2013 Dodge Dart, a flash from the past!

Or is it? Recently at the 2012 North American International Auto Show (in Detroit) Chrysler group unveiled the all new compact car to replace the cheap plastic hunk of the Dodge Caliber. Rumors began in 2009 about this sort of thing, only to be confirmed in 2010 by Chrysler that it would also be using the same platform of an Alfa Romeo. Later in the year of 2011, Dodge released teasers of the car by showing the LED Charger-like tail lights and aggressive looking head lights and grill. At the reveal, the car stole the show, well not exactly, the Cadillac ATS wowed many crowds also, but many were interested since that this new model will be American, yet being Italian under the sheet metal.

 The Dart name came from the previous model Dodge offered from 1960 to 1976. At first the car was a full-sized car in 1960-1961, it then became a mid-sized car in 1962, only to become a compact car from 1963 and so on. these were relativity reliable cars, a surprised since compact cars of the time was a total joke. Although numbers wouldn't outsell the Chevrolet Corvair, then again popularity isn't always right, and what is right isn't always popular. It was a good family car, and as Dodge upped its power performance increased, creating a Dodge icon.

The 1970 Dodge Dart, the compact muscle car.

 This year, with the return of the name, the car will tell a different story. Although there would be a performance trim to the Dodge Dart, it ain't gonna be no new Muscle car. In fact because FIAT practically owns the Chrysler group, new cars will be based of European platforms, which isn't a bad thing. The Dart is the first car to prove so, sharing the same platform as the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. But this is all under the skin, from the outside, people wouldn't even imagine that the car is European. The Dart has an aggressive stance, as if it's ready to pounce and kill its prey.

Watch out! It's gonna attack anytime now!

 The front-end is enveloped with a long Dodge cross grille with a black wraparound that circles it. The headlights are angled and curved with the body. As we walk through to the side we notice shapes that are not defined with sharp lines, but with curves that will show as it moves. To many this will usually make it bland, much like the Toyota Corollas. Yet with the design language Dodge adopted recently we find rather pleasing and complimentary with the front and rear fascias. As we move to the back we can see the Chargers presence, with a racing inspired LED lights that shape around the taillight blob. The car also has a body integrated spoiler, which give its sporty look.

It's a looker, even when it's parked!

It's the Charger's smaller brother... really...

 In the interior the car is revolutionary, well in terms of being a Dodge. The car has a 7 inch digital display screen between the gauges. The Dart also has a 8 inch screen in the center stack with the all new system by Chrysler, the uConnect. The interior quality is much better with more leather, soft touch materials and less hard plastic. In fact it's a better interior than the on going Civic and Corolla, which are now Japanese plastic hunks. This boost in quality is actually a surprise because, well we can all admit that Dodge for the past 20 years has given us bland hard plastic buckets that would fall apart quickly. Another neat thing in the interior, a storage space inside the passenger side chair... yes, it's quite a shocker and also quite amusing to know.

Makes Toyota's interior look like a shack again, first the Cruze and now the Dart, way to go Dodge!

 Engine wise you get the choice between 3 transmissions with three new engines; the 1.4L l4 turbo multiair  with 160 hp and 5500 rpms; the 2.0L l4 Tigershark with 160 hp and a higher 6400 rpms, and finally the 2.4L l4 Tigershark multiair 2 with 184 hp and 6250 rpms.

 In all we are pretty much impressed of what Dodge and FIAT created, and we are excited to see it run in our streets. Will it succeed the Caliber by a mile and finally compete fairly with the competition? No one's sure, but for now it seems so. Of course only time will tell.