Dodge has gone public with its pricing for the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart in the United States. With a starting MSRP of $15,995, the new Dart is priced to be affordable, and makes a statement to the industry that Dodge plans on stealing some competition from the segment leaders. This aggressive pricing out of the gate will undercut competitors such as the Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus, and Toyota Corolla. It will be found in the Wharncliffe lot soon.
The pricing is broken down as follows:
- Dodge Dart SE $15,995
- Dodge Dart SXT $17,995
- Dodge Dart Rallye $18,995
- Dodge Dart Limited $19,995
- Dodge Dart R/T $22,495 (available Q3 2012)
The new Dart is a globally engineered vehicle. There is Italian influence in its overall composition, utilizing engineering resources from Fiat/Alfa Romeo in its architecture. However, it’s design is distinctively Dodge, and distinctively American and carries an athletic stance. It’s easy to see traces of yesterday’s Neon with its low nose and belt line. At launch, the new Dart will be offered in SE, SXT, Rallye, Limited and R/T trims. For those that enjoy the look the full-LED wraparound taillamps of the Charger, they are present and accounted for.
Even though the 2013 Dart is considered a compact, many will be pleased to find 2.75 cubic meters of cabin space, with 89.7 cm of rear legroom. According to Dodge, this means that passengers in the back seat can enjoy more space than the larger, mid-sized Hyundai Sonata. In addition, buyers can choose form a palate of 14 available interior and trim combinations.
A feature that is sure to be a hit is an impressive and intuitive seven-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) digital display to replace the standard analog gauges, as an option. The display will be joined by an 8.4-inch touch-screen panel in the center of the dashboard. The digital gauge cluster can be set to either one of two display options, along with nine more menu functions.
The new technology featured in the Dart is a welcomed thing, but perhaps the most important Power will come from one of three engine choices. First up is a naturally aspirated a 2.0-liter “Tigershark” inline-four producing a stout 160 horsepower and 200 Nm of torque, with the upgrade being a 2.4-liter Tigershark naturally aspirated four cylinder engine with 184 hp and 232 Nm.
However, a more advanced 1.4-liter MultiAir turbocharged four cylinder engine will be available, which will also produce 160 horsepower like the 2.0-liter Tigershark, but will pack a superior 249 Nm of torque. And with its compact size, expect the MultiAir engine to be the most fuel efficient of the three when official fuel economy numbers are released. What’s more, expect a nine-speed automatic transmission to be offered in the Dart next year. That’s right, a nine-speed automatic transmission will be found in the little Dart, which was previously unheard of in the compact segment.
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