italiaspeed.com

Along with press images of the new Dodge Dart, many specifics about the new car’s technical specification were revealed last night, including its dimensions, engine outputs, weight and interior features.

Amongst the most eagerly-anticipated details to be revealed in this ‘information dump’ were the Dart’s dimensions, which come in at 4671mm (length), 1829mm (width), 1466mm (height) and 2703mm (wheelbase). Compared to the car it is based on, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, these represent increases of 320mm, 31mm, 1mm and 69mm respectively.

Indeed, even taking its US-market focus into account, the Dart is an expansive car, considering its notional ‘compact’ market positioning. It is noticeably lengthier than all its direct rivals, with the closest, the Chevrolet Cruze, some 74mm shorter. Against other models, the difference is even more pronounced – it is 99mm longer than the Toyota Corolla, and fully 167mm longer than the newly-refreshed Honda Civic, with most other rivals falling somewhere between these extremes.

To put the Dart’s size wholly in context, in this respect it is more readily comparable to another Alfa Romeo, the D-segment 159, than the Giulietta. Compared to the 159, the Dart is 11mm longer, 1mm wider, 49mm taller, and its wheelbase 3mm longer. It has been speculated this ‘between-segment’ sizing is designed to cover the lack of a replacement for the mid-size Dodge Avenger, with that model scheduled to be killed off in 2013. The manufacturer’s press material subtly pushes this point, claiming the Dart boasts “the interior spaciousness of a midsize sedan”. Its boot measures 371 litres, around average for the compact class.

But these dimensions take their toll when it comes to the car’s quoted weight. According to Dodge, the Dart weighs 1456kg when equipped with the 1.4 MultiAir turbo engine – some 91kg heavier than for a similarly-engined Giulietta. Again, comparisons with the 159 are instructive. The Dart 1.4 has the same quoted weight as the entry-level 159 1.8 MPI – a car much-criticised at launch for its excess heft, which subsequently led to a weight-reduction program.

Nevertheless, the Dart’s engine lineup boasts competitive outputs for the class. The entry-level engine option is a carryover from the outgoing Caliber – that car’s 2.0 World Gasoline Engine, albeit carrying a new appellation, ‘Tigershark’. Following criticism of this powerplant’s peakyness and harshness, it has been revised with the aim of boosting driveability. To this end, the variable valve timing system has been retuned to boost mid-range torque and fuel economy, while elsewhere in the valvetrain, roller cam followers replace buckets on the valve springs to reduce noise. The engine’s installation has also been reversed compared to the Caliber – while that car has the engine’s exhaust manifold mounted against the firewall, the Dart places the inlet manifold at the rear, in line with contemporary Fiat Group practice. It generates 160 horsepower, and 145 lb ft of torque at 4,800rpm – marginal improvements over the Caliber’s 158 horsepower and 141 lb ft.

Unusually, Dodge is offering two engines with the same power output. Above the 2.0 WGE in the pecking order sits the Dundee-produced 1.4 FIRE MultiAir turbo already seen in the US-market Fiat 500 Abarth. Running on 91-octane petrol (87-octane is acceptable but reduces performance slightly), this unit also develops 160 horsepower at 5,500rpm, but its torque is increased to 184 lb, generated between 2,550 and 4,000rpm.

Both the 1.4 and 2.0 units will be available across the SE, SXT, Rallye and Limited trim levels. They come standard with six-speed manual gearboxes. Alternatively, the 2.0 can also be matched to a conventional torque-converter six-speed automatic, while the 1.4 is optionally offered with FPT’s C635 six-speed dual-dry-clutch automated manual.

The range-topping R/T will be the only variant offered with the range-topping 2.4 ‘Tigershark’ engine – and, indeed, this is the only powerplant available for this trim level. This unit gains the same modifications as described above for its 2.0 stablemate, but additionally benefits from MultiAir technology on the inlet valves. It develops a claimed 184 horsepower at 6,250rpm and 145lb ft – the latter figure the same as the 2.0 Tigershark. Whether this is a publishing error remains to be seen – if accurate, it would be a surprise, as the same engine in the Caliber, minus MultiAir, was quoted as generating 165 lb ft. Like the 2.0, it comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission, or optional six-speed automatic.

The Dart follows a conventional route in its chassis specification, largely dictated by its Fiat underpinnings. Like the Giulietta, it features MacPherson struts at the front and a multilink arrangement at the rear, but tracks are increased slightly to mitigate the car’s overall width increase, by 13mm (1567mm) at the front and 11mm (1565mm) at the rear. The Dart also carries across the Giulietta’s steering rack with its integrated twin-pinion electric assistance motor, developed in an attempt to counter criticism of steering feel in Fiat Group products.

Inside, the Dart shows styling influence from its bigger brother, the Charger. Matching the wide variety of 12 exterior colours, interior options will include optional ambient lighting systems and 14 different colour/fabric combinations, including leather. Purchasers will have a choice of six different wheel designs.

The instrument panel features a seven-inch colour TFT display, placed between two circular gauges, which graphically shows trip computer and navigation system information. Also offered will be an 8.4-inch touchscreen situated in the centre console, operating Chrysler’s Uconnect infotainment system. Storage areas include a glovebox large enough to accommodate an iPad, a centre console with auxiliary electronics jacks, and console map pockets.

Safety-wise, the Dart will offer Chrysler’s rear cross-path detection system and blind spot monitoring – a unique feature in the compact class. It will also come standard with 10 airbags, matching the Chevrolet Cruze – front, curtain, side (for both front and rear passengers), and knee-bags for both driver and front-seat passenger.

ItaliaspeedTV - 2013 Dodge Dart

Support Italiaspeed