After 37 years, the iconic Dart nameplate is back.
The all-new Dodge Dart, unveiled Monday at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, is Chrysler's first small sedan since the demise of the Dodge Neon. It's based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and — in our eyes, at least — does a pretty good job adding some American snarl to a stylish Italian design.
Buyers of the Italian-American Dart will have three choices of engine and transmission.
Under the hood, the SE, SXT, Rallye and Limited trims will feature a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter "Tigershark" 4-cylinder as standard, with the same 1.4-liter MultiAir mill that's in the Fiat 500 available as an upgrade. The R/T model gets a 2.4-liter Tigershark with MultiAir 2 which features improved exhaust gas recirculation for better fuel economy.
Either Tigershark engine can be had with a traditional six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, though cars equipped with the 1.4-liter MultiAir will be paired with a dual dry-clutch, six-speed automatic. We're somewhat skeptical about how well the 3,211-pound Dart will handle with a 1.4-liter engine, since the Fiat 500 weighs nearly 1,000 fewer pounds and still feels underpowered, but the R/T might be interesting.
As far as options are concerned, there's no indication that Chrysler's bringing back the "Swinger" nomenclature, but it sounds like the Dart will be well equipped. Buyers can order a Uconnect infotainment system or a heated steering wheel if they're so inclined.
Our favorite feature is a user-customizable gauge cluster. Where other manufacturers have squandered their digital dashboards, forcing them to permanently mimic analog clusters, Dodge is offering a TFT panel that can display one of either two digital or two analog gauge designs, plus other functions depending on what the driver wants to see.
We haven't had the chance to check out the interior up close and personal, but the fit and finish appear to be the work of Italian designers, not American accountants. Whether the new Dart ends up in the hands of tuners or rental fleets, it's definitely an improvement over the much-unloved Caliber, and a far cry from the old Darts our elderly aunts drove.
