J.D. Power has an annual study called “APEAL” (Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout), focusing on measuring the emotional bond between consumers and their vehicles. Dodge has historically done well in this study, now winning two years in a row, and the first ever brand to go back to back. Let’s break down why Dodge has done so well, and see what goes into deciding the APEAL winners.

This latest APEAL study marks the third consecutive year in which both Ram and Dodge outperform the competition directly. Additionally, J.D. Power also deemed the Ram 1500 as the best vehicle in its large light-duty pickup category. As both brands transition to an electric future, it’s hard to not recognize how far they’ve come, cementing their place as domestic brands that top the industry. Mark Champine, Stellantis Head of Customer Experience, North America, had this to say, “I said last year that we would keep the throttle wide open, and these various results demonstrate our continuing resolve to do so. We remain on a mission to do better for our customers, and we know we have more work to do”. 

The APEAL studies take into account customer feedback about vehicle attributes, ranging from throttle response to seating comfort. This takes place during the first three months of ownership and the feedback is then aggregated on a 1000-point APEAL scale. The latest study has Dodge and Ram finish with scores of 882 and 881, respectively. Each brand rose by ten points over its 2020 performance. 

J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. A pioneer in the use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic modeling capabilities to understand consumer behavior, J.D. Power has been delivering industry intelligence on customer interactions with brands and products for more than 50 years. Earning a top spot on a J.D. Power study is a big deal and shows that Dodge is a top quality vehicle manufacturer.

The biggest Dodge news as of late has been that the automotive company has begun their shift to being electric focused, starting with their eMuscle car. We wrote about this previously, and we mentioned how Dodge will be giving the eMuscle a retro feel by bringing back the “Fratzog” logo. If you aren’t a Dodge fanatic, or if you weren’t alive back in the 60’s and 70’s, you might not know what the Fratzog logo is. Well, today we will be going over the history of the Fratzog and see the significance it holds.

The logo was introduced in 1962 on the Polara 500. Starting in that model year, the segmented triangle appeared on the exterior badging, the steering wheel and the wheel centers of many Dodge vehicles. Fratzog is an unusual name, and you may think that there is some interesting story on the origins of the name. In fact, the designer who submitted the logo came up with the name on the spot when Dodge asked what the name of the logo is, and it stuck. 

Quickly the Fratzog logo was implemented into the designs of many Dodge products throughout the peak of the space race in the 1960’s and is synonymous with power, precision, and excellence in engineering. It served as a grille emblem, horn button, c-pillar badge, and rear decklid emblem. As we prepare for another momentous technological leap forward into the unknown (a worldwide structural change to electric vehicles), Dodge’s revival of the Fratzog logo is befitting. 

Dodge is reviving the logo as a homage to the early muscle car days of their company, also signifying that their electric muscle cars will stay true to what Dodge has always been about; performance. It’s not too crazy to think that the eMuscle will be significantly more powerful than the vehicles they produce now. The technology improves every year, and with the potential of the eMuscle being released in 2024, it could be even more powerful than we could imagine. 

Under the original logo’s tenure through the 1960s and the early 1970s, the muscle car was born, the Max Wedge engine and then the 426 Hemi was created, Chrysler helped put man on the moon, and some of the most iconic cars ever created were put into production. Though Dodge’s EV Summit video presentation was short on details, there was no ambiguity about Dodge’s “new” old logo and where it is going to take us. Expect for the new eMuscle to be an impressive work of engineering, rightfully using the Fratzog as we prepare for a new generation of Dodge vehicles.

Stellantis (The manufacturing company affiliated with Dodge) recently confirmed that a plug-in hybrid Dodge will arrive next year. There have been rumors circulating that the new plug-in hybrid will be a small crossover and that it will take over the Hornet moniker. We discussed the possibility of this a few months ago, but now it seems that it will be a reality. Let’s take a look at what we know so far.

The last time Dodge used the “Hornet” name was back in 2006, and it was a compact hatchback concept that never saw the light of day. The styling will be different then the early 2000’s concept car, and it will be based on the unreleased Alfa Romeo Tonale. The new Hornet will be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four gasoline engine, and it’s possible that nonhybrid versions may appear as well. It’s also likely that the Hornet will come equipped with an all-wheel drive system.

In a document released during the recent EV Day 2021 presentation, Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis talked about the brand embracing electrification for its performance line of muscle cars starting in 2024. However, this particular vehicle will be one of 9 new plug-in electric (PHEV) vehicles for the company and set to launch in 2022, making it Dodge’s first production PHEV vehicle. 

The Hornet would occupy the space that was once taken by the Dodge Journey in the brand’s lineup. The only crossover in the marque’s current lineup is the Durango. The small, two-row crossover will go on sale in fall 2022. Stellantis will build it alongside the Tonale in Naples, Italy. A formal debut for the Hornet can be expected in early 2022, maybe even late 2021. 

This is all the information we have so far regarding the new PHEV Hornet. We expect information to continue to trickle out as the months go on, so stay tuned for any updates. We’ll keep you informed and up to date.