It seems that somebody in Stellantis’ Pomigliano d’Arco Meeting Plant in Italy could not preserve their cellphone to themselves. Video uploaded to the Alfa Romeo Membership Italia Fb web page, then shortly eliminated, purports to indicate Dodge’s brand-engineered model of the Alfa Romeo Tonale in the identical manufacturing unit the place the Alfa can be constructed. The Dodge is predicted to be known as the Hornet, and there are a number of variations between it and and Alfa Romeo, which is comprehensible. But when the screenshots on Twitter are correct, then the Dodge seems loads nearer to the Alfa Romeo than maybe anybody anticipated.
The entrance fascia and hood fall in step with Dodge’s design language. The Alfa grille is changed by a slender, stepped higher grille, and the hood is without doubt one of the vented models much like these obtainable for Dodge’s R/T efficiency trims. And as Mopar Insiders observed, the silhouette of this automobile’s entrance finish matches a automobile silhouette Dodge confirmed throughout Stellantis’ 2021 EV Day.
Inside, the Italian model’s crest within the steering wheel middle cap is changed by Dodge’s twin slashes, and the steering wheel has been stripped of the massive, curved paddle shifters the Tonale confirmed on its debut. There’s nonetheless a begin/cease button on the steering wheel, however the place the Tonale has a driving mode dial on its sprint, this supposed Hornet has one other begin/cease button. Dodge’s push-to-start buttons are normally on the instrument panel, so our guess is that the wheel is a holdover for testing. On the middle tunnel, the parking alert buttons and Italian Tricolore flag on the Alfa Romeo are changed by three completely different buttons.
We have recognized Dodge has two electrified automobiles on the best way, and the Hornet title has been low-key buzzing for 2 years. Fiat Chrysler utilized to trademark the title within the U.S. in March 2020; on the time, it was thought a automobile with that title may change the Journey. In 2021, a July rumor out of Italy was the primary whisper of the Hornet title being connected to the Alfa Romeo Tonale. In August, when Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares stated Dodge would get a PHEV in 2024, watchers pegged that mannequin because the Hornet.
That hybrid powertrain would present a 12 months after the automobile’s launch, the Hornet anticipated as a 2023 mannequin with the Tonale’s turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. That engine may get the identical 256 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque because the Tonale, or be boosted to fulfill Dodge’s efficiency credentials. The Alfa Romeo Stelvio with the identical engine makes 280 hp and 306 lb-ft.
The PHEV model may work the identical 272-hp powertrain coming within the Tonale with eAWD and a 30-mile all-electric vary.
