Chrysler Debuts The 'New' Dodge Dart
DETROIT (WWJ) - Remember the Dodge Dart? It's making a comeback and marking its debut Monday at the North American International Auto Show media preview at Detroit's Cobo Center.
Its nameplate from back in the '60's and '70's has been reinvented as a joint venture with Fiat, built on an Alfa Romeo platform.
Dodge President and CEO Reid Bigland said they wanted to bring the features and benefits to the compact car segment that had not existed.
"(It will) have all of the comfort of vehicle and features of vehicles that have traditionally been much more expensive but bring those technology and bring those features into a compact vehicle, and we think we've done that," Bigland said.
Chrysler is counting on the Dart to help it sell more small cars and continue its recent revival.
Chrysler needs a breakthrough in the growing small-car market, where it hasn't had success since the Plymouth and Dodge Neon twins of the mid-1990s.
The new Dart won't come with a 340-cubic inch performance engine, but it will have an optional 1.4-liter turbo that's sure to be a lot of fun.
Base price? Around $17,000.
Learn more about the Dart and the Big Three's other entries into this year's North American International Auto Show here.
