Latest Developments on the Dodge Hornet

http://autos.canada.com/news/story.html?id=cb2de1a7-f019-4bf7-87d4-4dcc1907ebf8



Chrysler has opened its doors to partnerships with various automakers recently.

There's been Volkswagen with the Caravan-based Routan minivan, not to mention the small Dodge that was designed and built by China's Chery. The most important partnership, however, has been with Nissan.

The two companies forged an agreement that will see Chrysler build the next Nissan Titan, on the back of the next-generation Dodge Ram, in exchange for a Chrysler-badged version of the Nissan Versa, for South American markets.


Latest reports see Chrysler receiving yet another Versa-based subcompact car for the North American marketplace.

This vehicle will feature a distinctive body from the Versa, and it's rumoured that it will be modeled after the Dodge Hornet concept, which first appeared back in 2006. It was rumoured that this upcoming, critically important small car would be built by Chery, but instead it's looking like it will get Nissan underpinnings.

Chery will still play an instrumental role in producing city cars for Chrysler, but they won't be sold in North America. At least not yet.


Furthermore, there are a couple of extra twists in this plot. Firstly, the subcompact would be built in Japan by Nissan at its Oppama plant, instead of domestically, or in Mexico.

Secondly, the car may also take the form of a Chrysler, and be positioned as a premium subcompact with many customizable options, targeting the subcompact market in a similar way to the Mini Cooper.


Chrysler is looking to have the Nissan-based subcompact on sale here in North America for model year 2010

good find :beerchug::cheers2:

This articles makes me wonder...what is the acutal target audience and what kind of price point can we expect:

"Furthermore, there are a couple of extra twists in this plot. Firstly, the subcompact would be built in Japan by Nissan at its Oppama plant, instead of domestically, or in Mexico.

Secondly, the car may also take the form of a Chrysler, and be positioned as a premium subcompact with many customizable options, targeting the subcompact market in a similar way to the Mini Cooper."



Now this really bothers me because of the possibility of it be outsourced to Japan for production...meaning less jobs for our men and women here in N. America.

I live in Windsor, Ontario and we heavily rely on the Big 3....right now our local economy is slowing because these people are getting laid off left and right:icon_flaming:

The second point kinda kills the idea of this car being a truely "entry level" car and will probably cost more that my CSRT4:notallthere: Especially if it gets the "Chrysler" tag. Which kills any idea of it being the "Dodge Hornet" when it hits production because Chrysler LLC is doing away with their cars competing against each other in the same category.

Personally, I would like it to be "Dodge" just to keep the Hornet name... but I would like to have all of the high end options available. The Chrysler badge would make that more of a likelyhood.

They should stick to the Dodge moniker.

I like the Mini-cooper, but I could do without the Mini-cooper pricing. I've priced out a Mini-cooper S several times, and while you have a lot of freedom to pick through many individual options, they really like to nickel and dime you on the options.

It sounds like that might be the same path Chrysler is going to take, hence why I would prefer they badge it as a Dodge and follow a pricing format that is similar to what they do now (i.e. option groups, and performance packages).

I think they should make a Dodge only, the Chrysler version would just be badge engineering (like the Aspen)... keep it pure!

They should stick to the Dodge moniker.

I like the Mini-cooper, but I could do without the Mini-cooper pricing. I've priced out a Mini-cooper S several times, and while you have a lot of freedom to pick through many individual options, they really like to nickel and dime you on the options.

It sounds like that might be the same path Chrysler is going to take, hence why I would prefer they badge it as a Dodge and follow a pricing format that is similar to what they do now (i.e. option groups, and performance packages).

Don't get me wrong. If it's called a Hornet, it has to be Dodge. I just would like to have the options available. In my mind, it opens the market up to more people.

If they have the usual Dodge setup, it shouldn't be a problem.

SE=base motor, base options
SXT=base motor, upgraded options
R/T=upgraded motor, upgraded options
SRT=kick-ass

Now this really bothers me because of the possibility of it be outsourced to Japan for production...meaning less jobs for our men and women here in N. America.

I live in Windsor, Ontario and we heavily rely on the Big 3....right now our local economy is slowing because these people are getting laid off left and right:icon_flaming:



No offense, but I'm American. If the Hornet is not going to be made in the USA, to me, it does not matter if it's Canada, Mexico, or China. We all love this "North America" thing, but the bottom line (for Americans) is that it's made in a foreign country. You are right, most Ford, many GM and some Chrysler are made in Canada. But they used to be made in the USA. Yes. I'm sorry the auto industry slump will hit hard up north, but that's how the business goes.

Don't get me wrong, but after all the problem with products from China, I don't think I would buy anything made in China. "Made in China" is a warning label.

Don't get me wrong, but after all the problem with products from China, I don't think I would buy anything made in China. "Made in China" is a warning label.

:jester: haha...yeah. I totally agree. Made In China is backwards for the chineese phrase Anihc Ni Edam....which translates to "Ultimate Death Trap"

The neon SRT was built in Mexico mostly... and it turned out just fine.

The neon SRT was built in Mexico mostly... and it turned out just fine.

Yes it did, i still love mine and will keep it for a long time.

no complaints.

The neon SRT was built in Mexico mostly... and it turned out just fine.

I had a VW golf was made in Mexico and It was alright. I may buy another sometime in the future.

Some Dodge RAMs are also made in Mexico (plant recently closed down for lack of RAM sales I believe). The new Dodge Journey is made in Mexico. The CVT Transmission in the Caliber comes from Mexico. The Getrag transmission in the Caliber SRT-4 comes from Germany. They all seem to be fine.

true dat

it looks like Nissan will be building the Hornet instead of Chery.

Paul Lienert of Edmunds' Inside Line claims that Nissan will build the production version of the Dodge Hornet in calendar-year 2010, basing it on the Renault-Nissan global B-car platform shared by the Renault Clio and Nissan Cube. The Hornet will first be built in Japan, and if successful, will move to Mexico, according to Inside Line. Earlier attempts to have the Hornet built by Chery and Volkswagen failed, according to the article.
The two companies had said that they would produce a vehicle "based on a unique Chrysler concept and design." The term "design" can be used to describe the appearance of a vehicle rather than its engineering; likewise, "platform" is technically merely a series of measurements. This leaves no small degree of uncertainty regarding the car's architecture and powertrain.

Here's the link

http://www.allpar.com/model/upcoming.html

Great read Charlie.

Thx.

ClioV6 anyone? :D
http://members.fortunecity.com/freecarwallpapers/images/renault_clio_v6_08.jpg

Great read Charlie.

Thx.

You welcome

You welcome

allpar is great!

Yep. Great source for info.

I don't know if anyone has posted this article in here before:

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=123040

It's an older one, but good reading anyway.

Nice find UA. I love that Demon.

the demon does look nice. the grill looks like they drove a ram into it when it was still a clay model and the grill got imprinted.

the demon does look nice. the grill looks like they drove a ram into it when it was still a clay model and the grill got imprinted.

:jester::jester::jester:

This Thread Is Getting Jacked By The Ghost Of Boomboom... Since Boom Past Away From A Freak Turtle Accident His Ghost Is Now Here To Let You All Know.... He IS Still Watching!!!!

This Thread Is Getting Jacked By The Ghost Of Boomboom... Since Boom Past Away From A Freak Turtle Accident His Ghost Is Now Here To Let You All Know.... He IS Still Watching!!!!


thats nice...remind me to kick his ass when I see him.:bash:

thats nice...remind me to kick his ass when I see him.:bash:

:rofl: :rofl:

Hey Libbs, this is a reminder for you to kick BOOMBOOM's ass when you see him.

LOL.

Nice Santa hat on your fishy there Charlie.

LOL.

Nice Santa hat on your fishy there Charlie.

Thanks, HemiChemi made it for me at the Chargerforums.:)

New news:

Chrysler shuts down all factories. :(
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28284256/


But it doesn't mention the Hornet! Maybe they'll still start making it.

lol

:cry:

There's still a good chance since they need to make more fuel efficient vehicles in their line up.