The Chrysler Group gave us our first taste of its sporty looking all-new 2013 Dodge Dart compact sedan on Tuesday with the release of a teaser photo gallery and the initial data on the car's specifications.
The Dart may prove to be one of the most important models in Dodge's recent history not only because it is the first Chrysler product to be based upon a Fiat architecture and in particular, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, but also because CEO Sergio Marchionne told Reuters that he believes its fuel efficiency will be certified at "40 mpg or more by the end of the month".
The reason why that matters is that, under the deal made with the U.S. government to allow Chrysler to emerge from bankruptcy protection in 2009, the Italian company will receive the final 5 percent of stock if it develops a Fiat-based car that will be built in the U.S. and can get at least 40 miles per gallon.
The Italian group currently owns 53.5 percent of Chrysler. If the new 2013 Dodge Dart is certified at 40mpg or more, then Fiat can automatically raise its stake to 58.5 percent. The remaining shares of the company are held by the United Auto Workers [UAW] retiree health care trust.
The new Dart is based on a widened and elongated version of the Alfa Giulietta platform and will be offered at launch with a choice of three four-cylinder gasoline engines, including improved versions of the group's 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter World Gas engines that have been renamed to Tigershark, and the 1.4-liter turbocharged unit from the Abarth 500.
Autonews reports that the Dart will debut with a Fiat Group-sourced 6-speed dual-clutch transmission but in 2013, the range will be enhanced with a new 9-speed transmission currently being developed by the ZF Group.
The Dart will be manufactured at the Chrysler Group’s Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois.
Story References: Autonews
8 Comments:
I'll believe it when I see it...I respect his business sense 100%. Unfortunately, he has loose lips and probably needs to hold off announcing ANYTHING until it is for sure. Or he just looks like a dink...
It will be the icing on the cake if the dart can join the 40mpg club.
I'm not holding my breath since past dodge's have sacraficed a few mpg's for the sake more power. And that's not bad thing, mind you.
This is the most important small Dodge
EVER.
Cars that are exciting, efficient and sporty, that people actually want, and it only took Chrysler getting bought out by Fiat to make it happen.
Obviously this is the best thing to happen to Chrysler... EVER
I disagree that this is the "...best thing to happen to Chrysler ever". I'm not attracted to ANY Chrysler car built on a Fiat and/or Alfa platform. I would not trust the reliability of either (Fiat's are notoriously famous for being a piece of sh*t and Alfa's are not far behind them). Personally I believe the Chrysler/Fiat marriage will be the downfall of Chrysler.
Seriously, you probably never ride in a Fiat. In a hundred years history, the reliability was a issue in very few Fiat models, mostly in the 80's...If you are telling this based in the Fiats that came to america 40 years ago, you are late. True that most of the 60's and 70's european cars were not suited to american roads and distances, but today the history is diferent. And if you walk through europeans cities and roads (which is where that cars were designed to ride) you will find a lot of 60's Fiats and Alfas running in good shape.It's a lot harder to make small cars than big cars. After the Dart I bet you will reconsider your prejudices.
DODGY.
Mopar used to be exciting and sporty... now efficient too.
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