How do you spell Alfa Romeo Giulietta in American English? Simply: Dodge Dart. The American brother of the small but powerful Italian comes in Sedan format, sports a huge front grille and nice, curvy shapes, and promises to revive Dodge’s sales in 2012.
The Dodge designers hit the jackpot with this one, managing to create a car that even makes more sense visually than the original Giulietta.
This is true if we talk about the outside, but as well about the inside, Dart coming with an interior that looks better than the European car.
Under the hood we can expect engines coming from the two sides of the Pond: the new Tigershark small engines will include a 1.4-liter MultiAir turbo, a 2.4 MultiAir, as well as a 2.0-liter, 16 valve engine. Expect the car to be as powerful as the European counterpart – you can read by yourself the entire information in the selected press release below.
• All-new 2013 Dodge Dart is the first Chrysler Group vehicle built on Fiat Group architecture
• 2013 Dodge Dart breaks new ground with a savvy, modern, unmistakable Dodge design that evokes emotion, efficiency and fluidity of movement and delivers world-class aerodynamics
• Dodge Dart offers five well-equipped trim levels with class-leading safety features and breakthrough technology typically found in more expensive vehicle segments
• Three state-of-the art, fuel-efficient powertrains with available MultiAir® technology power the fun-to-drive 2013 Dodge Dart
The 2013 Dodge Dart redefines performance with Alfa Romeo DNA, fuel-efficient powertrains and Dodge’s passion for performance. The all-new Dodge Dart is a thoroughly modern vehicle that’s fuel-efficient, beautifully designed and crafted, agile and fun-to-drive.
The 2013 Dodge Dart will be available in five trim levels: SE, SXT, Rallye, Limited and R/T. It will be built in the United States at Chrysler Group’s Belvidere Assembly Plant in Belvidere, Ill. Production of the 2013 Dodge Dart will begin in the second quarter of 2012.
Dodge Dart – exterior design
The all-new 2013 Dodge Dart boasts a timeless, stylish and distinctive exterior design. The car sports an athletic, sculpted, fluid and aesthetically agile appearance. The exterior design of the Dart conveys a level of visual drama and timeless surfaces that add excitement to the competitive compact sedan segment in the United States.
“When designing the all-new Dodge Dart, we were inspired by classic, beautifully designed vehicles throughout time,” Dehner added. “Each car was beautiful, based on its surface work and presence alone; they didn’t need unnecessary cladding, jewelry or lines that confuse the eye.” The rear view of the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart features an available Charger-inspired “racetrack” full-width taillamp with 152 indirect glow LEDs, and class-exclusive dual exhausts mounted in the rear fascia.
The front of the 2013 Dodge Dart has been designed for smooth airflow around, above and below the car without compromising styling or engine cooling requirements. In addition, a lower radiator close-out panel is positioned below the front fascia. This not only contributes to the Dart’s lower front-end appearance, but also reduces drag while still allowing for an 8-inch curb clearance.
Dodge Dart – Interior
Starting with modern Dodge DNA and through the use of innovative ambient interior lighting, high-quality soft-touch materials and high-tech features, the 2013 Dodge Dart is loaded with cool amenities and unexpected delights for both drivers and passengers. The Dart’s “driver-centric” layout is designed to put all controls within easy reach of the driver. Customizable displays and comfort-tuned seats are packaged in an exceptionally spacious, pleasing interior. Packaged in the footprint of a compact car, the 2013 Dodge Dart features the interior spaciousness of a mid-size sedan, and it boasts best-in-class hip and shoulder room.
Customization was key in the all-new Dodge Dart’s development, and with 12 exterior colors, 14 interior color and trim combinations, seven wheel options, three engine options and three transmissions, each Dodge Dart can be personalized by every buyer to fit their individual style. And the combinations are multiplied exponentially, as Mopar® also will offer more than 150 customization options and themed packages specifically developed for the Dart. The high-tech centerpiece of the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart is the class-exclusive floating island bezel, which houses the segment-exclusive available 7-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) customizable gauge cluster display with light pipe surround that also houses the available class-exclusive Uconnect® Touch 8.4-inch touchscreen Media Center – the largest touchscreen in its class. Thoughtful storage options throughout fit today’s technology. The glove box easily conceals a stowed iPad; the center console features auxiliary jacks to plug in a wide variety of electronic devices, and thoughtful, inventive storage solutions, such as center console side pockets, are perfect for storing mobile phones, receipts, or pens and paper. Lighting in all the right places provides drivers and passengers a warm, comfortable cockpit. Available “racetrack” lighting surrounds the floating island bezel. Ambient lighting for the door handles, map pockets, foot wells, glove box, storage bin and illuminated cup holders is both useful and provides a warm atmosphere inside the vehicle.
Dodge Dart – engines
The 2013 Dodge Dart will be powered by three fuel-efficient, powerful, state-of-the-art four-cylinder engines that add to Dart’s fun-to-drive quotient. Drivers can select from a new 160 horsepower Tigershark 16-valve 2.0-liter engine, a 160 horsepower 16-valve 1.4-liter MultiAir® Intercooled Turbo engine and a new 184 horsepower Tigershark 16-valve 2.4-liter MultiAir 2 four-cylinder engine. These three engines, combined with three transmission choices – six-speed manual, six-speed automatic or six-speed dual dry clutch (DDCT) transmission – redefine performance by providing the most diverse powertrain lineup in its class. MultiAir technology delivers optimum combustion at any speed under all driving conditions by allowing direct and dynamic control of air intake and combustion. The result is up to a 15 percent increase in low engine rpm torque and a 7.5 percent improvement in fuel efficiency.
Alfa Romeo DNA
The Dodge brand’s re-entry into the U.S. compact sedan segment is based off of the award-winning Alfa Romeo Giulietta. The Giulietta is renowned for satisfying the most demanding customers in terms of road-holding agility and safety, with exceptional driving dynamics. The Giulietta platform was lengthened and widened, creating a spacious compact sedan that meets the wants and needs of North American consumers.
The proven modular architecture allows multiple models to be built using the same basic underpinnings, resulting in improvements in quality and reliability, as well as reducing cost, development timing and tooling. The body structure of the Dart is comprised of 68 percent high-strength steel – hot stamped, high-strength and ultra-high-strength – resulting in an architecture that is lightweight, modern and solid.
The 2013 Dodge Dart features the proven, lightweight MacPherson strut front suspension, specifically tuned to minimize camber loss, resulting in more responsive steering and handling characteristics, improved ride quality and a reduction in road noise – all qualities drivers will appreciate.
A bi-link independent rear suspension enables European handling capability for those drivers who love to lean into corners and the smooth ride North American drivers covet.
Dodge Dart – safety features
The all-new 2013 Dodge Dart was engineered with 60 safety and security features to ensure driver’s and passengers’ peace of mind when traveling. The Dodge Dart starts with a strong foundation, a body that has a high-strength steel content of 68 percent, one of the highest in the industry, and then adds both active and passive safety features. Driver and passenger safety features include 10 standard airbags, which is unsurpassed in the segment and include: dual-stage adaptive venting front driver and passenger air bags, front-seat-mounted driver and passenger pelvic and thorax air bags, two rear-seat-mounted pelvic air bags, front driver and passenger knee air bags and all-row side-curtain air bags. The Dart also features a reactive head-restraint system; available Blind-spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path Detection, three-point safety belts in all five seating positions; front driver and passenger dual seat belt pretensioners at the anchor and retractor positions and active load limiters. These features and more all work to protect passengers in the event of a crash. All three rear seat positions feature Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH).
Additional standard safety features on the 2013 Dodge Dart include:
• Four-wheel, four-channel anti-lock disc brakes with electronic brake force distribution and traction control system on all models
• Brake Assist
• Brake-lock differential
• Ready Alert Braking
• Rainy Brake Support
• Hydraulic boost compensation
• Electronic stability control (four-channel active handling system ESC)
• Electronic Roll Mitigation
• Hill-start Assist
• Trailer-sway Control
• ParkView® rear backup camera
• ParkSense® rear park assist
Dodge Dart: Technology and customization
The all-new 2013 Dodge Dart sports segment-leading technology and not-seen-in-the-segment features, enchanting and delighting drivers and passengers alike. Examples include the segment-exclusive floating island bezel, 8.4-inch Uconnect Touch Media Center, 7-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) customizable instrument cluster display and upscale ambient lighting.
The 2013 Dodge Dart will be available in five trim levels: SE, SXT, Rallye, Limited and R/T. Each trim level has a style and value that will appeal to the diverse customer base interested in a compact sedan. The all-new 2013 Dodge Dart will feature 12 exterior colors: Redline Red Pearl Coat, Header Orange Pearl Coat, Blue Streak Pearl Coat, True Blue Pearl Coat, Winter Chill Pearl Coat, Laguna Blue Clear Coat, Maximum Steel Metallic Clear Coat, Tungsten Metallic Clear Coat, Bright Silver Metallic Clear Coat, Citrus Peel Pearl Coat, Pitch Black Clear Coat and Bright White Clear Coat.
The Dart offers customers the choice of 14 interior color and trim combinations with seven interior color environments in cloth or leather fabric: Black denim, Black/Light Diesel Grey, Black/Light Frost Beige, Black/Ruby Red, Diesel Grey/Citrus Peel, Diesel Grey/Light Diesel Grey and Ceramic White/Light Diesel Grey.
In addition to the exterior color and interior trim options, the 2013 Dodge Dart offers seven wheel options, three engine options and three transmissions, as well as a slew of available exceptional or segment-leading features, including:
• World-class aerodynamics
• Class-exclusive integrated dual exhaust
• Class-exclusive “racetrack” LED taillamps
• Class-exclusive choice of either Hyper Black or polished wheels
• Class-exclusive 8.4-inch touchscreen Uconnect Touch Media Center with built-in radio, navigation, iPod control, climate controls, voice-activated blue tooth, SiriusXM Travel Link, weather updates and points of interest
• Class-exclusive 7-inch reconfigurable gauge cluster display that is easily customizable to the driver’s taste. Choices include: digital and analog gauges, navigation turn-by-turn display, eco-meter, fuel economy, audio, phone, compass and temperature read outs
• Class-exclusive floating island bezel
• Class-exclusive heated steering wheel
• Class-exclusive in-seat storage
• Available 506-watt sound system
• Keyless Enter ‘n Go with push-button start
• High-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps
• Dual-zone automatic temperature control with humidity sensor
• Unsurpassed 10 standard airbags
• ParkView® rear backup camera
• Blind-spot Monitoring
• Rear Cross Path Detection
• Best-in-class hip room and shoulder room
• The most diverse lineup of gasoline powertrains in the segment – three new engines and three transmissions:
• New Tigershark 16-valve 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that generates an estimated 160 horsepower with the choice of a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission
• The technologically advanced Fiat 1.4-liter MultiAir Intercooled Turbo producing an estimated 160 horsepower and an impressive 184 lb.-ft. of torque mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed DDCT transmission.
• New powerful 2.4-liter Tigershark MultiAir 2 four-cylinder engine that produces an estimated 184 horsepower with the choice of a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.
Dodge also is giving drivers the opportunity to customize their vehicles, as Mopar will offer more than 150 customization options and themed packages specifically developed for the Dart.
For now, you can admire the car in our picture wallpaper gallery and see some of it in the video attached.
