Dodge Hornet (concept car)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dodge Hornet | |
|---|---|
 2006 Dodge Hornet concept | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Dodge (Chrysler) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Concept car Mini MPV |
| Body style | 5-door hatchback |
| Layout | Front-engine, front-wheel drive |
| Doors | Conventional doors (front)/Coach doors (rear) |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1.6 L Tritec Chrysler-engineered (T16b4) straight-4 (Supercharged) |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 100 in (2,540 mm) |
| Length | 151 in (3,835 mm) |
| Width | 76 in (1,930 mm) |
| Height | 62 in (1,575 mm) |
| Curb weight | 3,106 lb (1,409 kg) |
The Dodge Hornet was a concept car mini MPV designed and developed by Dodge and revealed in 2006.[1] Dodge's first attempt at building a car this small, the car was expected to be released in 2010, but following the Great Recession and the restructuring of the Chrysler Group, the concept was dropped.[2]
First used on a revolutionary Hudson model and then AMC, rights to the "Hornet" name passed to Chrysler (Dodge's parent) with its acquisition of American Motors Corporation (AMC) in 1987.[3]
In 2006, Dodge was preparing for entry into the European market with a B-segment model and began the European car show circuit displaying the Dodge Hornet mini MPV concept. The objective was to launch the Dodge nameplate and produce a mini-sized vehicle aimed exclusively at young urban consumers in Europe.[4] According to Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of DaimlerChrysler (as the companies were merged at that time), the automaker was looking to use an existing small car platform, which might first have been from Mitsubishi and then Volkswagen's Polo was considered.[5]
By 2008, the Hornet was planned to be the first product from the cooperation between Chrysler and Nissan, sharing the platform of the Nissan Versa.[6]
According to Dodge, the 2006 concept car was a rally inspired design, powered by a 1.6 L supercharged 4-cylinder Tritec engine rated at 170 hp (127 kW; 172 PS). This engine was capable of launching the car from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) in 7.5 seconds, and had an estimated top speed of 135 mph (217 km/h). This engine was manufactured in a Chrysler-BMW joint venture in Brazil.[7][8]
The original plans for Dodge's first attempt at building a car this small was a 2010 market introduction, but the Great Recession combined with the Chrysler Chapter 11 reorganization put a stop to further development.[2]