2013 Dodge Dart Coming to the 2012 Detroit Auto Show
Dodge has been planning a new compact sedan for some time, but today there is official confirmation — and a name.
The 2013 Dodge Dart will debut Jan. 9 at the 2012 Detroit auto show. The compact sedan will replace the Dodge Caliber as the carmaker’s entry-level offering. The Caliber, a hatchback, will be discontinued after the 2012 model year. The Dart will be Dodge’s first compact sedan since the Neon, which left the market in late 2005.
The Dart will pack three engines and transmissions, Dodge says. Those variants include the Fiat 500 Abarth’s 1.4-liter turbo engine. Existing 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter four-cylinder engines will also come on the model, but the 2.4-liter is now equipped with Fiat’s variable valve technology, called Multiair.
The Dart is based off a lengthened and widened version of Fiat’s Alfa Romeo Giulietta, a car unavailable to Americans. The vehicle features an exterior look that does a surprisingly good job at downsizing attributes from the Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger, such as a full-length LED taillamp and a split-crosshair grille up front. Eighteen-inch wheels are available.
Of course, these snippets don't reveal what the Dart will look like on the road. For that, we'll have to wait for more info in January from Detroit. For now, check out more photos below.
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If these two pics are any indication of what the total package looks like... I think Dodge has another WINNER on their hands with the new Dart! Glad to see Chrysler making a move into the compact market again! Now... if they would just bring back the PT Cruiser...
I'm really excited to see this car. It looks like it will be a leap forward for Chrysler in almost every technical aspect. The styling looks great too!
Do I smell an SRT4 in the wind?
this looks promising. I'd like to think it will get a fair shake once its revealed and eventually tested, but instead I think all we will hear is stuff about the Neon and about how people dont think of Dodge when they buy compacts and how its not likely to appeal to happy Civic/Corolla owners, etc. Oh and of course the inevitable critique/criticism of the softness of the dashboard.
I'm still looking for a nice 1969 Dodge Dart 340 Swinger.
nice car but 'dart' doesn't sound very 21st Century....
They should call it the Neo-omni-art. That pretty much sums up how lousy Dodge is at making small cars.
so far from what i've seen in spy photos, and such, the car looks good and the interior is nice (maybe best is class quality?). also, from what i know about the alfa giulietta the car should handle well; probably in the same relm as the ford focus. looks like a winner - or atleast a contender. and that couldn't be said about the caliber.
"Oh and of course the inevitable critique/criticism of the softness of the dashboard."
That definitely hasn't been a problem in updated Chryslers.
Brady:
It will be a complaint on this site. They even have an issue with hard plastics in a mini car like the Spark. Im not sure Ive seen a review/video on American car on this site that doesnt find some fault with the interior quality. This goes from compacts to Cadillacs to Lincolns.
This may be nit-picky, but I saw a different photo on another site that showed the rear panel where the "Dart" placard is located. The "a" really looks like an "o" in my opinion. They might want to reconsider that, as the Dodge "Dort" sounds like something Homer Simpson might drive.
sheth,
i have found cars.com to be very fair when critiquing a cars interior quality and materials. they have said very nice things about the new chrysler products materials as well as buicks and cadillacs. as far as i'm concerned they critisize where it's due. in the spark video kelsey says that the padding on the armrest is none as well as its too short to properly rest their arm. in the cadillac cts he notes that in the back seat the panel gaps are pretty wide and not as tidy as they should be on a luxury car - all fair critiques. for the record i like the cts very much but do agree with the issues he adressed.
New dart looks great cant wait,She will look great sitting by my 69 340 swinger & SRT10 Ram yellow fever
Bad ASS car.
dodge could never make a bad car or truck .
emerson:
As far as Im concerned the attention paid to the pliability of plastics is absurd at this point. Cars.com is guilty of elevating plastic quality to ridiculous levels. This is something that has no bearing on the functionality of a vehicle. Until the late 90s or early 2000s, the materials used on the dash of non luxury cars was hardly even an issue. The critique of the Spark inteior was a joke for numerous reasns. The primary reason would be that any cars in that class (or the one above) are full of hard plastics throughout the cabin. You cannot call something inferior without identifying what competitors offer something superior for the same money. When criticizing the Spark nothing was said about which competing car offered a plush interior- probably because no such competitor exists. AS noted, Im not aware of any American car that doesnt get criticized for some part of its interior quality on this site.
@Gary.
The headlamps look like the Golf. The rear is pretty much a copy of the Charger....not a whole lot of inspiration going on.
The PT Cruiser was an abortion. That thing is one of the ugliest, if practical, amoeba-like, unshapely monstrosites that ever came forth out of that company. Ugh. One of the cars that truly makes me wretch. bleh.
America, get it together.
-John D. Seattle, WA
-'95 M3
-'74 Ghia
-'02 M5
I cant believe they named it the dart, what a terrible idea.
Right you are Carbonbased, bad name idea. I understand this is a Fiat/Dodge joint venture. So maybe the car name should be F-ART.
For the record, I'm not a big Dodge fan. However, I think this car show a lot of promise. From the early pics it looks as though it will stand out in it's crowded class. The car seems very stylish and aggressive in keeping with the Dodge theme.
I think the Dart name is a great choice. They have brought back the other classic names (300, Charger, Challenger) and, let's face it, their new name choices haven't been the greatest (Caliber, Avenger). I'm looking to forward to the full reveal of this car.
Looks awesome, not sure about the engines though, what about a good old V8
I got a 1971 Dodge Dart Swinger, and i love my car.
Aries, Omni, Spirit, Neon are all available and are better names IMO.
For the record, the people they want to attract with this car (folks under 35) could care less about the name. It never ceases to amaze me how people put so much emphasis on a vehicle name. Who cares? I know NOTHING about the original Dodge Dart and even if I did it would have no bearing on whether or not I like this car. You would have to be in your 50s (or older) to really have a strong impression of the original Dart and I doubt those are the folks Dodge is shooting for with this car.
if it drives anything like my Dodge Charger:Awesome. Also looks much more awesome than those bland Civic and Corollas>
Cram the 392 in it then ile buy it
WTF, "Aries, Omni, Spirit"??? WTF indeed. Perhaps we should bring back Volare or Breeze.
I want this car!
I WANT THIS CAR!!!
Glad that Dodge is finally shedding itself of the debacle that Daimler put out in the caliber.
I own a 70,71,72,74 dart swingers plus a 75 4 door dart, a 75 SE dart
As one of the over 50 types everyone seems to be talking about, I learned to drive on dad's 55 Plymouth. This new Dart is one of the best looking cars to show up in a long time. To me Fiat looks like they want to produce good products compared to the two last two owners of Chrysler. All they wanted to do was bleed the company dry and walk away. Keep up the great work Fiat!
that does not look like any dart i know of
hey just fyi, these pictures are 3D models not actual cars! so keep your jimmies in your pants until they show what the actual car will look like eh?