The Dodge Dart is a
front-engine, front-wheel drive
In automotive design, a front-engine, front-wheel-drive (FWD) layout, or FF layout, places both the internal combustion engine and driven roadwheels at the front of the vehicle.
Usage implications
Historically, this designation was used reg ...
, four-door compact
sedan that was manufactured and marketed by then
FCA US LLC
Stellantis North America (officially FCA US and formerly Chrysler ()) is one of the " Big Three" automobile manufacturers in the United States, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is the American subsidiary of the multinational automotiv ...
, a subsidiary of
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) was an Italian-American multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles, commercial vehicles, auto parts and production systems. The Italian holding company Exor was the largest ...
. The automobile made its debut at the
2012 North American International Auto Show in
Detroit, Michigan. In some non-US markets, the Dodge Dart is sold as the Fiat Viaggio.
Resurrecting a nameplate used by Dodge for model years
1960-1976 for a succession of
full-size,
mid-size and finally
compact
Compact as used in politics may refer broadly to a pact or treaty; in more specific cases it may refer to:
* Interstate compact
* Blood compact, an ancient ritual of the Philippines
* Compact government, a type of colonial rule utilized in British ...
models, the Dart (PF) was the brand's first compact sedan since 2005, when the
Neon
Neon is a chemical element with the symbol Ne and atomic number 10. It is a noble gas. Neon is a colorless, odorless, inert monatomic gas under standard conditions, with about two-thirds the density of air. It was discovered (along with krypton ...
was discontinued.
History
A
mini MPV concept car was designed and developed by
Chrysler
Stellantis North America (officially FCA US and formerly Chrysler ()) is one of the " Big Three" automobile manufacturers in the United States, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is the American subsidiary of the multinational automoti ...
and revealed in 2006 as the
Dodge Hornet. This was Dodge's first attempt at building a car of its size and the car was expected to be released in 2010. The concept was dropped because of the
2009 financial crisis and the restructuring of the Chrysler Group. After Chrysler's merger with
Fiat
Fiat Automobiles S.p.A. (, , ; originally FIAT, it, Fabbrica Italiana Automobili di Torino, lit=Italian Automobiles Factory of Turin) is an Italian automobile manufacturer, formerly part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and since 2021 a subsidiary ...
in late 2010, the small Dodge Hornet concept took on a new form to share a Fiat
platform.
In December 2011, the automaker announced the new small sedan would be called the Dodge Dart.
The Dart was scheduled for U.S. dealership sales beginning in late June 2012. The Aero model began production in the third quarter of 2012. The GT began production in the second quarter of 2013.
On March 4, 2014, at the
Geneva Motor Show
The Geneva International Motor Show is an annual auto show held in March in the Swiss city of Geneva. The show is hosted at the Palexpo, a convention centre located next to the Geneva Cointrin International Airport. The Salon is organised by th ...
,
Sergio Marchionne commented on possible production of a hatchback model for the North American market, saying "our North American consumers will be gradually offered alternatives for same or close to expense" and that potential buyers might account for either
Fiat 500X, or
Jeep Renegade
The Jeep Renegade is a subcompact crossover SUV produced by Stellantis under their Jeep marque. It was first shown to the public in March 2014 at the Geneva Motor Show#2014, Geneva Motor Show and production started in late August of that year. , ...
.
Features
The Dart has three transmission options,
including a Powertech 6F24 automatic transmission from Hyundai, which comes with electrically boosted power steering that has a sensor and electric motor mounted to the rack itself.
Interiors are customizable with 12 different color/fabric combinations and optional ambient lighting systems; leather seats are an available upgrade. The dashboard features a color
TFT display, a "floating island bezel" placed between traditional round gauges, which graphically shows trip computer and navigation system information; it is integrated to make it appear to be part of the gauge cluster itself, rather than a separate screen. Storage includes a glove box, center console with auxiliary electronics jacks, and console map pockets.
Trunk volume is .
In 2014, all Darts aside from the SE got standard U Connect
Bluetooth telephone for 2014. A Blacktop Package, featuring black
alloy wheels and black accents, for all models except SE and Limited, as well as a California Appearance Package for the SXT and Limited, both became available for 2014.
The Dart was the first compact sedan to feature a rear obstacle detection system and blind spot monitoring.
A Dart version managing an unadjusted combined driving (16.94 km/L) made it possible for Fiat to acquire an additional 5% share of Chrysler Group.
The Dart uses a similar suspension system to that of the
Alfa Romeo Giulietta: in front it has independent
MacPherson struts, coil springs, twin-tube dampers, and stabilizer bar while in the rear it has independent multilink suspension.
According to Dart chief engineer the suspension is slightly softened compared with the Alfa, "We've taken a little edge off it," "It's a blast to toss around."
Models
The Dodge Dart came in several different trim levels during its four-year production run, each model having its own distinct level of standard and optional equipment:
SE
The SE was the base Dodge Dart model between 2013 and 2016. It offered the following standard equipment: 160-horsepower 2.0L
Tigershark
The tiger shark (''Galeocerdo cuvier'') is a species of requiem shark and the last extant member of the family Galeocerdonidae. It is a large macropredator, capable of attaining a length over . Populations are found in many tropical and tempera ...
I4 engine, six-speed manual transmission, AM/FM stereo with single-disc CD/MP3 player with auxiliary and USB inputs, four-speaker audio system, heater (no air conditioning), power windows and door locks, cloth seating surfaces, dual manually-adjustable front bucket seats, split-folding rear bench seat, full instrumentation, fifteen-inch black-painted steel wheels with plastic wheel covers, and black door handles and side mirrors. Additional options available for this model included a SE Popular Equipment Group that added equipment such as air conditioning, U Connect Bluetooth with streaming audio,
SiriusXM Satellite Radio, a six-speaker audio system, keyless entry, and exterior color-keyed side mirrors. A six-speed automatic transmission was also available for this trim level. In mid-2016, the SE trim level of the Dodge Dart was discontinued.
SXT
The SXT was the "mid-level" trim level of the Dodge Dart between 2013 and 2016. It added the following equipment to the base SE trim level: sixteen-inch aluminum-alloy wheels (2014 and newer models), U Connect Bluetooth with streaming audio,
SiriusXM Satellite Radio, a six-speaker audio system (four-speaker audio system after mid-2016), air conditioning, keyless entry, and exterior color-keyed door handles and side mirrors. Additional options for this trim level included sixteen-inch aluminum-alloy wheels (standard on 2014 and newer models), the U Connect 8.4-inch touch-screen infotainment system, a nine-speaker, 506-watt
Alpine
Alpine may refer to any mountainous region. It may also refer to:
Places Europe
* Alps, a European mountain range
** Alpine states, which overlap with the European range
Australia
* Alpine, New South Wales, a Northern Village
* Alpine National Pa ...
premium amplified surround-sound audio system, remote start, a six-speed automatic transmission, a 160-horsepower 1.4 L
MultiAir Turbocharged I4 engine, the Rallye Package, a seven-inch
TFT instrument cluster display, and a power-adjustable front driver's bucket seat. During the final few months of Dodge Dart production, this model was known as the SXT Sport, and with the discontinuation of the previously base-model SE trim level, became the base trim level of the Dodge Dart.
Limited
The Limited was the "up-level" Dodge Dart trim level between 2013 and 2016. It added the following equipment to the "mid-level" SXT trim level: seventeen-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, the U Connect 8.4-inch infotainment system, a power-adjustable front driver's bucket seat, Nappa luxury leather-trimmed seating surfaces (2014 and later models), dual heated front seats, a seven-inch
TFT instrument cluster display, a six-speed automatic transmission, a 160-horsepower 1.4 L
MultiAir Turbocharged I4 engine, a 184-horsepower 2.4 L
Tigershark
The tiger shark (''Galeocerdo cuvier'') is a species of requiem shark and the last extant member of the family Galeocerdonidae. It is a large macropredator, capable of attaining a length over . Populations are found in many tropical and tempera ...
Inline Four-Cylinder engine (standard on later models), seventeen-inch polished aluminum-alloy wheels, GPS navigation, Keyless Enter-'n'-Go with push-button start, a nine-speaker, 506-watt
Alpine
Alpine may refer to any mountainous region. It may also refer to:
Places Europe
* Alps, a European mountain range
** Alpine states, which overlap with the European range
Australia
* Alpine, New South Wales, a Northern Village
* Alpine National Pa ...
premium amplified surround-sound audio system, and Nappa luxury leather-trimmed seating surfaces (optional on 2013 models only). In mid-2016, the Limited trim level of the Dodge Dart was discontinued.
Aero
The Aero trim level of the Dodge Dart, available from 2013 until 2016 and based on the "mid-level" SXT trim level, was focused on fuel economy, and added the following features to that model: U Connect 8.4-inch touch screen infotainment system and 160-horsepower 1.4 L
MultiAir I4 engine. Additional features on this trim level included aluminum-alloy wheels, a six-speed Dual-Clutch Automatic Transmission, and remote start. The Aero trim level of the Dodge Dart achieved an
EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent executive agency of the United States federal government tasked with environmental protection matters. President Richard Nixon proposed the establishment of EPA on July 9, 1970; it be ...
fuel economy rating of 41 MPG Highway. In mid-2016, the Aero trim level of the Dodge Dart was discontinued.
GT
The GT was the top-of-the-line Dodge Dart trim level between 2013 and 2016. It added the following equipment to the Limited trim level: Nappa luxury leather-trimmed seating surfaces, Keyless Enter-'n'-Go with push-button start, eighteen-inch Granite Crystal-finished aluminum-alloy wheels, a nine-speaker, 506-watt
Alpine
Alpine may refer to any mountainous region. It may also refer to:
Places Europe
* Alps, a European mountain range
** Alpine states, which overlap with the European range
Australia
* Alpine, New South Wales, a Northern Village
* Alpine National Pa ...
premium amplified surround-sound audio system and a 184-horsepower 2.4 L
Tigershark
The tiger shark (''Galeocerdo cuvier'') is a species of requiem shark and the last extant member of the family Galeocerdonidae. It is a large macropredator, capable of attaining a length over . Populations are found in many tropical and tempera ...
I4 engine. Additional options on this trim level included eighteen-inch Hyper Black-finished aluminum-alloy wheels, a six-speed automatic transmission, and a remote start. During the final few months of Dodge Dart production, this model was known as the GT Sport.
Engines
The Dart has three engine options: a
Tigershark
The tiger shark (''Galeocerdo cuvier'') is a species of requiem shark and the last extant member of the family Galeocerdonidae. It is a large macropredator, capable of attaining a length over . Populations are found in many tropical and tempera ...
16-valve 2 L engine, a "Tigershark" 16-valve 2.4 L
MultiAir 2 four-cylinder
The engine configuration describes the fundamental operating principles by which internal combustion engines are categorized.
Piston engines are often categorized by their cylinder layout, valves and camshafts. Wankel engines are often categorize ...
engine, and a 16-valve 1.4 L MultiAir Intercooled
turbo engine used also in Alfa Romeo Giulietta. That engine has been retuned for American use (changing the required grade of oil to one widely available in the U.S. and Canada, for example) in the Fiat 500 Abarth
The 1.4T Dart also will have more torque than the Abarth. A 6-speed
manual transmission is available with all engine options, a six-speed
automatic
Automatic may refer to:
Music Bands
* Automatic (band), Australian rock band
* Automatic (American band), American rock band
* The Automatic, a Welsh alternative rock band
Albums
* ''Automatic'' (Jack Bruce album), a 1983 electronic rock ...
is optional on the 2.0 L and 2.4 L engines while a six-speed dual-clutch transmission is available on the 1.4 L turbo version. Marchionne has stated that a 9-speed automatic will not be available until sometime later.
All Dart engines are built in
Dundee, Michigan.
In 2014, the Dart SXT and Limited included a 2.4 L I4 engine with increased horsepower ratings, while making the 2.0 L
Tigershark
The tiger shark (''Galeocerdo cuvier'') is a species of requiem shark and the last extant member of the family Galeocerdonidae. It is a large macropredator, capable of attaining a length over . Populations are found in many tropical and tempera ...
I4 engine only available in the base SE model. The 2.4 L I4 engine was offered in late 2013 with the introduction of the Dart GT model. The Dart Aero, Rallye, SXT, and Limited models are the only models available with the 1.4 L
MultiAir turbocharged
In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (often called a turbo) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to pro ...
I4 engine.
*Source:
* Engine and transmission configurations
Safety
The Dart is equipped with numerous safety features, such as:
brake assist, brake-lock differential, rainy brake support, hydraulic boost compensation,
electronic stability control
Electronic stability control (ESC), also referred to as electronic stability program (ESP) or dynamic stability control (DSC), is a computerized technology that improves a vehicle's stability by detecting and reducing loss of traction ( skiddi ...
,
traction control
A traction control system (TCS), also known as ASR (from german: Antriebsschlupfregelung, lit=drive slippage regulation), is typically (but not necessarily) a secondary function of the electronic stability control (ESC) on production motor vehicle ...
,
anti-lock braking system
An anti-lock braking system (ABS) is a safety anti-skid braking system used on aircraft and on land vehicles, such as cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses. ABS operates by preventing the wheels from locking up during braking, thereby maintaini ...
, electronic roll mitigation,
hill-start assist, trailer-sway control, rear backup camera and rear park assist. The Dart has 10
airbag
An airbag is a vehicle occupant-restraint system using a bag designed to inflate extremely quickly, then quickly deflate during a collision. It consists of the airbag cushion, a flexible fabric bag, an inflation module, and an impact sensor. Th ...
s standard; it also has a reactive head-restraint system for the front seats, and other available systems are
blind-spot monitoring and rear cross path detection.
The Giulietta, on which the Dart is based, has achieved the highest rating for a compact car in the
Euro NCAP tests.
The
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the 2013 Dart a five-star safety rating in the frontal offset barrier, rollover, and side impact
crash tests
A crash test is a form of destructive testing usually performed in order to ensure safe design standards in crashworthiness and crash compatibility for various modes of transportation (see automobile safety) or related systems and componen ...
. The Dart also earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick for 2012.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) was safety tested by IIHS in 2013
Motorsports and SRT
At the
New York International Auto Show in 2012, a Dodge Dart turbo
four-wheel drive rally car was shown. The blue-and-white
SRT SRT may refer to:
Automotive
* SRT, (Speed & Racing Technology) American high-performance automobile group associated with Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep.
* Suter Racing Technology, a Swiss Moto2 constructor
* Selleslagh Racing Team, Belgium
* Swiss ...
-badged car entered the
2012 Global RallyCross Championship
The 2012 Global RallyCross Championship was the second season of this championship. The season was composed by 6 rounds, including one round in the X Games. Tanner Foust was crowned champion for the second time, beating teammate Brian Deegan.
T ...
, driven by four-time Rally America champion
Travis Pastrana and his teammates.
Based on the 2013 Dodge Dart, it included a 2.0 L 4-cylinder, 16-valve turbo-charged engine rated at and over of torque, and Sadev 4-wheel drive transmission.
The Dart continued in the
2013 Global RallyCross Championship
The 2013 Global RallyCross Championship was the third season of this championship. The season consisted of nine weekends, three in X Games events (including a doubleheader after an event cancellation). Toomas Heikkinen earned his first series cham ...
season, but after Pastrana placed 10th in the driver's standings for both years, Dodge pulled out of the series and he returned to
Subaru Rally Team USA
Subaru Motorsports USA (formerly known as Subaru Rally Team USA) is Subaru of America's motorsports arm that participates in events in the United States and its operations are managed by Vermont SportsCar, previously Prodrive.
History
The tea ...
in 2014.
The Dart SRT 4 was originally planned for production starting in December 2016, based on the 2014 five-year plan of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) group. However, due to the decision to end production of the Dart, the SRT 4 version was canceled.
Fiat models
The Fiat Viaggio ("''journey''", "''voyage''" in English), also called fēi xíang (菲翔), is a sedan version of the Dodge Dart for the Chinese market, designed by the Fiat Group Style Centre in
Turin,
Italy. A 1.4 L T-Jet engine producing or , was available paired to a 5-speed manual or 6-speed dual clutch gearbox for 2012 and 2013. A 7-speed Dual Dry Clutch gearbox was standard from 2015 to 2017.
The Viaggio was unveiled at the 2012 Beijing International Auto Show, and went on sale in the third quarter 2012,
with delivery by the end of 2012.
The Fiat Ottimo is a 5-door hatchback version of the Viaggio for the Chinese market. It was introduced at 2013
Guangzhou Auto Show and was designed by
Roberto Giolito. The Ottimo offers the same engine and gearboxes that comes standard in the Viaggio.
Engines
Transmissions
File:Fiat Viaggio 001 China 2014-05-01.jpg, Fiat Viaggio (front)
File:Fiat Viaggio 002 China 2014-05-01.jpg, Fiat Viaggio (rear)
File:Fiat Ottimo 01 China 2016-04-08.jpg, Fiat Ottimo (front)
File:Fiat Ottimo 02 China 2016-04-08.jpg, Fiat Ottimo (rear)
Production
The Dart was manufactured at Chrysler's
Belvidere Assembly Plant
The Belvidere Assembly Plant (BVAP) is an automobile production facility owned and operated by Stellantis North America. The factory opened in 1965 in Belvidere, Illinois, United States, and currently assembles the Jeep Cherokee.
History
The fa ...
,
where the
Dodge Caliber (2006-2011),
Jeep Compass,
Jeep Patriot, the first & second generation
Dodge Neon (1995-2005) and
Dodge Neon SRT4
The Dodge Neon SRT-4 is a sport compact car manufactured by Dodge from 2003 to 2005. A turbocharged variant of the Neon, the car was developed by DaimlerChrysler's in house PVO (Performance Vehicle Operations) tuner group. PVO was officially rena ...
(2003-2005) were all manufactured.
The Dart used a modified variant of the
Fiat Compact Platform
The Compact platform was developed by engineers of the Fiat group for the construction of small family cars (compact cars) and large family cars (mid-size cars) with front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The first incarnation of this platform w ...
,
shared with the
Alfa Romeo Giulietta, widened by and lengthened by to its wheelbase — creating the ''Compact U.S. Wide (CUSW) platform''. The modified platform, adapted to U.S. requirements and subsequently redesignated the ''PF'' platform, was designed over approximately 18 months at a cost of
US$
The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
1 billion.
Marketing
In July 2012, the first television advertisement for the Dodge Dart aired during the broadcast of the
Major League Baseball All-Star Game, featuring the bassline from
Kanye West's "
No Church in the Wild", a spoof on the
Reliant Robin and a cameo by
NFL's Tom Brady.
In May 2013, the Dodge Dart was marketed as a tie-in to promote the film ''
Fast & Furious 6'', despite not appearing on the film. The car appears in Fast & Furious 6 : The Game.
Discontinuation
On January 27, 2016, Fiat Chrysler announced the end of Dodge Dart and
Chrysler 200 production to redirect its focus towards crossover vehicles. A plan to move production from its
Belvidere Assembly Plant
The Belvidere Assembly Plant (BVAP) is an automobile production facility owned and operated by Stellantis North America. The factory opened in 1965 in Belvidere, Illinois, United States, and currently assembles the Jeep Cherokee.
History
The fa ...
to Mexico was in the works but later scrapped.
The Dart ended production on September 2, 2016 after failing to meet sales expectations, with a revived
Dodge Neon based on the
Fiat Tipo replacing it in the
Mexican
Mexican may refer to:
Mexico and its culture
*Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America
** People
*** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants
*** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...
market.
During a press conference held at the 2017
Detroit Auto Show, FCA President Sergio Marchionne said: "I can tell you right now that both the Chrysler 200 and the Dodge Dart, as great products as they were, were the least financially rewarding enterprises that we've carried out inside FCA in the last eight years," adding "I don't know one investment that was as bad as these two were."
Sales
Sales of the Viaggio and Ottimo ended in September 2017 due to low sales performance, recording only 1,623 Viaggio and 650 Ottimo cars sold during its ending year of production.
, 1
,
,
,
, -
Notes
References
External links
*
{{Dodge Mexico Timeline
Dart PF
Front-wheel-drive vehicles
2010s cars
Compact cars
Sedans
Cars introduced in 2012