In 1960, Dodge released a new model car with a name reminiscent of the era. The space race was on and the country had outer-space fever. Just four years earlier the country had gotten its first look at the Air Force’s new Convair F-106 Delta Dart. The name Dart was just the thing to garner interest in a new car. For sixteen years the Dart cruised America’s highways before being discontinued. Today, the Dodge Dart gets a fresh start.
Detroit Auto Show Unveiling
On the opening day of the Detroit Auto Show, Dodge unveiled a clean-bodied compact sedan based loosely on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, but with tell-tale features that are all Dodge. The new Dodge Dart boasts an unmistakable floating Dodge crosshair grill and a trademark 152 LED Tail-lamp that wraps the rear-end in a complete Dodge look. The 2013 Dodge Dart will fill Dodge’s compact sedan gap, giving the company a competitor in a large section of the auto market.
Powertrain
The Dodge Dart offers three engine options: a 16-valve 1.4L 160 hp intercooled turbo, a 16-valve 2.0L 160 hp Tigershark and a 184 hp 16-valve 2.4L I4 Tigershark engine. There are three transmission options as well. The standard transmission for all three engines is a six-speed manual transmission. There is an optional six-speed automatic transmission available for each engine as well. For the 1.4L turbo engine you can opt for a dual-clutch six-speed automatic.
Technologically Advanced
Dodge claims the Dart to be the most technologically advanced car in its class. Even in the compact market, techno gear is important these days. What a car packs in the dash can be as important to consumers as what it packs under the hood. The Dart is no slouch in the tech department with its 7-inch TFT reconfigurable cluster display. There are numerous ways to reconfigure your console, so put that speedometer where you want it. It’s all in full color digital graphics.
8.4 Inch Touch Screen
An 8.4-inch Uconnect Touch Screen integrates your AM/FM/CD/MP3 with SiriusXM Satellite. It also has built in Garmin GPS Navigation and SiriusXM Travel Link. There are also USB and iPod ports as well as an SD card port. Steering wheel mounted controls allow you to operate the devices without taking your hands off the wheel. There is also Buletooth connectivity for your mobile devices.
Dart is Back with Safety
With over 60 safety and security features integrated, including 10 standard airbags and reactive front head restraints, plus enough technology to make an electronics store jealous, the Dodge Dart is back in a big way.