Dodge Revives GLH Name for a New Performance Crossover

S. market, and it will resurrect a name from the 1980s: GLH. Back then, the Omni GLH, short for "Go Like Hell", was a small hatchback with performance touches from Carroll Shelby. This time, according to Stellantis' head of North American brands, Tim Kuniskis, the new GLH will likely be a Hornet-like crossover with a punchy turbo four-cylinder.

Kuniskis told Automotive News that the GLH will be "the next generation of Hornet, but the way we should have done it the first time." Dodge CEO Matt McAlear added that the vehicle will bring a level of performance and capability that people "didn't quite see coming."

Dodge has not revealed many details, but McAlear said the car will be fast right out of the box, with an even faster SRT version planned later. He also said Dodge would not enter any segment unless it could achieve "best-in-class performance."

McAlear sees the GLH as a gateway into the brand's larger performance cars. He called it a growing segment with profitability potential and an entry point for buyers who might later move up to a Charger or Durango. He stressed that Dodge does not want a "me too" product, but something unique to the market.

The move is curious, as hot hatches have not sold strongly in America, and recent small Dodges have struggled. Still, Dodge sees an opportunity, even if the result is a front-wheel-drive crossover with an Italian engine wearing an American performance badge.