Swift Jeep Chrysler Dodge

Rallye-ready and eager to go, the new Dodge Hornet concept vehicle is designed to bring to the B-segment market a unique blending of European sensibility regarding engine size and overall footprint with an American flair for aggressive attitude and flexible interior space.

"We wanted the Hornet to be dynamic, nimble, fun to drive, and have an adaptable space-efficient interior," said Mark Moushegian, Principal Exterior Designer. "At the same time we set out to create a vehicle with a uniquely American character to expand the image and presence of the Dodge brand in Europe and international markets, especially in the entry-level market."

"We went for a rallye-inspired look — robust, capable, and most definitely not 'cutesy.' We wanted a distinct 'edge' to the design. We especially wanted to push the envelope of interior volume. That's why the Hornet is almost as wide as a C-segment vehicle," Moushegian continued. Consequently the Hornet's chunky, wheels-to-the-corner silhouette imparts the fun of assertive motoring to even the most mundane of errands.

With its wide stance, the Hornet is solidly planted on the road. Up front, the signature Dodge crossbar grille is set above an exposed engine intercooler flanked by front brake air ducts and fog lamps. The raised plateau on the hood features a recessed scoop on the driver's side to funnel air to the engine air box. Underhood is a 1.6L 16-valve OHC supercharged I/C four-cylinder engine putting out 127 kW (170 hp)/224 N•m (165 lb.-ft.) of torque @ 4000 rpm.

The muscular side view is dominated by the large 19-inch diameter open-section aluminum wheels designed to show off the "mechanicals," including the gold-colored brake calipers. The arching wheel flares and notched sill are complemented by curving body surfaces that "spear out" into the full front and rear opposed half-doors which, in section, are quite shallow so as to maximize the interior space. The framed doors open to reveal the absence of a B-pillar, while the three-window side glass terminates in a dynamic wedge-shaped quarter window.

Inspired by the look of fashion sunglasses, all the glass in the vehicle, including the oversize sunroof, is rendered in a deep "Blue View" tint which contrasts vividly with the car's Liquid Silver exterior.

"The idea is that the car would be available in a limited number of colors," Moushegian said. "The customer selects the contrasting glass color of his or her choice as an accent." Inspired by the legendary Dodge Viper, dual "skunk stripes" in Beryllium Gray boldly traverse the hood, roof, overhanging rear defuser wing and the liftgate, including the "sky view" sun roof which offers a panoramic outlook overhead for both front and rear passengers.

Set in matte metallic gray tiered bezels and grouped under clear covers, all exterior lamps share a common "mechanical" style vocabulary that features prominent circular elements plus "triple orange slice" front and rear turn signals. Similar repeater lamps are set into the side mirrors which also incorporate auxiliary rallye lamps. The circular theme is reprised by three-inch diameter dual exhaust tips propelled through the rear chin spoiler.

"Like the exterior, the interior is geared around young rallye enthusiasts," said John Sodano, Principal Interior Designer. "Our intention was to maximize the interior volume by pushing all interior surfaces to the perimeter of the vehicle as much as possible. I studied images of space capsule interiors, since they are designed for high efficiency in a limited space. I wanted the Hornet inside to have a functional, 'engineered' look, but with pleasing surfaces and materials."

Extreme flexibility also is central to the sporty interior. The space-saving foam seats are exceptionally slim but comfortable, with the striking satin-silver finished aluminum framing deliberately exposed. Seat bolsters are covered in a smooth, black urethane-coated fabric while a black, fine-woven textured Pique cloth is used on the cushion and back inserts. Belts are integral with the seats.

Good-looking as they are, the seats' real beauty lies in their adaptability. Both the passenger front bucket seat and the 40-60 three-passenger rear seats fold forward and collapse to the floor to provide a flat load bed. To facilitate this, the headrests fold forward to stow between the seat back and cushion. The cabin floor is covered with an attractive and durable honeycomb-texture rubber.

In addition, the rear seats also flip rearward to stow in back, flush with the liftgate sill. This position provides for the highest possible vertical storage behind the front seats. When upright, the rear seats track rearwards to provide an additional 225 mm of legroom for rear seat passengers. Accessible to passengers regardless of the fore-aft seat position, overlong grab bars are mounted high on each rear quarter and also serve as clothes hangar racks.

The crisp black and slate gray interior is designed for both style and utility, with surfaces having a disciplined, space-saving planar look. The driver's door trim panel, for example, contains a first aid kit, open storage bin, and a closed case with carrying handle that can be removed from the car. The passenger door boasts both open and closed bins plus a longer open bin with bungee cords to retain stowed items. All bins are removable and can be easily rearranged to suit each customer's requirements. Moreover, the designers envision the Hornet as a vehicle that can be easily customized through the purchase of add-on exterior and interior parts and accessories, allowing owners to personalize their cars to express individual needs and desires.

Both front doors also have a hinged storage pocket just above the remote handle. The driver’s side rear door contains a handy beverage cooler while the door opposite boasts a fold-out table module. On all doors, cloth-covered armrests with integral pull cups are underlined by narrow satin silver moldings while side air bags are concealed in the Pique cloth bolsters.

Designed to accommodate both left- and right-hand drive, the modular instrument panel features twin horizontal Pique cloth wrapover pads divided by a satin silver center stack topped by a fixed navigation screen with non-glare glass. The pads front shallow open storage trays directly ahead of the driver and front seat passenger, with storage for smaller items provided in divided bins below. The center stack also accommodates large, easy-to-use entertainment and heating, ventilating and air-conditioning system controls whose circular elements mimic the exterior lamp detailing, "because," explains Sodano," we sought to create a common style architecture for the exterior and interior." Ten spherical speakers in varying sizes are supplied in the cabin, two on each front door and three on each quarter panel.

The three-circle, six-gauge delta-shaped instrument binnacle with attached hood moves with the steering column while the steering wheel itself features a textured, molded rubber rim and three "tuning fork" spokes that echo the exterior wheels. A freestanding cantilevered center armrest "floats" over the front floor console, pivoting downward to permit unfettered access to the six-speed manual shift lever during aggressive driving.

Tough, brash and eager to be off, the Dodge Hornet concept vehicle brings to the competitive entry-level B-segment market an ideal combination of American fun and European function.

• A Difference of Opinion: Sixty-eight percent of men say they are better drivers than their significant others; 49 percent of women say they are as equally skilled drivers as their significant others
• On the Same Page: Eighty-four percent of men and 86 percent of women identified icy roads and pouring rain as the two most difficult weather conditions for driving

Men and women don't see eye to eye when it comes to rating the driving skills of their significant others, according to a Chrysler Group "Bad Weather Driving" survey that polled more than 1,000 adults and revealed an overwhelming 68 percent of men claim to be better  drivers than their significant others.

Forty-nine percent of women, on the other hand, think they are as equally skilled at driving as their male counterparts and more than one in four women (26 percent) say they are better drivers than their significant others.

Even though men and women rate their driving abilities very differently, both genders have the same opinion about driving in bad weather conditions. Eighty-four percent of men and 86 percent of women identified icy roads and pouring rain as the two most difficult weather conditions for driving.

Additionally, the same situations that make male drivers uncomfortable were identified as frustrating by female drivers. Seventy percent of both men and women said the possibility of losing control of the vehicle or having to swerve for an unexpected object in the road made for the most unnerving driving situations.

"In this season of unpredictable weather and constantly changing driving conditions, both male and female drivers can benefit from modern technology in their vehicles," said Frank Klegon, Executive Vice President Product Development, Chrysler Group. "Our latest models come equipped with features that have changed how well drivers can maintain control of their vehicles on the road."

Last year alone, there were more than one million weather-related traffic accidents according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

So what's changed and what do drivers need to know to stay safe? 

• Stop Pumping Those Brakes — In the past, drivers were told to pump their brakes to keep them from locking up. Newer vehicles are now equipped with an Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), which means drivers can apply maximum brake pressure without fear of locking up the tires or skidding out of control.
• Burnin' Rubber No More — Spinning tires are a thing of the past for vehicles with a Traction Control System (TCS). This technology prevents tires from spinning on normal or slippery surfaces by applying brakes as needed to control wheel spin.
• Sticking to the Straight and Narrow — To keep vehicles on the road during emergency swerves and other quick maneuvers, an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) applies selective throttle and braking to the appropriate wheels to get a swerving vehicle back on course.  This technology becomes especially valuable when driving on mixed surface conditions such as snow, sleet, ice or gravel, but it works on all surfaces.
• Stop, Drop and Roll — The chance of a vehicle rollover is much less of a concern for vehicles with Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM). If driving conditions approach a rollover scenario, ERM applies a burst of full-braking power to the appropriate wheel to help stabilize the vehicle.
  

Additional Survey Results

• Weather Worriers: Only seven percent of drivers identified heavy snow as the most difficult weather for driving. Sleet and strong winds were identified by four and three percent of adults respectively.
• Not-So-Modest Men: Only five percent of men admitted to being worse drivers than their significant others; 25 percent of women said their significant others were better drivers.
  

Methodology

Chrysler Group and Goodmind, LLC, a New York City-based research and consulting firm, conducted a nationwide survey to learn what drivers had to say when it came to assessing their driving abilities and testing their bad-weather driving skills. The four-question survey was fielded nationwide via telephone methodology to 1,082 respondents ages 18 and older. Statistical testing was run against subgroups using t- and z-tests yielding results with a 90 percent confidence interval.

• Tire-smoking 300 horsepower — 85 more than the original Dodge SRT4 — and 260 lb.-ft. of torque
• 0-60 mph in less than 6 seconds
• All-around performance of a true "tuner car" right from the manufacturer
• Benchmark performance at the best price

• Freedom, Adventure, Mastery and Authenticity are the hallmarks of the Jeep brand
• 65th Anniversary Edition Jeep vehicles include popular and unique options
• A new color — Jeep Green — is offered for the first time
• Limited production vehicles can be ordered now

The Jeep® brand is celebrating 65 years of go anywhere/do anything capability with special edition models of the 2006 Jeep Commander, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Liberty and Jeep Wrangler, all equipped with popular and unique features. These limited production vehicles will be on display during press and public days at the 2006 Chicago Auto Show, February 8-19 at McCormick Place.

"Since they were first mass produced in 1941, Jeep vehicles have gone on to become the authentic benchmark for off-road capability," said John Plecha, Director, Jeep Marketing and Product Planning, the Chrysler Group. "Jeep vehicles have mastered more terrain, lead more adventures and provided drivers more freedom than any other vehicle before or since. These 65th Anniversary Editions pay homage to the legend that is Jeep."

The Jeep 65th Anniversary Edition vehicles will be offered in Light Khaki, Dark Khaki, Bright Silver, Black and a new color, Jeep Green. 

The MSRP of the Jeep Commander 65th Anniversary Edition is $28,880 for the 4x2 version and $30,880 for the 4x4 version. The 3.7-liter V-6 engine is standard; the 4.7-liter V-8 is optional. 

Features include:

• Power sunroof including CommandViewTM  Skylights
• Monochromatic exterior appearance with body color door handles and rear license plate brow
• Bright chrome bodyside moldings and tow hooks
• Fog lamps
• Cargo net
• Unique 17-inch Wrench aluminum wheels with gray accents
• Unique cloth seats with embroidered Jeep 65 logo
• Unique floormats with Jeep 65 logo
• Unique center console accents
• AM/FM 6-CD/MP3 radio
• Unique Jeep 65th Anniversary badge

The Grand Cherokee 65th Anniversary Edition is based on the Laredo E package. MSRP for the 4x2 vehicle is $28,755 and $30,725 for the 4x4 edition. Features (including the two engine options) are the same as those for the Commander 65th Anniversary Edition, except for the following:

• Power sunroof (CommandView Skylights are exclusive to Commander)
• Unique 17-inch Ronin aluminum wheels with gray accents
• Unique interior bezels

The Jeep Liberty 65th Anniversary Edition is based on the Sport C package. MSRP for the 4x2 special edition is $24,095 and $25,605 for the 4x4 edition. 

Features include:

• Power sunroof
• Monochromatic exterior appearance with body color fascias and fender flares
• Bright chrome bodyside moldings
• Unique 16-inch Mechanica aluminum wheels painted sparkle silver
• Unique cloth sets with embroidered "Jeep 65" logo
• Unique floormats with Jeep 65 logo
• Unique console trim
• Spare tire cover
• Unique Jeep 65th anniversary logo

The Jeep Wrangler 65th Anniversary Special Edition is based on the X package. MSRP is $23,535. 

Features include:

• SunRider soft top
• 15-inch Alcoa aluminum wheels
• 30" x 9.5" Goodyear Wrangler OWL tires
• Heavy duty Dana 44 rear axle
• High pressure gas charged shocks
• Sirius satellite radio with 1-year free service
• 7-speaker system including subwoofer
• Body colored fender flares
• Full metal doors
• Fog lamps
• Unique center stack bezel
• Unique two-tone seat with embroidered Jeep 65 logo
• Unique floormats with "Jeep 65" logo
• Unique 65th anniversary decal

• Always wear your seat belt — Seat belts are necessary in all seasons, and especially when conditions are not ideal
  
• If your vehicle needs a tune-up, do it before winter — The little things (spark plugs, bad hoses and belts) can leave you stranded in the cold weather. Also, make sure to get your battery and cooling system checked, as the winter months are extra tough on them
  
• Always keep your gas tank at least half full — If you get stranded for any reason, your engine is the only source you have to rely on for heat
  
• Always take a cell phone with you — This is truly a time to take advantage of this modern convenience. If you get stranded, it will be much easier to call for assistance from your car, as opposed to walking to the nearest gas station. Don't forget the car charger for your cell phone
  
• When driving in the snow, do everything slowly — Even with the best equipment, driving in the snow can be treacherous. Accelerate, turn and brake slowly and gently
  
• Be sure to check the weather before heading out on a long trip — It's best to be aware of the weather conditions you may encounter on your journey. It's also wise to build some extra travel time into your itinerary, in case you run into harsh elements that may slow you down
  
• Be aware of potential icy areas such as shady spots and bridges — Even if it's blue skies and sunny, it's still icy on bridges and in the shade through the winter months
  
• Keep a safe distance of at least five seconds behind other vehicles — In snowy weather, you need more time to react if the vehicle in front of you suddenly brakes
  
• By law, do not pass snowplows on the freeway — In winter, these vehicles should be treated with the same respect as emergency response vehicles
  
• Clear snow and ice off your vehicle before driving — Visibility is key in poor driving conditions. This also will help avoid sheets of ice flying off your vehicle and hitting the vehicle behind you
  
• Keep a winter car kit in your vehicle at all times — It's always a good idea to keep emergency items (flashlight, blankets, matches and non-perishable food) in your vehicle in case you get stranded for an extended period of time