An Alfa Romeo bar the badge? We drive the 2024 Dodge Hornet RT plug-in.

ASHEVILLE, N.C.—A day after Dodge revealed the final of its Hemi V8-powered muscle vehicles, the corporate additionally lifted the embargo on driving impressions for its subsequent automotive, the Hornet crossover. It is a far cry from the 1,025-hp Challenger—a way more smart compact crossover that features a plug-in hybrid model beginning at a aggressive $40,000. Ars spent a day driving the Hornet across the outskirts of Asheville and located so much to love about this good-looking crossover.

However first, a number of phrases on its origin story.

Final February, the world acquired its first take a look at a lovely new crossover from Alfa Romeo. It was given the unlucky identify of Tonale, and various of us raised an eyebrow due to the information that the automotive would come with an NFT that acted as a everlasting file for the automotive, from manufacturing by lifetime upkeep.

The Tonale was meant to reach within the US by the top of March, however it was delayed till Might. The rationale I convey this up is that so far as sheet metallic is worried, you need not await the Alfa to succeed in showrooms to drive it. That is as a result of the Hornet is an instance of the apply often known as badge engineering.

Dodge wanted one thing smaller and extra fuel-efficient to counteract all these V8s it pushes, and the little Alfa match the invoice. It is a apply the auto trade has turned to again and again; the Saab 9-2x, Fiat 124 Spyder, Buick Regal, and even Audi e-tron GT are all examples. On this case, as a result of budgets had been tight, the Hornet wears a Dodge entrance grille and the badging all says Dodge, however every part is in any other case mechanically similar to the Tonale, as is the bodywork.

The Hornet GT is the bottom mannequin, which must be accessible inside the subsequent few weeks. It begins at $29,995 and is powered by a turbocharged 2.0 L inline four-cylinder engine that outputs 268 hp (200 kW) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm), sending that to all 4 wheels through a nine-speed computerized transmission. Alfa Romeo mustn’t have an excessive amount of of a headache with the Hornet GT for the reason that firm is just not importing its model utilizing this powertrain to the US.

Though I drove the Hornet GT briefly, I spent most of my time within the Hornet R/T plug-in hybrid. Set to reach as a mannequin 12 months 2024 automobile on the finish of spring, the R/T will begin at slightly below $40,000, undercutting the Alfa by a number of thousand {dollars} within the course of. And no, there is no related NFT for the Dodge.

That has reportedly harm emotions at Alfa Romeo, however sufficient about intra-Stellantis company politics. Beneath the Hornet R/T’s hood—and sure, these air vents are purposeful—you will discover a turbocharged 1.3 L four-cylinder engine that drives the entrance wheels through a six-speed computerized transmission. This generates a most of 180 hp (134 kW) and 199 lb-ft (270 Nm), and the 44-hp (33 kW) starter motor can even ship its energy to the entrance wheels when needed.