This is the Fiat Viaggio, the Italian version of Dodge Dart, unveiled at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show. As you’d expect from the Italians, they’ve done a pretty good job designing a new body for the Dart. But then they would, because the Dart itself is an Italian car underneath; it’s based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Apart from the profile and wheelbase, the rest of the car is new.
The Viaggio also gets a new interior design, with a driver-centric dashboard, high-quality soft-touch surfacing with tactile grains in an elegant and warm dual tone, silver-plated trims and high-end equipments including an 8.4 inches touchscreen radio navigation unit.
To be produced and launched in China, at the new GAC Fiat production plant in Changsha, Fiat Viaggio will first be available with 1.4L T-Jet 120 HP and 150 HP turbo engines, and 6 speed dual dry clutch transmission, as well as a 5-gear manual transmission.
The Viaggio is better-looking, better-built, and generally cooler than the Dart. If only they priced it like the Dart, which starts at under $10K, it’ll be a winner. That said, Fiat has not yet confirmed if this car will be offered outside China or not.
