Dodge announces the Dart, its compact saloon

The group’s brand Chrysler has officially released the first details of its next product, developed together with Fiat. Rather than settling on names it might later regret, it has decided to revive a historic one, Dart, which Spanish buyers will easily remember. In its press release Chrysler describes it as a blend of American style with Italian genes, something that, according to the company, buyers on the other side of the Atlantic will love for its character.

For now the Dart is not yet used to piercing stares, and it dares to show little of its bodywork. At the front it is unmistakably a Dodge, with the grille split by a cross and diagonal headlights with LEDs that accentuate its sporty personality. The rear, by contrast, seems to be nothing more than a scaled-down version of the current Charger.

We recall that the Dart shares the Compact U.S. Wide platform with the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. The only real difference is that it is longer and wider, to suit North American customers, which will also mean more interior space. It will also feature independent suspension on all four wheels and a “very responsive” steering.

Even more interesting are the engines the Dart will get. In Europe we know the 1.4 MultiAir Turbo with 16 valves, whose output for this model is still unknown. It is joined by a pair of engines called “Tigershark“: a 2.0 with 16 valves and a 2.4 MultiAir. All of them can be combined with three different transmissions, so a dual-clutch unit could be expected.

The Dart will be built at the Belvedere, Illinois plant, where Chrysler is carrying out a $600 million expansion. It will be presented at the next Detroit Auto Show in January 2012.

Its first job was as one of the requirements for Fiat to become the majority shareholder of Chrysler, and now it comes to revive the concept of the Neon. Considering that it will appeal to customers there with its easygoing nature and without promising utopian ranges, the Civic, Focus and company should probably be worried.

Source | Chrysler