Rumors that Nissan will build Dodge's Hornet compact car are spreading like an STD on spring break. Not only are many of the car blogs– Autoblog, Motor Authority— covering the story, the subscription-only Automotive News is bringing the noise as well. We already knew Nissan would be building compact cars for Dodge in Mexico and possibly other overseas markets, and that Dodge would build the next generation full-size pickup for Nissan. AND we knew Dodge was looking to outsource production of its Hornet compact car to anyone, even the Chinese. So this isn't exactly groundbreaking. But there's other reason to yawn: the people that really care if Dodge has a compact car are Dodge dealers. Nissan moves about 10k Versas per month (handily outselling the much-ballyhooed Honda Fit for example). But it's not what anyone would call a class leader as a vehicle. That means Dodge will be selling a fairly high MPG car, with an extraordinarily ugly shape (if the Hornet concept is the basis) without Nissan's reputation for top-tier and reliable econoboxes. It wouldn't even have the novelty of being the first fully Chinese-made car to sell in the US. The upshot: with a Dodge standard rebate, the Hornet might just be dirty cheap. And I mean dirty.
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I actually like the Hornet’s design. It’s much more aggressive looking than the Versa, Yaris, Fit or the Daewoo Aveo. I still wouldn’t buy it if Chrysler slapped their name on it. Wondering why would Nissan sell this car only through Chyrsler and not under their own name?
Actually, I think the Hornet will sell well. I like the design much better than the Fit/Versa/Yaris.
I’m no expert, but I thought that Honda had limited quantities of the Fit for the US market. Factories all maxed out on Civics or something. They sell out their Fit quota no problem. It’s not a demand problem, in other words.
I too think the Hornet is a great looking car. Instead of looking like another little appliance blending in with everything else on the road it has a design that really sets it apart, fitting for a Dodge and not in a bad way. If Nissan produces it for Chrysler and Chrysler produces a new Titan for Nissan I don’t see a problem.
So let me get this straight…
Dodge (Chrysler) cannot catch enough flak for building too many trucks and SUVS. So now they are quickly bringing a small fuel efficient car to the market with the help of Nissan, and it appears they will not be able to catch enough flak for that either.
Got it.
I actually like the design.
If the production version looks like the concept, it would be the best looking sub-compact on the market.
Has anyone considered that Nissan may be the next owner of Dodge?
I like it!
Extraordinarily ugly? Not to me. Sort of reminds me of the old Dodge Omni, which at the time they were being produced I also liked.
It’s an interesting design. If it’s got Nissan quality built in then it could be a hit.
Detroit Mini!
The disconnect between the post and the comments is great.
Post: Dodge is rushing an ugly little fuel miser to market. Whoopee fuck.
Comments: It’s a good looking little car. It’s nice to see Dodge doing something new.
Also, A-Rod’s comment is spot on and illustrates the bias TTAC holds. Styling is subjective, and we don’t know (yet) how this will work out fiscally. All we know is that an auto manufacturer is rapidly responding to market demand by leveraging relationships to (presumably) efficiently fill a hole in it’s line up.
If this were Toyota or Honda TPTB would be pointing out how great it is that a manufacturer can make decisions so quickly and that Detroit can’t get off it’s ass and produce a competitive small car.
But, because it’s Dodge, it’s a bad thing.
Final note- I, too, like the way the Hornet is styled (in photos) and I’ll be interested to see it in real life.
I’m with the crowd in thinking that it’s attractive, so I don’t know where Justin’s fancies lie.
I don’t see how this is anything but a good thing. Can any domestic do anything right on this “truthy” site?
Good, then the Hornet might actaully be a well made compact car then. Given the fact that Chrysler can’t seem to build a 4-banger under 2L that isn’t a disaster, it’s probably better that Nissan built their compact for them.
Im gonna go against the crowd and say that not only is it an ugly little insect, but Im tired of seeing it already and it’s barely out of prototype phase. By the time they get this Chery/Nissan/whoever builds it (Tata?), most people will be tired of the design as well. It’s not exactly timeless or revolutionary. It looks like a squashed up Nitro.
But this is all ridiculous conjecture. By the time anyone gets around to making this, Chrysler will be so sold off for parts, that there will be no Dodge left to sell it anyway.
I’m going to join the pile-on on Justin’s tastes by saying that I like the design of the Hornet, as well. And “pooh-pooh”-ing the car in advance seems a bit premature. The Aveo’s doing well in these times, too.
And I thought the reason that Honda can’t sell anymore Fits is because they don’t have anymore to sell to us until the new 2009 kickstarts more production.
I also have to chime in and say that I really like the looks of the Hornet (and I like the name, btw.) If this joint venture produces a car similar enough to the Hornet at a reasonable price, I think Chrysler will have a hit on it’s hands… Imagine that!
Why don`t they sell it as a Nissan, if it is engineered mostly by Nissan anyway. Are they trying to sell more of them, like to patriotic Americans with reading problems? And Nissan will never buy Dodge, why should they? So Chrysler can milk their floorpans? So Chrysler could suck juices out of renault through some franchise?Ain`t gonna happen. Japanese have already learnt a lesson what happens when you sell shares to a car manufacturing imitiating us-based companies. Like Now left dry Isuzu, or walking on edge of quality Mitsubishi.
jurisb,
It is a joint venture…Chrysler will build the next Titan for Nissan and Nissan will build the Hornet.
Read the article.
Who knows, maybe Nissan will use the platform for the revised Cube as the basis for this thing.
ChryCo certainly doesn’t have a good record bringing reliable small cars to market. So, how much input will Nissan really have? Or are they just building the thing?
This is why ChryCo catches flak for bringing a fuel-efficient car to market (ARod): it’s 2008 and they’re having to bring one to market. They’ll bring one and in a decade it’ll be gone. Omni. Neon. Hornet.
Meanwhile, the Escort/Focus; Corolla; Sentra; and Civic soldier on.
Add me to those who like the Hornet concept.
It appears that someone else will build the cars (like the long forgotten Cricket) and Mopar will stick their name on it, but that seems to be the future for automakers in the US.
FWIW, I would rather have it built by Nissan in Mexico rather than Chery in China. I would have to imagine that Nissan would have more experience with the manufacturing process overall, as compared to the nascient Chinese auto producers.
They should call it the Dodge Horny. Then someone might actually care.
I wouldnt buy it no matter where its made or who makes it. Its positively sad that a big 2.8 automaker has to farm out a car because they cant do it right. Warranty claims at a chrysler dealership are a whole ‘nother subject!
I really like the looks of this car. My big disconnect is with the teaming up of Chrysler
& Nissan. Which while I thing is a really good way to get a quality small car into Chrysler dealerships all I can think of is didn’t they try this before? (AMC + Renault) + Chrysler = Eagle, now (Nissan + Renault) + Chrysler = Hornet
@Flipper
What’s the common denominator in your equations?
(Hint: Renault)
Hmmmm…
seabrjim :
June 17th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I wouldnt buy it no matter where its made or who makes it. Its positively sad that a big 2.8 automaker has to farm out a car because they cant do it right. Warranty claims at a chrysler dealership are a whole ‘nother subject!
You mean like VW farming out a minivan to Chrysler? Or like Nissan farming out a pickup truck to Chrysler?
I’ll back up Justin’s opinion on the Hornet’s looks. I think it looks only marginally better than the Caliber, which I think is one of the ugliest cars on the road.
Based upon the photos, I’d say that this may be one of the coolest looking of the small cars…until you get to the front. That’s when you see the miniature pickup grille that got welded to the front end, like someone left a Dodge truck out in the sun for too long.
The faux macho grille screams out “Napoleon Complex!” It’s as if the Detroit stylists believe that small cars are such an embarrassment that the only way to sell them is to fool the buyer into believing that they are bigger than they are.
Come on, guys, we’re not that stupid. Trying to make subcompacts look like big trucks is as about as tasteful as putting size 16 shoes on a guy who is 5’3″. It’s a small canvas, paint it accordingly…
seabrjim said:
I wouldnt buy it no matter where its made or who makes it. Its positively sad that a big 2.8 automaker has to farm out a car because they cant do it right.
You mean like VW farming out a minivan to Chrysler? Or like Nissan farming out a pickup truck to Chrysler?
@Buick61:
It seems that he doesn’t realize what’s happening to the economics of automaking. Dodge (Hornet) Nissan (new Titan) and VW (Routan) gain entry into a new market segment while saving shedloads of money on R&D and a new platform and testing, allowing them to focus on the styling, feature content and other things. The builders get to run their factories at capacity without worrying about overproduction. Sure, an abstract philosophical marketing type like Farago might cry foul, but a more pragmatic person can see the benefits.
I like the Hornet, the Nitro and the Caliber looks.
A lot of other people do too.
I wont step foot in another Chrysler dealership. They make cool looking vehicles, but they are built like crap. If you want Nissan build quality, buy a Nissan.
I like it. It reminds me of the old Renault 5 turbo. And a bit like a toned down Caliber. Hopefully, if they are still around, this will get done.
Full disclosure: I own an Element and enjoy its boxy design and inconvienent doors.
That said..Assuming there’s rear leg room for two child seats behind me, I know what replaces teh Element in a few years. Love it.
I like the Hornet, but don’t like the other crap by them.
I have an 08 Fit, and got it fairly easy and with a chunk off the price. Now, you have a hard time even test driving them. A friend of mine found 15 of them at a dealership in Tucson, but couldn’t test drive any of them because they were spoken for. Of course, I have to wonder if he were to buy one right then if they’d do it and backfill the sold vehicle.
Strangely, a Fit that was purchased a week after my 08 is now back on a car lot for $1800 more than new. Unless they get a complete moron, I doubt they’ll get it. But it does illustrate that there’s more demand than supply. The same dealership has a dozen or so Versas on hand at any given moment.