Chrysler hopes to hit target with new Dart

Reuters ^ | 9 January 2012 | Deepa Seetharaman

[Army Air Corps]

When Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne introduces the Dodge Dart compact car this week, he will be showing off the first example of what a merger between Chrysler group LLC and Italy's Fiat SpA can create.

The 2013 Dart -- to be unveiled at the Detroit auto show -- is based on a Fiat-engineered platform that also will serve as the basis for the next generation of Jeep SUVs.

With the Dart, Chrysler aims to take market share from Toyota Motor Corp's Corolla and Honda Motor Co's Civic in an area the U.S. automaker has traditionally fallen short.

[HereInTheHeartland]

They must have hired the same consultants that advised Coke to do away with Coke and bring out New Coke.

Really; 2012 and the best marketing idea they have is a Dart?

[FastCoyote]

I had I think a 1967 Dart with push button transmission and torsion springs. Strange little car.

[Kenny Bunk]

FIAT must, must I say, do one thing for America.

We must, must I say, get rid of these damn cars that come at you with the hideous grin front grills that all look like the "Joker" in the Dick Tracy movie.

Now that Alfa actually looks like a car. And, RB, it is available as a diesel.

[maine yankee]

Will it offer a ‘swinger’ pkg including the 440 with six pack carbs ?

Still remember chirping tires in third gear

[SueRae]

LOL.

You would have thought they would have at least picked a popular mopar for recreation, like Ford did with the T-bird and the Mustang.

The Dart? Really?

I remember those Dusters, too...yech.

[oblomov]

It looks like a modern version of the Ford Edsel.

[Bigh4u2]

[taildragger]

Nevermind the Dart, check out the Fusion...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2830265/posts

[Responsibility2nd]

We must, must I say, get rid of these damn cars that come at you with the hideous grin front grills that all look like the "Joker" in the Dick Tracy movie.

 

 

Reminds me of Mazda 3's. I read where these are really fun to drive cars. But because of their goofy grin front-ends - nobody but chicks drive them.

[Red Badger]

I had an X-1/9 back in the day.
It was a beautiful car.
I spent more time UNDER it than I did IN it!................

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Ahhh....but will it have fine Corinthian leather?

[nuconvert]

How ‘bout a new 2012 Plymouth Barracuda Fastback? (with that giant rear window)

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

You couldn’t kill it. What a great car. Wish I had it back right now.

I agree. I wish I had one. I still see them on the road and get all envious when I do. It's the Urban Tank.

[cripplecreek]

They were good cars. I'm not expecting much this time around.

[WayneS]

Actually, I think maybe they did. Fortunately, though, you and I never wore that particular ‘bullseye’.

I will admit that the slant six engine they used as a standard motor in the Dart and Valiant was one of the best ever made, though.

[Mama Shawna]

1965 Dart, two-door post, slant 6, 270. Much better looking than the new one, even with my two goofy kids on the trunk! You can't see it in this pic, but the license plate says 'NO HEMI' HAHA!

[Boiling point]

I had a 68 Dart with a 318 & 904 automatic Trans. I liked the car as it was simple and easy to fix as were most cars of that era. I couldn’t keep a transmission in it though. Those 904s apparently weren’t very good.

[Army Air Corps]

That would be something. What about a 2012 Plymouth Sunbird?

[blueunicorn6]

Sergio Marchionne? Didn’t he make all those spaghetti westerns with Clint Eastwood? Aheaheah wa wa wa, aheaheah wa wa wa..........

[Army Air Corps]

Ome of my favourite car advert parodies.