Rumors that Dodge has been working on a Hornet have been buzzing around the internet for over a year now. Considering that Dodge is officially ending production of the Challenger and Charger, the American automaker had to come out with something big to replace them, and it appears the 2023 Hornet may be it. Car and Driver has recently released an article, and is pleased with the addition of the PowerShot mode, which may make the Hornet a very popular ride.

Car and Driver is thrilled with the Dodge Hornet R/T

Car and Driver couldn’t stop gushing about the new 2023 Dodge Hornet R/T. From the marketing plan to the speed, the review site had plenty to say about the recent addition to the Dodge family.

One of the factors that really impressed Car and Driver was the fact that the R/T trim is a hybrid. It has a 177 hp turbocharged 1.3 liter inline four-cylinder engine and a 121 hp 12.0-kwH electric motor that offers drivers 30 miles electric range. There is one factor that really has the review site’s notice, however, and that’s the PowerShot mode.

What is the PowerShot mode?

So what is this mysterious PowerShot mode that Car and Driver is so pleased with? It’s essentially a mode that gives you an extra boost in speed and power for a short period of time.

According to Car and Driver,

“Pull both steering-column-mounted shift paddles to activate PowerShot, and the combined output rises to 288 horsepower and 383 pound-feet. When PowerShot is available, a white icon that looks like a turbocharger with a lightning bolt shooting through it appears on the instrument cluster. Push down through a detent deep in the accelerator’s travel, and the icon turns green. From that point, the Hornet delivers its extra oomph for 15 seconds, which would be long enough to obliterate the speed limit anywhere in the country.”

The PowerShot mode isn’t something you can use continuously. There is a 15-second cool-down period, which tends to give some Fast and Furious vibes to the Hornet. It can be rather loud, which may be a deal breaker for some drivers who are used to the silence of electric vehicles, but you can actually tone this down by using the EV mode.

There is an increase in speed, such as going from zero to 60 in 6.5 seconds without the PowerShot mode, to 5.6 seconds with it engaged. The 2023 Dodge Hornet R/T has a top speed of 128-140 mpg. As for the fuel mileage, you can expect 21 city, 39 highway, and 24 combined mpg.

There’s only one trim on the 2023 Dodge Hornet, which offers the PowerShot

If you’re interested in the PowerShot mode, you should know it’s only available on the R/T trim. This raises the price of the 2023 Dodge Hornet from $31,590 to $41,590. 

Car and Driver believe that most drivers will choose the GT model. This probably has to do with the fact that it’s $10,000 cheaper. There’s also the fact that the GT is faster due to power-to-weight ratio.

Even so, the PowerShot will give the Dodge Hornet R/T an edge over other trims like the GT. It’s simply too cool to ignore, and the fact that it is new will most likely make other auto brands stand up and take notice as they try to top it.