Dodge Hornet Concept 2006

Rallye-prepared and keen to go, the brand new Dodge Hornet idea automobile is designed to convey to the B-section marketplace a completely unique mixing of European sensibility concerning engine length and ordinary footprint with an American aptitude for competitive mind-set and bendy indoors area.

"We desired the Hornet to be dynamic, nimble, amusing to drive, and feature an adaptable area-green indoors," stated Mark Moushegian, Principal Exterior Designer. "At the identical time we got down to create a automobile with a uniquely American man or woman to extend the picture and presence of the Dodge emblem in Europe and worldwide markets, in particular withinside the entry-stage marketplace."

"We went for a rallye-stimulated appearance - robust, capable, and maximum sincerely not 'cutesy.' We desired a distinct 'edge' to the design. We in particular desired to push the envelope of indoors extent. That's why the Hornet is nearly as huge as a C-section automobile," Moushegian continued. Consequently the Hornet's chunky, wheels-to-the-nook silhouette imparts the amusing of assertive motoring to even the maximum mundane of errands.

With its huge stance, the Hornet is solidly planted at the road. Up the front, the signature Dodge crossbar grille is about above an uncovered engine intercooler flanked with the aid of using the front brake air ducts and fog lamps. The raised plateau at the hood capabilities a recessed scoop at the driver's aspect to funnel air to the engine air box. Underhood is a 1.6L 16-valve OHC supercharged I/C four-cylinder engine placing out 127 kW (a hundred and seventy hp)/224 N•m (a hundred sixty five lb.-ft.) of torque @ 4000 rpm.

The muscular aspect view is ruled with the aid of using the huge 19-inch diameter open-segment aluminum wheels designed to reveal off the "mechanicals," along with the gold-coloured brake calipers. The arching wheel flares and notched sill are complemented with the aid of using curving frame surfaces that "spear out" into the entire the front and rear adversarial half-doorways which, in segment, are pretty shallow that allows you to maximize the indoors area. The framed doorways open to show the absence of a B-pillar, whilst the three-window aspect glass terminates in a dynamic wedge-formed zone window.

Inspired with the aid of using the appearance of style sunglasses, all of the glass withinside the automobile, along with the oversize sunroof, is rendered in a deep "Blue View" tint which contrasts vividly with the auto's Liquid Silver outside.

"The concept is that the auto might be to be had in a constrained range of colors," Moushegian stated. "The patron selects the contrasting glass colour of his or her desire as an accent." Inspired with the aid of using the mythical Dodge Viper, twin "skunk stripes" in Beryllium Gray boldly traverse the hood, roof, overhanging rear defuser wing and the liftgate, along with the "sky view" solar roof which gives a wide ranging outlook overhead for each the front and rear passengers.

Set in matte steel grey tiered bezels and grouped below clean covers, all outside lamps proportion a not unusualplace "mechanical" fashion vocabulary that capabilities outstanding round factors plus "triple orange slice" the front and rear flip signals. Similar repeater lamps are set into the aspect mirrors which additionally comprise auxiliary rallye lamps. The round subject is reprised with the aid of using three-inch diameter twin exhaust hints propelled via the rear chin spoiler.

"Like the outside, the indoors is geared round younger rallye enthusiasts," stated John Sodano, Principal Interior Designer. "Our goal became to maximise the indoors extent with the aid of using pushing all indoors surfaces to the fringe of the automobile as a good deal as viable. I studied photographs of area pill interiors, on account that they're designed for excessive performance in a constrained area. I desired the Hornet inner to have a functional, 'engineered' appearance, however with fascinating surfaces and materials."

Extreme flexibility is also important to the sporty indoors. The area-saving foam seats are extraordinarily narrow however comfortable, with the putting satin-silver completed aluminum framing intentionally uncovered. Seat bolsters are protected in a smooth, black urethane-lined material whilst a black, fine-woven textured Pique fabric is used at the cushion and lower back inserts. Belts are essential with the seats.

Good-searching as they're, the seats' actual splendor lies of their adaptability. Both the passenger the front bucket seat and the 40-60 three-passenger rear seats fold ahead and fall apart to the ground to offer a flat load bed. To facilitate this, the headrests fold ahead to stow among the seat lower back and cushion. The cabin ground is protected with an appealing and sturdy honeycomb-texture rubber.

In addition, the rear seats additionally turn rearward to stow in lower back, flush with the liftgate sill. This role gives for the best viable vertical garage at the back of the the front seats. When upright, the rear seats tune rearwards to offer an extra 225 mm of legroom for rear seat passengers. Accessible to passengers irrespective of the fore-aft seat role, overlong grasp bars are hooked up excessive on every rear zone and additionally function garments hangar racks.

The crisp black and slate grey indoors is designed for each fashion and utility, with surfaces having a disciplined, area-saving planar appearance. The driver's door trim panel, for example, carries a primary useful resource kit, open garage bin, and a closed case with wearing take care of that may be eliminated from the auto. The passenger door boasts each open and closed packing containers plus an extended open bin with bungee cords to preserve stowed gadgets. All packing containers are detachable and may be without problems rearranged to in shape every patron's requirements. Moreover, the designers envision the Hornet as a automobile that may be without problems custom designed via the acquisition of add-on outside and indoors components and accessories, permitting proprietors to customize their automobiles to specific person desires and desires.

Both the front doorways even have a hinged garage pocket simply above the far flung take care of. The driver's aspect rear door carries a available beverage cooler whilst the door contrary boasts a fold-out desk module. On all doorways, fabric-protected armrests with essential pull cups are underlined with the aid of using slender satin silver moldings whilst aspect air baggage are hid withinside the Pique fabric bolsters.

Designed to house each left- and right-hand drive, the modular tool panel capabilities dual horizontal Pique fabric wrapover pads divided with the aid of using a satin silver middle stack crowned with the aid of using a set navigation display screen with non-glare glass. The pads the front shallow open garage trays immediately in advance of the motive force and the front seat passenger, with garage for smaller gadgets furnished in divided packing containers below.

The middle stack additionally contains huge, easy-to-use amusement and heating, ventilating and air-conditioning device controls whose round factors mimic the outside lamp detailing, "because," explains Sodano," we sought to create a not unusualplace fashion structure for the outside and indoors." Ten round audio system in various sizes are furnished withinside the cabin, on every the front door and 3 on every zone panel.

The three-circle, six-gauge delta-formed tool binnacle with connected hood actions with the guidance column whilst the guidance wheel itself capabilities a textured, molded rubber rim and 3 "tuning fork" spokes that echo the outside wheels. A freestanding cantilevered middle armrest "floats" over the the front ground console, pivoting downward to allow unfettered get right of entry to to the six-velocity guide shift lever all through competitive driving.

Tough, brash and keen to be off, the Dodge Hornet idea automobile brings to the aggressive entry-stage B-section marketplace a great mixture of American amusing and European function.