2013 Dodge Dart
Chrysler today announced that the replacement for the compact Dodge Caliber will be called the Dart and that the car will be based on a widened sedan version of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Alfa Romeo is owned, like Chrysler, by Fiat. They also released some teaser photos of the new car. Chrysler has bucked the alphanumeric trend at other carmakers, preferring to use historic model names, like Challenger and Charger. Even the 300C is a historic Chrysler model name. It was rumored that Dodge might reprise the old AMC and Hudson “Hornet” nameplate, particularly after the animated Cars movies have increased awareness of that brand name, but instead Chrysler is going to use Dart. I think that’s a great move. The Caliber was singularly uninspiring. In contrast, my experience is that people who remember the name Dart have fond associations with it.
Continue reading the complete post here.
When he’s not busy doing custom machine embroidery at Autothreads Ronnie Schreiber edits Cars In Depth and contributes to The Truth About Cars and Left Lane News
I’m surprised they aren’t going with something more in tune with our current Carter-redux Presidency, like the “Snail-Darter.”
Does anyone who owned one of the last Darts actually pine for their return? If so, they need to consult a medical professional, or just cut out the middleman and have themselves committed for life.
Or perhaps they’d rather have a Duster!
Funny you should ask that…My parents owned a 1967 Dodge Dart, and I spent the last 2 years of my high school career driving it a fair amount. It was a pretty decent car: reliable, nicely styled, with OK handling. Not a car I’d buy for myself, but I have pretty good memories of it, and can’t fault Chrysler for deciding to revive the nameplate.
Couldn’t agree less John J. I had a ’72 Dart Swinger with a 318 cubic inch V8. That thing would romp and stomp. I would sure love to have that back today.
I learned to drive on a 1964 Dodge Dart with four on the floor. I loved that care. I still dream about it. Although I rather doubt that the new Dart will be anything like the old one.
There’s no way in hell I would ever buy a bailout-mobile. I won’t give a dime of my money to the UAW and the Democrats if I can help it. My next car will likely be a Toyota, a Nissan, or some other foreign car made with non-union labor.