The Chrysler Group gave us our first taste of its sporty looking all-new 2013 Dodge Dart compact sedan on Tuesday with the release of a teaser photo gallery and the initial data on the car’s specifications.
The Dart may prove to be one of the most important models in Dodge’s recent history not only because it is the first Chrysler product to be based upon a Fiat architecture and in particular, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, but also because CEO Sergio Marchionne told Reuters that he believes its fuel efficiency will be certified at “40 mpg or more by the end of the month”.
The reason why that matters is that, under the deal made with the U.S. government to allow Chrysler to emerge from bankruptcy protection in 2009, the Italian company will receive the final 5 percent of stock if it develops a Fiat-based car that will be built in the U.S. and can get at least 40 miles per gallon.
The Italian group currently owns 53.5 percent of Chrysler. If the new 2013 Dodge Dart is certified at 40mpg or more, then Fiat can automatically raise its stake to 58.5 percent. The remaining shares of the company are held by the United Auto Workers [UAW] retiree health care trust.
The new Dart is based on a widened and elongated version of the Alfa Giulietta platform and will be offered at launch with a choice of three four-cylinder gasoline engines, including improved versions of the group’s 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter World Gas engines that have been renamed to Tigershark, and the 1.4-liter turbocharged unit from the Abarth 500.
Autonews reports that the Dart will debut with a Fiat Group-sourced 6-speed dual-clutch transmission but in 2013, the range will be enhanced with a new 9-speed transmission currently being developed by the ZF Group.
The Dart will be manufactured at the Chrysler Group’s Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois.
Story References: Autonews
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