Dodge's 2023 Hornet is Already Creating Buzz

The 2023 Dodge Hornet R/T will be Dodge's first electrified vehicle. It will be the quickest and most powerful vehicle in the compact-utility segment.

Dodge is taking to television and social media channels to create buzz around the launch of its 2023 Dodge Hornet. Dodge has enlisted the help of a number of social media influencers to stir up interest in the return of the Hornet name and the launch of Dodge’s first electrified vehicle. The campaign is called “Swarming the Nation”. The 2023 Dodge Hornet will be available in two enticing versions, one uses electrification to boost its horsepower. Both versions will be the fastest and most powerful in the compact-utility vehicle segment. The Dodge Hornets are based on the the Alfa Romeo Tonale.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet R/T Hopes to Sting its Competition

The 2023 Dodge Hornet R/T performance hybrid will be the first electrified performance vehicle from Dodge. The Hornet will use the power from the hybrid to boost its horsepower. The Dodge Hornet R/T will have 288 horsepower and 383 lb.-ft. of torque. The Hornet R/T is the quickest and most powerful utility vehicle in the segment. The hybrid will have more than 30 miles of all-electric range. The Hornet R/T will feature the Dodge brand’s first hybrid powertrain to deliver the class-exclusive PowerShot. The on-demand feature lets drivers use the maximum electrical power and reach 0-60 mph in just 5.6 seconds. The PowerShot is similar to other power boost features on vehicles like the Ram TRX and the GMC HUMMER.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet GT

The Dodge Hornet GT will not be electrified. It will feature the Hurricane4 engine which is a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four cylinder. The Hurricane4 will be the most powerful gas engine in the compact-utility segment. It will have 268 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. Even without the added hybrid power, the Hornet GT will still be the fastest and most powerful utility vehicle with a starting MSRP under $30,000. The sticker does not include the destination charges.

“As our first ever electrified performance vehicle to enter the market, the all-new Dodge Hornet signals that a new breed of electrified performance is here, and it is here to change the game," said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge brand chief executive officer – Stellantis. "With looks, feel and performance that are pure Dodge, the Hornet offers the best driving dynamics, a full lineup of segment-exclusive performance features, the best standard technology, as well available Direct Connection factory-backed performance upgrades, the Dodge Hornet is uniquely positioned to shake up the mainstream compact-utility vehicle (CUV) segment.”

“With news of the all-new Dodge Hornet’s arrival to the U.S market so highly anticipated, this fully integrated marketing campaign is designed to capture the excitement and curiosity of our audiences through a provocative and impactful approach, consistent with what our Brotherhood of Muscle has come to expect from us,” said Marissa Hunter, senior vice president of marketing, Stellantis North America. “‘Swarming the Nation’ celebrates the brand’s first electrified vehicle, intended to stir attention and engagement in a way that only Dodge could do."

The build and price configurator for the Hornet GT is now live on Dodge.com. The more powerful R/T hybrid version won’t be available until this summer.

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Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.

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