Dodge Dart wins its very first award as Autoweek named it North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) “Most Significant Vehicle”.
Yes, the Honda NSX was a bigger deal and the Lexus LF-LC grabbed more attention, but the Dart is a fully fledged production car that goes on sale in a couple of months and you and I can buy it. It is significant because it is the best American-Italian cometogether since…ever. This is a strategic product that is essential to Chrysler’s growth.
The car has Dodge design with Alfa Romeo Giulietta underpinnings and engines. Its best feature however is the price tag.
The 2013 Dodge Dart will have a starting U.S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $15,995 and will be available in five trim levels: SE, SXT, Rallye, Limited and R/T. It will be built in the United States at Chrysler Group’s Belvidere Assembly Plant in Belvidere, Ill. Production of the 2013 Dodge Dart will begin in the second quarter of 2012.
“We’re very proud of this award and think the editors at AutoWeek have hit the bullseye by naming the Dart ‘Most Significant Vehicle,’ at the North American International Auto show,” said Reid Bigland, President and CEO—Dodge Brand. “With the compact car segment comprising 15 percent of U.S. new car sales and close to 25 percent of new car sales in Canada, we hope many people in both countries looking for a fuel-efficient, powerful, fun-to-drive car loaded with all the latest technology and safety features soon find it a significant part of their lives, too.”
“The Dart gives Dodge a highly competitive entry in the crucial small sedan segment where it hasn’t been a player since the middle of the last decade,” Gritzinger added.
