Was the Soul already out at the time or did the design team leave Chrysler and move to Korea? If you took the badges off of that, I would totally believe that it was a Kia.
I actually kinda like it. Especially in a theoretical SRT4 way.
Way back in the early 2000s, Dodge was working to "create a vehicle with a uniquely American character to expand the image and presence of the Dodge brand in Europe and international markets, especially in the entry-level market." What they came up with is this, the 2006 Dodge Hornet Concept.
Measuring in at just 151 inches long, the upright-styled Hornet is was designed to have a “rallye-inspired look–robust, capable, and most definitely not 'cutesy.'” Whether or not you agree with that statement, the powerplant did offer some promising numbers: 170 horsepower and 165 lb.-ft. of torque from a supercharged four-cylinder engine. Perhaps better yet was that the power was sent to front wheels through a genuine six-speed manual transmission.
Unfortunately, like a few other promising concepts produced around this time that were destined for production, the Hornet was scrapped following the 2007-’08 financial crisis.
However, after Fiat acquired Chrysler group in 2010, word began spreading that the Italian company was planning on repurposing at least a few parts of concept for an upcoming small car. As fate would have it, though, that small car would be revealed as the very un-Hornet-like Dodge Dart in 2011.
Were it not for the financial crisis, would the Hornet have had a chance in Europe–and potentially North America–or was it better that this micro MPV was left as a concept?
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Was the Soul already out at the time or did the design team leave Chrysler and move to Korea? If you took the badges off of that, I would totally believe that it was a Kia.
I actually kinda like it. Especially in a theoretical SRT4 way.
1.6 supercharged engine making 170hp? So the Tritec engine that was used in the first gen MINI...but installed in a Mopar product. That's not a great recipe for reliability.
I think it looks like a mix of the MINI and the Kia Soul. But I like it. And the rear suicide doors.
I think this one predates the Soul, but I can definitely see the resemblance. I hadn't realized it was so small; somehow I thought it was more Caliber sized (not that a Caliber is particularly large!). It does look like an interesting might-have-been.
About 4 inches shorter than my wife's Scion xB. That's the size of vehicle I prefer, or even smaller. This concept still looks better than most of the current offerings from all the OEMs.
Kinda cool...but probably wouldn't have done well in murica because we have a size complex
Trying to take on the Mini by building a pint-size Scion xB. Interesting strategy. I dig it, though.
I see the resemblance to a Soul but my first thought was an aggressive Sonic. If they gave it SRT treatment and priced it entry level those could have been a neat option like the SRT4 Neon.
Remember how the original Scion Xb was this kind of funky box that was almost understyled and still looked very unique and interesting? This is like the opposite; not boring but not really interesting per se and with a ton of ginger bread to try and keep it unique. Like, the exterior mirrors alone, what's going on there?
As a general concept it's not bad but I think other companies did this sort of thing better (Toyota and Suzuki both come to mind).
Id bet that this chassis ended up being the Fiat 500 Abarth....look at the shifter tower, steering wheel position and seating position. Chop the rear two doors out of it and extend the doors a bit.
fanfoy said:1.6 supercharged engine making 170hp? So the Tritec engine that was used in the first gen MINI...but installed in a Mopar product. That's not a great recipe for reliability.
I think it looks like a mix of the MINI and the Kia Soul. But I like it. And the rear suicide doors.
I was thinking the same thing. One reason the Tritec engine petered out was because Chrysler never really bought enough of them to make it viable. This car might have helped with that.
Amusingly, in the MINI community, the Tritec is considered the most reliable of all MINI engines, although I'll admit the bar isn't very high...
Otherwise, I agree - The Hornet was an interesting concept that could have helped Chrysler break into the Euro market. Too bad the timing didn't work out.
The Fiat 500 is substantially smaller and I'm certain had absolutely zero input from the Chrysler side of FCA.
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