Dodge Hornet competition at all for Yaris?

[Petrolhead]

Anyone see this Hornet concept car from Dodge? (http://www.dodge-hornet.com)

Think it's in the same segment as the Yaris or no?

http://www.topgear.com/content/news/stories/515/images/1/large.jpg

[why?]

The article says it is going to be entry level, but I think they mean Neon and Corolla entry level and not Yaris.

It does look interesting, but at 3100lbs the 170 hp 1.6l engine will feel underpowered.

[Ziv]

concept, it looks interesting now, but few years later, they are gonna change it a lil bit here and there until it looks like a 5 door neon... or sx 2.0 whatever you call it.

[as400g33k]

it kinda resembles the suzuki swift. roughly the same dimensions too. shared platform with GM-Suzuki perhaps?

http://www.globalsuzuki.com/swift/index.html

[echo_hrs]

fugly...

[hhcchen]

The article says it is going to be entry level, but I think they mean Neon and Corolla entry level and not Yaris.

It does look interesting, but at 3100lbs the 170 hp 1.6l engine will feel underpowered.
isn't yaris about the same weight too...??? correct me if i am wrong...
if that's the case, this little car is having more horses than yaris...
horse power to weight ratio will be better than yaris...
also, since caliber(neon) is at the level of corolla,
they might need a real entry level car like this...
so this one could be a real competition
afterall, it does have a really good seatting arrangement...
http://www.dodge-hornet.com/dodge_hornet_12.jpg
but seems like the car is a little too small...
http://www.dodge-hornet.com/dodge_hornet_23.jpg
haha... just kidding... it's a model of course...:laughabove:

[swng]

IMHO, it will have to have reliability first in order to deserve any consideration as a competition to the Yaris. Moreover, the look is too robotic to me.
Given the high gas prices these days, I am not surprised that more manufacturers will be putting out their versions of the sub-compact segment.

[wushumasterku]

isn't yaris around 2300 lbs?

[why?]

Yes, the Yaris weighs only about 2200-2300 lbs, depending on options etc.

[jcove]

This is built on the same platform as the SX 2.0 (Sorry if someone has mentioned already) They already have plans for a SRT version if it works as well as it's predicted. Chrysler is one of the only companies still associated with being domestic that I would think of purchasing. Since being purchased by Diamler, they have raised their standards to all their suppliers. I could be wrong on the date, but I think it was some time in 2004 that they mandated all suppliers have the TS standard. (higher than ISO) I still prefer Toyota/Honda/Nissan, but it definately raised the bar for them. Look at the Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger for example. They've built these cars on a Mercedes platform and offered it as a mid range car that is decent. Not saying they haven't had problems. The assembly plant is just down the road from where I live in Brampton and I've worked at a couple of places supplying parts to this platform.

:redface: Sorry, I started getting off topic......

[jcove]

isn't yaris about the same weight too...??? correct me if i am wrong...
if that's the case, this little car is having more horses than yaris...
horse power to weight ratio will be better than yaris...
also, since caliber(neon) is at the level of corolla,
they might need a real entry level car like this...
so this one could be a real competition
afterall, it does have a really good seatting arrangement...


It's not compitition to the Yaris. It's a little larger, more on par with the Corrolla/Matrix as I think some other's have mentioned.

[Yaris Revenge]

Whoa! That's what the Scion Xb should have looked like, instead of the mail truck that it is. I think it's pretty cool! :w00t:

Dodge/Chrysler is doin' one keckuva' job lately turnin' out the sportiness. Glad to see at least one American company with some imagination (oh wait... is Chrysler still considered an American company, or are they German now?):iono:

~YR

[ricko]

GR8 ......... if you go for cars that look like they are built out of LEGO.

[stuffy]

i agree that chrylser is making some nice cars lately, the 300 and it's sister cars are really well done (if you like BIG cars),

it isn't to my taste, but the new caliber looks like a mini-magnum and is probably a big step up from the neon that it replaces.

[Yaris Revenge]

GR8 ......... if you go for cars that look like they are built out of LEGO.

:bow: :bow: :bow: LEGO RULEZ!!!



~YR :thumbsup:

[echo_hrs]

I hate Chrysler's styling, every single car looks like a truck with that blunt front end...It's bland and uninspired...I'm also sick of the domestics and their throwback retro-themed cars...Can't they commit to anything remotely innovative or original?

[stuffy]

i think chrysler is the most adventurous of all of the domestic car companies, i agree, i don't like the styling of their cars, but compare them to gm or ford and they are very innovative.

[why?]

http://images6.theimagehosting.com/chrcross.jpg (http://www.dodgeforum.com/tm.asp?m=19322&mpage=1&key=&)

This doesn't look like a truck to me.

[Ziv]

I think the Caliber would be more of a competitor if you look at it in the market point of view. it's cheap, it's got a bigger engine, it doesn't look too lego-ee. Caliber is not so bad. only problem is an american car.

[Yaris Revenge]

I hate Chrysler's styling, every single car looks like a truck with that blunt front end...It's bland and uninspired...I'm also sick of the domestics and their throwback retro-themed cars...Can't they commit to anything remotely innovative or original?

I can definitely see your point. What's good for the goose isn't necessarily good for the gander, and the hen, and the rooster, and the duck.... :wink:

I personally like the redesigned retro cars. I think the problem they've run into is this: modern car designs have gone just about as far as they can go without taking a major step forward. There's still a big gap between what's popular now and the concept cars that keep popping up in the shows, and though many of us would love to get our hands on a production version of those concepts, there are still a ton of old timers out there that think a car should look like a "car". So, since a large portion of the market doesn't want to move forward, the only way to go is back.

Also, every car brand looks practically the same nowadays. By going back to their roots (when each brand had a truly distinct look and cars had artistic personality), the American manufacturers can try once again to distinguish themselves from their foreign competitors (who are quite thoroughly kicking their marketshare arses right now).

What amazes me is how popular the new muscle cars are despite the increase in gas prices. They can moan about "poor economy" all they want, but the 15 new Mustangs and 4 new Chargers I pass every day don't seem to agree with the anaylists. :rolleyes:

~YR

[echo_hrs]

http://images6.theimagehosting.com/chrcross.jpg (http://www.dodgeforum.com/tm.asp?m=19322&mpage=1&key=&)

This doesn't look like a truck to me.

Yes, indeed, I guess the one place the american car companies are designing anything original is in the low-volume "halo" cars, that most mainstream people will either not buy because of practical reasons, or not be able to afford...

I guess at Chrysler people will come in wanting a Crossfire and then buy a Caliber...
At Pontiac they'll come in wanting a Solstice and buy a Wave...
At Ford they'll come in for a GT and buy a Freestyle...

LOL

[why?]

The problem with car design now is there are too many regulations and laws that their is very little designing left to do.

[plushDJ]

I hate that new camaro, blech!!!! The Charger and Mustang kick some ass though

[why?]

The new Mustang looks great. I'd be tempted to get it as a toy.

[Goose]

The Hornet looks a bit "over-styled" to me. One of the appealing aspects of the Yaris is the cleanliness of its design. Although the Hornet has loads of design features, I've found (at least for me) that this can prove tiresome over the long term. I get the same reaction to the MINI, which can seem pretty busy; lots of different textures, colors and materials inside and out.

The tuners will have fun with this car, since it looks like Dodge took the MINI drivetrain and just dropped it in. There are plenty of firms offering go-fast stuff for the supercharged MINI four-banger.

This is not an attempt to be argumentative, just adding to the conversation. :smile: