Dodge Hornet

Dodge Hornet
2006 Dodge Hornet concept
Overview
Manufacturer	Dodge (Chrysler)
Body and chassis
Class	concept car
Body style	5-door Mini MPV
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine	1.6 L straight-4 (Supercharged)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	100 in (2,540 mm)
Length	151 in (3,835 mm)
Width	76 in (1,930 mm)
Height	62 in (1,575 mm)
Curb weight	3,106 lb (1,409 kg)

The Dodge Hornet is a concept car mini MPV designed and developed by Dodge and revealed in 2006. It was Dodge's first attempt in a car this small and was expected to be released in 2010. The 2009 financial crisis and the restructuring of the Chrysler Group stopped further work. The development of a new compact car for Dodge was resumed using a Fiat sourced automobile platform. In late 2011, Dodge surprised industry pundits and insiders by naming the production version: Dart.

The Hornet name originates with the Hudson Hornet that was introduced in 1951 by the Hudson Motor Car Company. The Hornets were over-engineered and over built, as well as equipped with a powerful engine and an innovative "step-down" chassis. Their overall road-ability of the Hornets made them unbeatable in competition on the dirt and the very few paved tracks during that era. Hudson was the first automobile manufacturer to get involved in . The "Fabulous Hudson Hornet" quickly "dominated stock car racing in the early-1950s, when stock car racers actually raced stock cars." The Hornets swept the NASCAR title from 1951 to 1954. Nash Motors and Hudson merged in 1954 to form American Motors Corporation (AMC), and the large-sized Hornet line was marketed through 1957. The compact-sized AMC Hornet was the second car to use the Hornet name from 1970 to 1977. Rights to the "Hornet" nameplate then passed to Chrysler (Dodge's parent) with its acquisition of AMC in 1987.

In 2006, Dodge was preparing for entry into the European market with a B-segment model, and began the European car show circuit displaying the Dodge Hornet mini MPV concept. The objective was to launch the Dodge nameplate and produce a mini-sized vehicle aimed exclusively at young urban consumers in Europe. According to Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of DaimlerChrysler (as the companies were merged at that time), the automaker was looking to use an existing small car platform, which was first to be from Mitsubishi (the basis of the concept car) and then Volkswagen's Polo was considered. By 2008, the Hornet was planned to be "the first fruit" from the cooperation between Chrysler and Nissan.