Let's be honest: Useful as the Dodge Caliber was, it didn't quite fit into the C-segment as nicely as the plucky little Neon that came before it. But now the Caliber is dead, and the Chrysler Group has a big ol' Italian parts bin to work from in order to create its new crop of cars, the first of which is this, the 2013 Dodge Dart. Not only is this an all-new entry into an extremely competitive segment, it's the first bit of fruit from the Chrysler-Fiat partnership, and from the looks of things, it's going to be good.
Those of you paying close attention will know that the Dart is based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, though we commend Chrysler's design team for giving the Dodge sedan an appearance that's anything but Italian. We've had the chance to check out a loaded-up Dart R/T in person – the trim you see in these photos – and it's a decidedly handsome thing. Compared to the Giulietta, the Dart has a four-inch-longer wheelbase and a slightly wider track, and we like the aggressive, planted stance. The low nose and upward slope to the beltline are very reminiscent of the last Neon, especially the SRT4, and while we haven't had a chance to see a base model with the body-colored grille and smaller wheels, we think the design will work well on the full range of models. The 2013 Dart will be available in SE, SXT, Rallye, Limited and R/T trims. And for those of you who like the full-LED wraparound taillamps of the Charger, you'll be happy to see them here on the Dart, as well.
Three engines will be available when the Dart launches later this year. The base powerplant is a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter Tigershark inline-four producing 160 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. Next up is an available 2.4-liter naturally aspirated Tigershark four with 184 hp and 171 lb-ft, and topping the range is a 1.4-liter turbocharged MultiAir four with 160 hp and 184 lb-ft. A six-speed manual transmission is available with all three engines, a six-speed automatic is optional on the 2.0- and 2.4-liter mills and a six-speed dual-clutch box can be had on the 1.4-liter turbo unit. Fiat/Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has stated that a nine-speed automatic is in the works, though that won't drop until sometime in 2013. As for fuel economy, Chrysler has been quick to boast a 40 mile-per-gallon rating, but that's CAFE, and the final EPA numbers should be somewhere in the mid-30s. Respectable stuff. And considering that the Dart uses a slightly modified version of the Giulietta's European suspension setup with a new electronic steering rack, all that power will hopefully be put to the ground with proper poise.
There's big news inside the Dart, too, with Chrysler's "second-generation" interiors. We've already seen vast cabin improvements in the latest crop of 2011 and 2012 models, and after spending limited time inside a pre-production Dart, we came away without complaints about fit and finish, comfort or overall quality. We've shown you the Dart's interior before, complete with things like an illuminated instrument panel surround, 8.4-inch touchscreen UConnect interface, and reconfigurable seven-inch screen inside the gauge cluster. The red/black motif seen here is pretty cool, but we're actually big fans of the gray interior with the "citrus peel" accent lighting. If you get a chance, definitely check it out.
The 2013 Dodge Dart makes its official debut later this morning at the Detroit Auto Show, with the first round of cars hitting dealerships in June. Pricing and final fuel economy numbers will be announced closer to the on-sale date, but for now, follow the jump for the complete details in Chrysler's press release, as well as a video showing the new Dart in action.
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