As unlikely as it may seem, a report recently published says Dodge is looking to somehow magically shoehorn one of the Chrysler group’s Pentastar V6 engines under the bonnet of the charming, but not warmly-received Dart sedan.
It’s an emergency measure speculated by Mopar specialized site Allpar as a solution to its limited range of engines and inherent market appeal. It reports that “a small team of engineers” is currently on the job.
Chrysler currently has access to three V6 engines: a 3.0-liter, 3.2-liter and the “original Pentastar” 3.6-liter. The first was apparently conjured up to avoid China and Europe’s steep displacement taxes and would be capable of producing 230 hp, while the larger middle unit that can be only found under the hood of the Cherokee makes 271 hp. The 3.6L V6 makes 292 hp, but aside from powering a separate sporty edition of the Dart, it’s pretty much overkill for its compact body and relatively low weight.
Whichever the case, improvements need to be brought to the base 1.4-liter turbocharged engine, a unit that has been called unresponsive by owners and road testers alike, despite packing a claimed 160 hp – the most highly regarded engine it currently comes with is the 184 hp 2.4-liter Tigershark, also the most powerful one, currently available in the faintly sportier GT model pictured here.
By Andrei Nedelea
Story References: Allpar via Autoblog
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