makes the Hornet stand out. Contrasting the gold paint are
a host of black elements, including the front lip, rocker panels, wheel arches,
rear diffuser, and both the side and rear window surrounds.
Dodge will offer two variants of the
Hornet. Sitting at the base of the range is a 2.0-liter turbocharged
four-cylinder rated at 268 hp and 400 Nm of torque. This engine
works alongside a nine-speed automatic transmission driving all four wheels and
can hit 96 km/h in 6.5 seconds.
Those seeking a little more performance
can order the Hornet R/T plug-in hybrid, which sports a 1.3-liter turbocharged
four-cylinder working alongside an electric motor at the rear axle with 121 hp.
All combined, it pumps out in excess of 285 hp and 519 Nm and is
fitted exclusively with a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
The Hornet R/T can be driven up to 48 km on electric power alone
thanks to the 15.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
