Tri-City Dodge

What's New for 2013

The 2013 Dodge Dart will be an all-new small sedan.

Introduction

With the resurrection of an iconic model name from the 1960s, Dodge hopes to challenge the latest set of compact sedans from its competition with the 2013 Dodge Dart. The Dart sedan will be a longer, wider version of the seductive Alfa Romeo Giulietta, a curvaceous four-door hatchback available only in Europe.

Dodge says the front-wheel-drive compact sedan will offer three four-cylinder engines: a turbocharged 1.4-liter, a 2.0-liter and a 2.4-liter. The base 1.4-liter should mete out 101 horsepower, while the 2.4-liter should put out more than 170 hp. For the moment, Dodge says three unspecified transmission choices will be offered. We expect a six-speed manual and a six-speed dual-clutch automated manual to be on the list.

With four-wheel independent suspension, the 2013 Dodge Dart should offer the same quick reactions and sure-footed handling of its Italian relative, with the good body control and heavy-effort steering that you expect in a sport sedan. The exterior should have a muscular look, with a split-crosshair grille, dual exhaust and optional 18-inch wheels. Early photos of the interior show a traditional three-knob layout for climate controls, and an oversized and somewhat dated display for the navigation and multimedia systems.