Report: Alfa Romeo Not Pleased With Dodge Over Hornet

Dodge just pulled again the curtain on its most recent motor vehicle, the Hornet crossover, but there are already rumblings of discontent from other makes in the Stellantis family members. Dodge centered substantially of the Hornet’s underpinnings on the Alfa Romeo Tonale, a transfer quite a few inside the Italian brand name are unsatisfied with.

The Travel listened to from an nameless resource inside Stellantis. The resource informed the outlet that interior politics and Dodge’s abysmal ordinary fuel overall economy figures pushed the auto conglomerate to rebadge the SUV for the American side of the residence. As The Drive factors out, it is clear that Dodge still left a great deal of the vehicle’s exterior bodywork in location, opting to therapeutic massage the front fascia and inside bits.

The Stellantis supply explained that some in just the enterprise are drained of currently being on the defensive, as commentators on social media and other enterprise posts have focused on the blatant similarities concerning the two automobiles. Price tag restraints were being a principal issue in the process, as the source instructed The Generate that trim margins held designers again from transforming far too substantially among the two.

Understandably, some at Alfa would be disappointed about owning their hottest generation ripped off by other people within just Stellantis, but the move is undeniably excellent for customers. Of course, we can bemoan but an additional anonymous crossover roaming our streets. On the other hand, the Hornet’s obtainable plug-in hybrid powertrain appears neat, and the manufacturer could desperately use a boost to its fuel financial state averages.

Purchasers really do not appear to treatment that the Hornet is a rebadged Alfa, both. Dodge mentioned it had gained extra than 14,000 orders for the auto fewer than 24 hours right after its expose, so prospects are clearly prepared for a motor vehicle with a Dodge angle that won’t vacant their financial institution accounts at the gasoline pump.

Dodge execs also have confidence that the Hornet’s pricing will support differentiate it from the Alfa. Having said that, it is tough to think about why everyone would pay significantly extra for the very same product or service with a different badge. The Hornet GT starts at around $30,000 and the R/T at close to $40,000, which really should finest the Tonale’s value tag by $7,000 to $10,000.

As for how possibly automobile drives, it’s anyone’s guess. We’ll have to hold out to see if Dodge did enough on the mechanical entrance to make the Hornet experience exclusive. The great news is the wait around won’t be long: The Alfa Romeo Tonale will land in early 2023, and the Dodge Hornet comes later this 12 months. 

[Images: Alfa Romeo/Dodge]

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