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At the front, the Dodge Dart will feature
the brand's usual split-crosshair style
grille as well as distinctive raked-back
projector headlamps and fog lamps. |
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At the rear of the Dart, the larger Charger
sedan's trademark full width lighting unit
is mimicked. The pictures also show the
brand's familiar exhaust tailpipes on either
side. |
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Chrysler Group has released two close-up images of
Dodge’s forthcoming compact model, based on a
development of Fiat’s C-Evo platform as it counts down
to its debut at the Detroit Motor Show next month; the
new car will revive the popular Dart nametag from the
1960s.
The new Dart, which will replace the unloved Caliber in
Dodge’s product line-up, becomes the first Chrysler
Group vehicle to be based upon a Fiat architecture. The
Compact platform is currently utilised underneath the
Alfa Romeo Giulietta, but has been lengthened and
widened to help it deliver improved levels of interior
roominess. The Dart will also wear a Fiat badge in
certain global markets in the future, including China
and Russia.
The new Compact U.S. Wide (CUSW) architecture
underpinning the Dart comes with an industry-leading 68
percent of the body composed of high-strength steel,
resulting in a very strong and rigid structure. This is
combined with more responsive steering (Fiat’s engineers
have been working to eliminate criticism of poor
steering feel of its products), four-wheel independent
suspension, and wheels of up to 18 inches in diameter.
The styling betrayed by the two preview images shows a
crisp design language that clearly draws its inspiration
from the larger Charger sedan to create a ‘family’ feel.
At the front, the Dart features the usual Dodge
split-crosshair grille, raked-back projector headlamps
and fog lamps, while at the rear the Charger’s trademark
full -width lighting unit is mimicked. The pictures also
show the R/T version’s exhaust tailpipes on either side.
The press release accompanying the two images confirms
that the Dart will be powered by three engines at
launch, the 16-valve 1.4-litre MultiAir intercooled
turbo engine from the Fiat 500 Abarth, as well as two
variants of the World Gasoline Engine (WGE), now renamed
‘Tigershark’ after extensive development work to improve
its characteristics and driveability. The WGE’s two
larger capacities, 2.0- and 2.4-litre, will be available
at launch, with Fiat’s MultiAir induction system
available on the latter version. MultiAir technology
delivers optimum combustion at any speed under all
driving conditions by allowing direct and dynamic
control of air intake and combustion. The result is up
to a 15 percent increase in low engine rpm torque, a 7.5
percent improvement in fuel efficiency and a 10 percent
reduction in CO2 emissions. These three engine options
will be combined with three transmission choices.
The Dart goes up against a battalion of competitive
C-segment vehicles, including the market leader,
Chevrolet’s Cruze, which shifts more than 20,000 units a
month. Other contenders include Ford’s Focus, Hyundai’s
Elantra, the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic.
The Dart will be built at the Chrysler Group’s Belvidere
Assembly Plant in Belvidere, Illinois. The company is in
the process of investing $600 million to support the
production of future products, including the Dart. The
investment includes the construction of a
638,000-square-foot body shop, as well as the
installation of new machinery, tooling and material
handling equipment. Work on the expansion began in the
summer of 2010 and will be completed this year.
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