Dodge says that it received more than 14,000 pre-orders for the Hornet in the first 24 hours of its unveiling during the Dodge Speed Week event.
Dodge chief executive Tim Kuniskis revealed the extent of the SUV’s popularity while speaking during a Speed Week livestream. This is particularly impressive when you consider that it is only the entry-level Hornet GT that is available for pre-order, not the more powerful Hornet R/T that will launch in the spring of 2023.
No doubt a key reason why the Dodge Hornet GT is attracting quite a lot of attention is the fact that it starts at $29,995 before destination. For that money, customers get quite a lot of bang for their buck.
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Slotted beneath the hood of the Hornet GT is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder Hurricane4 engine pumping out 268 hp and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque. This engine works alongside a nine-speed automatic transmission driving all four wheels and allowing the SUV to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in 6.5 seconds, not bad for an entry-level model.
All Hornet GT models also come standard with front and rear fully independent suspension and dynamic torque vectoring. It also features Koni frequency selective damping shocks and can be upgraded with the Brembo four-piston front brake calipers that come standard on the R/T.
It will be interesting to see what percentage of buyers opt for the Hornet GT and the R/T when the latter hits the market next year. The R/T uses a 1.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder alongside an electric motor, resulting in a combined +285 hp and 383 lb-ft (519 Nm) of torque, meaning it can hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in 6.1 seconds with the ‘PowerShot’ feature enabled off the line. The Hornet R/T can also travel up to 30 miles (48 km) on electric power alone.
