Dart or Dud?

Bursting onto the new car scene this summer will be the newly redesigned Dodge Dart. Redesigning old models seems to be all the rage these days and it’s worked surprisingly well for Dodge in recent years. The Charger has been one of the top selling sedans since its debut in 2006 and the Challenger has increased in sells yearly since its release in 2008. So what makes the Dart so important for Dodge? Maybe you haven’t noticed but since the economy crashed and gas prices skyrocketed the “compact car” market has exploded. It seems like every other car you see driving down the road these days is either a Toyota Corolla or a Honda Civic. To battle the foreign brands in this ever increasing market Chevy recently introduced the Cruise and Ford has once again updated the Focus. Not surprisingly then, Dodge realized they needed something more impressive than their previous attempt (the Dodge Caliber) to compete.  The new dart will have the somewhat altered chassis of an Alfa Romeo Giulietta giving it “Alfa Romeo DNA”. Dodge has been quick to use this as a selling point for the car. As for styling they’ve fitted it with an aggressive front end and a smooth sleek body. To finish it out they added the led tail lights similar to those they use on the new charger. It will be available in three engine options including a 2.0 liter, a 1.4 liter turbo, and the R/T which gets a 2.4 liter turbo. You’ll also have the choice between a six speed auto or manual. While Dodge has been behind the competition in this area the new Dart seems somewhat promising. It has all the qualities of a good compact car while maintaining the edgy styling and performance of a Dodge. All that’s left to do now is wait and see what happens. Good luck Dodge, hopefully it turns out better than the Caliber. 


What do you guys think? Dart or Dud? Shoot me a comment and let me know!