Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X Debuts as Wild 1,070-Horsepower Electric Racer
The Dodge Hornet is one of the most powerful crossovers in its class, delivering 268 horsepower in GT trim or 288 horsepower in plug-in hybrid R/T trim. However, this is Dodge we’re talking about. Did you think it would only stay that way? How about cranking things up to, say, over 1,000 horsepower?
This is serious—and real. Meet the new and fully electric Dodge Hornet R/T FC1-X.
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No, you won’t be able to buy one from a Dodge dealer anytime soon. Rather, this special Hornet is designed for racing, specifically the 2024-2025 Nitrocross Group E championship that kicked off this past weekend in Virginia with four vehicles representing title-winning Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.
As you can see on the pictures, the Hornet R/T FC1-X looks nothing like the road-going model. Beyond the flashy custom body is a tubular chassis paired with a carbon fibre chassis tub, Alcon braking system, as well as front and rear adjustable anti-roll bars and double-wishbone R53 suspension with adjustable camber/caster and 12-inch wheel travel.
Meanwhile, the axial-flux motors generate the equivalent of 1,070 horsepower (800 kW), accelerating from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in just 1.4 seconds and producing nearly 2g of acceleration from a standing start. Crazy, right?
“Nearly 75percent of Nitrocross race fans are between the ages of 18-34, making the series the perfect venue for Dodge to expand its motorsports presence and to showcase the Dodge Hornet to a youthful, enthusiastic new audience,” Dodge brand CEO Matt McAlear says.
One of the four Hornet R/T FC1-X racers is driven by 17-year-old Lia Block, the daughter of the late Ken Block and the only woman in Group E. Two-time Group E series champion Robin Larsson (Sweden), Fraser McConnell (Jamaica) and Andres Bakkerud (Norway) drive the others.
Nitrocross was initially introduced by motorsports star Travis Pastrana in 2020 and is one of the fastest-growing racing series in North America, featuring unique competition with wild drifts and spectacular jumps up to 60 metres long. The drivers and fans like to call it “controlled chaos.”
As for the standard Hornet, well, if you’re considering the PHEV model with 53 km of zero-emission range, you should know it qualifies for a $5,000 federal rebate plus provincial incentives where applicable.
