1970 Dodge Challenger, Rt Copy, Sublime on 2040-cars

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Dodge Hornet supposedly snapped inside Alfa Romeo Tonale factory

It appears that someone in Stellantis' Pomigliano d’Arco Assembly Plant in Italy couldn't keep their cellphone to themselves. Video uploaded to the Alfa Romeo Club Italia Facebook page, then quickly removed, purports to show Dodge's brand-engineered version of the Alfa Romeo Tonale in the same factory where the Alfa will be built. The Dodge is expected to be called the Hornet, and there are a few differences between it and and Alfa Romeo, which is understandable. But if the screenshots on Twitter are accurate, then the Dodge looks a lot closer to the Alfa Romeo than perhaps anyone expected. The front fascia and hood fall in line with Dodge's design language. The Alfa grille is replaced by a narrow, stepped upper grille, and the hood is one of the vented units similar to those available for Dodge's R/T performance trims. And as Mopar Insiders noticed, the silhouette of this car's front end matches a vehicle silhouette Dodge showed during Stellantis' 2021 EV Day.   Inside, the Italian brand's crest in the steering wheel center cap is replaced by Dodge's twin slashes, and the steering wheel has been stripped of the large, curved paddle shifters the Tonale showed on its debut. There's still a start/stop button on the steering wheel, but where the Tonale has a driving mode dial on its dash, this supposed Hornet has another start/stop button. Dodge's push-to-start buttons are usually on the instrument panel, so our guess is that the wheel is a holdover for testing. On the center tunnel, the parking alert buttons and Italian Tricolore flag on the Alfa Romeo are replaced by three different buttons.   We've known Dodge has two electrified vehicles on the way, and the Hornet name has been low-key buzzing for two years. Fiat Chrysler applied to trademark the name in the U.S. in March 2020; at the time, it was thought a vehicle with that name could replace the Journey. In 2021, a July rumor out of Italy was the first whisper of the Hornet name being attached to the Alfa Romeo Tonale. In August, when Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said Dodge would get a PHEV in 2024, watchers pegged that model as the Hornet. That hybrid powertrain would show a year after the vehicle's launch, the Hornet anticipated as a 2023 model with the Tonale's turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. That engine could get the same 256 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque as the Tonale, or be boosted to satisfy Dodge's performance credentials.

Is this the 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody?

Last month we told you about the heavy anticipation that Dodge will release Charger Widebody versions in SRT Hellcat and R/T Scat Pack trims for 2020. Now we have strong visual evidence to back it up. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Instagram user and self-described motorsports enthusiast zl1_dre_92c captured a brief video while out driving around suburban Detroit Tuesday of what appears to be a Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody with more pronounced fenders and distinctive graphics passing him in traffic. We can see SRT spelled out on the lower passenger front door and on the rear fascia, and curiously, it appears to be sporting a Florida license plate. Mopar Insider says a source told it that's because Dodge was trying to keep the muscle car away from the usual prying eyes in Detroit and instead has been running it around its secret testing facility near Naples, Fla. The website further surmises that the model could well debut this weekend at the SoCal LX Club Spring Fest 14 in Pomona, Calif., an annual gathering of Mopar fanatics. That would explain the flashy wrap graphics and our suspicions that this isn't a test car; why else would Dodge so clearly advertise the car's SRT lineage? Although both models would get specialized suspension tuning, it's believed that the engines and outputs will remain — a 485-horsepower, 6.4-liter V8 in the R/T Scat Pack and the 6.2-liter V8 making 717 hp for the SRT Hellcat. Both will also reportedly get the same 20-by-11-inch Pirelli performance tires as are found on the Challenger Widebody. They're wrapped around five-spoke blacked-out aluminum wheels, accented with red brake calipers. It appears we'll know more about this curiosity soon.

Here's your chance to vote for the best-looking state police cruiser

Across the country, state police generally drive the same types of vehicles. Right now, the most common cruisers are Ford Explorers, Chevrolet Tahoes, and Dodge Chargers, with some exceptions sprinkled in. The differentiation comes through in the livery, which can range from simplistic badging to busy stripes. Each year, the American Association of State Troopers (AAST) holds a fun contest to determine which state has the coolest-looking cars, and 2019 voting has just opened. We discovered the contest after Motor1 posted about the Florida Highway Patrol's newest addition to its fleet, a Dodge Challenger R/T. The musclemobile is, without question, the coolest car in the competition, and it might have the best livery too. But that doesn't mean it's going to win, as contests like this often turn into hotbeds for chest-beating homers.  The AAST is posting results on Facebook, and as of July 17, 2019, Kentucky and Nebraska are blowing the rest of the states out of the water. Florida is in ninth place with 4,653 votes compared to first-place Kentucky's 14,699. New Jersey is in last place with only 107 votes. As the internet goes, this will likely be determined by how many times the contest is shared across social media.  The Challenger isn't the only eye candy, either. Not every state participated, but those that did came correct with the photography, including Nebraska posing its car in front of a freakin' tornado. Others staged their cars with helicopters in the background, some set the car in front of the gorgeous landscapes their states have to offer, and others posed with dogs. Because who doesn't love dogs? No matter which car wins, it's cool to see the various designs all in one place. Check out the gallery above and vote for your favorite on the AAST's survey. The survey will close on July 30, 2019.