- leaked images purport to show the new dodge hornet small crossover.
- it will be closely related to the alfa romeo tonale and will also offer a plug-in-hybrid powertrain.
- the dodge hornet is expected to debut sometime in 2022 and could go on sale as soon as 2023.
the first new product from dodge in some time is rumored to be a new compact suv called the hornet, and we now have a better idea of what it might look like. leaked screenshots from a facebook video posted on italian forum site autopareri confirm previous reports that the hornet would be closely related to the recently revealed alfa romeo tonale.
the original video, which looks to be taken on the factory floor, has since been taken down. but images circulating on forums and social media show a front end and interior design that are nearly identical to the alfa's. the key changes include a dodge badge on the steering wheel, reshaped headlights, and extra vents and scoops suggesting that this red example could be a performance-oriented r/t model.
the dodge and alfa romeo siblings are expected to be built alongside each other in italy, meaning they will likely share powertrain options. the alfa will offer a 256-hp turbo 2.0-liter inline-four as the base engine and a 272-hp plug-in-hybrid setup with a turbo 1.3-liter gasoline engine. it's possible the dodge version will offer a lower-powered base engine as a cheaper option to compete with mainstream crossovers rather than the alfa romeo's more upscale targets.
we should learn more about the hornet later this year, as previous reports said it would debut in 2022. the tonale is scheduled to go on sale in early 2023, so the dodge could hit u.s. dealerships a few months later than that.