2013 Dodge Dart – An Inside-Out View
Fiat did a quick patch work on the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring/200 which could only make these two cars marginally successful in 2011. But the 2013 Dodge Dart is the product of the the first full collaboration between Chrysler and Fiat and the car holds lot of promise and points towards more such models in the future.
2013 Dodge Dart Features
Design
The platform used for the 2013 Dodge Dart is similar to the one used by the Alfa Romeo Guilietta and suitably modified for the Dart. This makes it 1.5” wider than the Alfa and the wheelbase 3.7” longer, while the wheel arches are flared to accommodate the wider track. The Dart is also longer than the Alfa by a foot because it is a 4-door sedan, while the Giulietta is a 4-door hatchback.
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The body of the Dart resembles a coke bottle and is curvy, which is good. Styling is typically Dodge, and like the Ford Focus and the Chevrolet Cruz, the Dart, looks wise, is more upscale than all competing Japanese cars put together, and at par with Kia and Hyundai. The underbody of the Dart is covered and it has triple seal windows and sound-proof windows.
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The racetrack tail-lights have been borrowed from the Charger, so the car can be easily spotted from behind. There are dual exhausts at the rear and the wheels are 18-inch finished-in-black alloys.
Interior
There are ten airbags as standard on the Dart and the surfaces are soft touch. On the options list are cross path and blind spot detection, an 8.4” touch screen in the center of the dashboard, Nappa leather and a heated steering wheel among other features. Dodge claims that the rear seat has more legroom than the Hyundai Sonata. The Dart will be very aerodynamic and will have a long list of options and accessories available for the buyers.
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The most prominent feature is the “racetrack” lighting which surrounds the edges of the instrument panel. It has red light emitting diodes (LED), and that is the color you will get when you order it from the options list.
Powerplant
Dodge has renamed all its 4-cylinder powerplants Tigersharks. These new engines have modified intakes and other improvements which improve their noise, vibration and harshness levels. The 2000cc Tigershark produces 160hp and 148lb/ft of torque, while the optional 1400cc MultiAir turbocharged engine has an output of 160hp and torque of 171lb/ft. This engine is very efficient and gives a mileage of around 40mpg. The most powerful engine in the range is the 2400cc MultiAir 4-cylinder producing 184hp and 171lb/ft of torque.
All three engines come fitted with a 6-speed manual transmission, while the turbo gets an optional dual-clutch 6-speed automatic, which is part of the fuel efficiency package. The 2400cc and the Tigershark have a conventional 6-speed automatic transmission. The 9-speed automatic being developed by Chrysler will also be offered for the Dart but it is still more than an year away.
Underpinnings
The suspension setup on the 2013 Dodge Dart will see the ubiquitous MacPherson struts at the front and a two-link at the rear. Compared to the Alfa Romeo Guilietta, the suspension has been softened up a bit and according to Dodge suspension engineers, the suspension has been made less rigid and resultingly the Dart can be tossed around with aplomb.
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The Dodge Dart will be rolling into showrooms in the second quarter of 2012 and within a year, we will see the unveiling of the turbocharged 2400cc SRT4.
Price Of 2013 Dodge Dart
The starting price of 2013 Dodge Dart will be $15,995
