The 2013 Dodge Dart. Image: Chrysler Group LLC
It’s official: Dodge will call its heavily anticipated small car the Dart, reviving a name familiar to those of us who grew up in the 60s, 70s or 80s. Based on a Fiat platform (which Dodge insists is injected with Alfa Romeo DNA), the Dart will be available with three engine choices (for now), and it will be built in America at Chrysler’s plant in Belvedere, IL.
The 2013 Dodge Dart. Image: Chrysler Group LLC
The base engine will likely be a new 16-valve, 2.0-liter four that Dodge is calling Tigershark. Next up is the most fuel-efficient offering, a 1.4-liter MultiAir intercooled turbo four, followed by a 2.4-liter MultiAir engine that we presume is normally aspirated. Dodge says that three transmission options will be offered, but details are lacking. We assume one will be a six-speed manual, while the other two are likely automatics using a minimum of six speeds. Noticeably absent is an SRT variant of the Dart, but it’s safe to assume that one is already (well) under development.
The Dart is Chrysler’s first all-new compact model since the Dodge Caliber, which we’d all like to forget about. The new Dart is certainly more stylish than Chrysler compacts of the past, and it will certainly be more rewarding to drive as well. Dodge will debut the Dart at January’s Detroit Auto Show, so look for additional details (and images) as we get closer to the show dates.
Also, don’t forget that you can get discounted new car pricing with a free quote through qualified local dealer partners.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
