Dodge Hornet news - Dodge Hornet takes off - 2006

Looking like the progeny of a frenzied one-night stand between a Dodge Ram and a Dodge Charger, the Hornet is sure to stir up a, erm, buzz.

Not even Dodge seems quite sure where its new baby Hornet fits into the world of motoring, but who cares when it has more attitude than Mike Tyson just after you've poked him in the eye?

Size-wise, the Hornet is somewhere between a supermini and a small hatch, but its boxy styling creates a big and versatile interior.

Access to the inside is through conventional front doors, but the rear doors are hinged from their rear edge, in a similar fashion to the Mazda RX-8.

There's plenty of yoof-appeal in the cabin, while under the bonnet is an insurance-friendly 1.6-litre engine - although it does have a supercharger to add some oomph in the form of 170bhp.

For the time being, the Hornet remains a concept, but Dodge is confident there's a strong market for the car in the US and Europe.