Dodge appeals to the inner child
of drivers in Hornet R/T hybrid ads

(April 2, 2024) AUBURN HILLS Mich. — The Dodge brand is launching a new marketing campaign today, focused on the plug-in hybrid Dodge Hornet R/T, the brand’s first muscle-inspired crossover. In the campaign, called “Inner Child Intervention,” a man’s inner child takes him on a joy ride in the electrified Hornet R/T, determined to get his adult self to realize his childhood dreams don’t compare to the instant torque of the Hornet and the visceral excitement it brings.

“The Hornet RT stands apart from other compact UVs, with 383 lb.-ft. of torque that gives drivers the kind of instant acceleration and engaging driving experience that is unheard of in the category,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge brand chief executive officer - Stellantis. “As the first electrified vehicle from the brand — with our first fully battery-electric vehicle, the Dodge Charger Daytona, arriving this year — we know that when compared to horsepower, torque can sometimes be under appreciated. We’re launching this campaign to change that perception.”

The Dodge Hornet launched last year with class-exclusive and best-in-class performance features that optimize multiple aspects of the vehicle, from powertrain to suspension, braking, steering and handling. Standard all-wheel drive with dynamic torque vectoring, and available segment-exclusive features, including Brembo brakes and dual stage suspension, further enhance the overall dynamic driving experience.

The spot takes viewers to the side of the road where a man comes face to face with a familiar-looking boy and quickly finds himself on a joyride with his inner child. His “inner child” hits the gas and zooms through the streets while schooling him on what he really needs in life, reminding him that “horsepower keeps you going, but torque gets you going.” Tapping into a child-like surge of excitement, the spot evokes a surge of adrenaline, placing drivers behind the wheel of Dodge’s “totally torqued-out crossover.”

The torque-loving inner child is especially obsessed with the Hornet R/T’s PowerShot. This on-demand feature leverages Dodge’s first hybrid powertrain to delivers an instantaneous boost of acceleration, letting drivers tap into the maximum electrical power to reach 60 mph in just 5.6 seconds.

The new campaign includes a 30-second spot, and additional social media elements designed to humorously educate consumers about torque will include a limited series for TikTok and Instagram called “Torque for Newbs.” The series of four videos, set to roll out online in the coming weeks, is designed to humorously educate torque novices on automotive jargon like “pound foot” and how torque relates to horsepower.

In one of the videos, the inner child reminds his adult self of that time he made a human slingshot and shot his cousin Max across a parking lot. “That’s what torque is!,” the inner child explains. “Only instead of Max, we release the wheels.”

The cross-channel campaign will span across broadcast, social media channels and online video. Broadcast media placement will include college basketball playoffs.

“Inner Child Intervention” is the next step in the evolution in the Dodge brand’s marketing campaign efforts for the brand’s first crossover vehicle, the Dodge Hornet. The marketing campaign was created by the Dodge brand in partnership with GSD&M.