The Dodge Hornet has finally made it to the USA web site’s Build & Price section. Some sample options are the GT Plus trim ($35,490), or red paint and seats on the GT Plus ($37,085 total); the Track Pack is $2,995, including 20 inch wheels, and a nicely loaded car with these features and the Tech Pack runs $41,830.
But… when will they arrive? At least one car carrier has been spotted carrying a load of Hornets through the United States. On the other hand, an Allpar reader, serpens, wrote that Hornets were being held at the ports until March so they could build up a good supply, then do a giant media ride-and-drive and sales push. The RT and RT Plus—the hybrid-electric versions with greater acceleration—are not due until late April, according to serpens.
More officially, the word is that Hornets will be in the dealerships in the spring—which could mean March—with the GT available first. The GT has a turbocharged 2-liter engine rated at 265 hp and 296 lb-ft, running 0-60 in 6.5 seconds—on par with the Mazda3 Turbo, which is at the top of the 3 lineup. That power is routed through a nine-speed automatic with a sport mode that also tightens up the steering.
Many are more excited by the Hornet R/T, which has a somewhat slower 0-60 (7.1 seconds) but, in conjunction with the PowerShot system, can run that sprint as fast as 6.1 seconds. The PowerShot provides up to 15 seconds worth of extra electric power, which can be repeated after a 15-second cooldown. The R/T can run on hybrid mode, full electric (for around 30 miles), and E-Save, which preserves or enhances battery charge. The transmission is a six-speed automatic. It can also be plugged in, handy for commuters who can make it all the way to work without gasoline.
