Detroit 2012: Dodge Drops Dart Compact

The Detroit Auto Show actually starts Monday.  But in this business, all the news arrives before its due date.  That's the case with the Dodge Dart, which they've been teasing for a little while now.  We've had some preview posts on the Dart before, which you can find here and a snarky editorial on the Dart's EPA-pleasing 9-speed gearbox here.

The full press release on the Dart will likely drop Monday (or before), but they've released a batch of images showing the R/T (Red) and Limited (White.)  Finally seeing the whole car for the first time, I'm pleasantly surprised.  Mainly because they've ditched the goofy pseudo-SUV look of the Caliber, which never really worked, but it's a decent looking little car on it's own.  The Dart is based on the Alfa Romeo Guilietta (as mentioned in the preview post), and with the whole thing in view you can see a decent amount of the euro hatch in the car's lines.  If you don't remember what the Guilietta looks like, here's a high res gallery for reference.

The Dart has a surprisingly low belt line for a modern car, especially the side windows that dip down towards the front to create maximum glass surface area.  The front end drops dramatically towards the nose, something we couldn't really see in the preview pictures.  To me, it looks good from some angles (like the one below) and awkward from others - like directly side-on.  The "race track" LED tail lights are adapted from the new Charger surprisingly well; I was thinking they would look out of proportion on the much smaller Dart, but they work - giving the rear end a bit of Fisker/Aston Martin if you squint.

The interior is a pleasant surprise.  Chrysler have been known for distinctly low-rent interiors in their compact cars since the beginning of time, but in these press photos it looks... really rather nice.  Also, I'm pleased to see a manual transmission in the press photos- even if it's got 3 less gears than that new one. The red accents all over the place (R/T model) seem a bit brash, but it brings some light into an otherwise totally black/grey interior.

The large center-mounted touch screen takes up a lot of dash real estate, but with the focus on compact cars shifting ever more towards technology and creature comforts these days, I doubt that will be a bad thing to any potential buyers.

Update:  Most of the hard specs on the Dart have rolled in with it's official debut today, if you're curious.  This is a fairly large car, despite it's Alfa underpinnings - The 106.4" wheelbase is surprisingly roomy, with an OAL of 189.3".  It's 72" wide, and 57.7" tall.  To put it into perspective, compared to the current 3rd-generation Focus Hatchback, the Dart has a 2" longer wheelbase, 12" longer overall length, with about the same width and height.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrdxDk_jWkQ

There will be three four cylinder engines, and three tranmissions. The base engine is a 2.0L "Tigershark" I4, the only one of the three that doesn't employ Fiat's MultiAir technology.  It makes 160 bhp@6,400rpm, and 145lb-ft@4,800rpm.  This one will be available with a 6-speed manual or conventional automatic.  Upper level models (probably standard on the R/T, optional in the Limited, although no info on the engine to trim level relationship is out yet) will get a revised version of Mopar's 2.4L I4, now with Fiat's MultiAir.  This is the most powerful, making 184bhp@6,250rpm and 171lb-ft@4,800rpm - again, available with the 6-speed manual or automatic.  The most interesting is the 1.4L MultiAir Turbo, presumably "borrowed" from the Fiat 500 Abarth.  This tiny motor is turbocharged and intercooled, matching the 2.0L for power (160bhp@5,500rpm) and beating both engines for torque (184lb-ft from 2,550-4,000rpm), with a wider torque spread than either.  This too can be had with a six-speed manual transmission, or interestingly a 6-speed DDCT (Dual Dry Clutch Transmission) like VW's DSG.  I would expect the 1.4L Turbo to be the most efficient, and near the 2.4L for overall performance.  The crazy ZF 9-speed auto will come along at a later date.

For tech, the Dart does not disappoint.  In fact, of all the makers to challenge the Focus for sheer toys, who would expect Dodge?  But hell, it's all there.  There's an optional 7" TFT gauge cluster that can be configured any number of ways: digital and analogue gauges, turn-by-turn display for the navigation, fuel economy data, and audio/phone/compass/temp readouts.  Then there's the optional 8.4" color screen in the center dash, ringed by the lit red groovy tube (I'm trademarking that name.)  That does Radio, Navigation, iPod control, climate controls, voice-activated blue tooth, SiriusXM Travel Link, weather updates and points of interest.  More toys?  Sure!  You can also get a heated steering wheel(!), a 506w stereo, a storage compartment in the passenger seat, keyless entry/ignition, HID headlights, Dual-Zone Climate, a rear view camera, heated seats, etc etc.

The Dart will be available in 5 trim levels, from poverty (relative these days) to posh.  From base to top: SE, SXT, Rallye, Limited and R/T.  There will be 12 color choices and 14 different interior combinations, plus a bunch of accessories from Mopar.  Production of the Dart will begin Q2 of this year at Chrysler's Belvidere Ill. plant, with a base price of $15,995.

An attractive, high tech, feature-laden and desirable Chrysler Compact?  Be still, my beating heart.