With the proliferation of smartphones putting a camera in everyone’s pocket, automakers can have a hard time keeping all their plans under wraps. The latest news to leak like screen doors on a submarine is the existence of a new Dodge crossover vehicle, one which could have deep roots with Alfa Romeo while also reviving a classic nameplate.
In a tweet which surfaced yesterday evening, the interior and nose of a bright-red crossover-style vehicle is shown in some sort of industrial setting. The tweet asserts we are looking at a 2023 Dodge Hornet, allegedly set to appear as a platform-mate to the recently introduced Alfa Romeo Tonale.
The vehicle in these images does indeed have Dodge-like features on its front fascia, and the Dodge ‘hashmark’ logo is clearly visible on the centre hub of its steering wheel.
The photos are credited to an Italian motoring website called Autopareri, which makes sense given production of the Alfa Romeo Tonale will reportedly be handled by a facility in Pomigliano d’Arco. Autopareri themselves have not tweeted from their account since 2019.
The 23’ Dodge Hornet has been spied completely undisguised on the factory floor as a rebadged Alfa Romeo Tonale. The crossover will come equipped with the automaker’s latest UConnect 5 infotainment system and it will be offered with a 256 hp 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine pic.twitter.com/jYC7R6Smbq
— Cole Marzen (@cole_marzen) February 17, 2022
If this tweet is correct, the so-called Hornet will feature a 256-horsepower turbocharged four-banger under its hood, a logical statement since the same mill is set to show up in the Tonale. We will note, however, that anyone blessed with access to Google could have discovered that information and is simply making an assumption.
This interior is a dead ringer for the Tonale, right down to the start/stop button mounted on its steering wheel. The bank of switches below the ventilation registers are also spot-on, as are the digitally reconfigurable gauge cluster and infotainment system.
The Alfa’s blade-style paddle shifters are missing, though, as is the nifty shifter surround, which features the Italian tricolore on the Alfa.
There are, of course, a decent number of explanations for the appearance of this vehicle, none of which end with the thing being sold in Canada or the United States. The crew at Dodge have a habit of offering certain models in Mexico but not north of the Rio Grande, such as the old-school Ramcharger years ago; and the current 2022 Journey, which is based on a Chinese-market GAC Trumpchi GS5.
Keyword: New Dodge crossover spied at factory, could revive 'Hornet' name