The New Dodge Dart Looks Nice But OH, THAT NAME! Should THIS Have Been The Name Instead?

The New Dodge Dart Looks Nice But OH, THAT NAME! Should THIS Have Been The Name Instead?
Dodge redefines performance in the compact car segment with an all-new, state-of-the-art four-door sedan delivering class-leading aerodynamics – the 2013 Dodge Dart.

With Alfa Romeo DNA and Dodge’s passion for performance at its core, the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart is a thoroughly modern vehicle that’s fuel-efficient, beautifully designed and crafted, agile and brings fun back to driving in the segment.

Similar to the Dodge Dart of the late 1960s, the 2013 Dart offers a special blend of style, performance and innovation. The Dodge brand leveraged its nearly 100-year history of passion for building high-quality, innovative vehicles that stand apart in performance and style, as well as from its partner Fiat’s global compact car expertise, to develop the all-new Dodge Dart.

After seeing the Dart in person we were impressed with the exterior design (especially the Charger-like tail lights), its Alfa DNA and bang for the buck in its class.

But that STINKIN' NAME. Dart!

In it's day the original Dart was the LAMEST Dodge built and only grannies drove it. They even had special editions called 'Swinger' and  'Demon' and even THEY were lame.

I should know as my whole family were lifetime staunch Chrysler/Dodge customers.

Dads drove the Monaco or Polara's, Kids drove Chargers and Challengers and Grandma and Grandpa drove DART'S.

The saddest part of this name dilemma in our opinion is that this car is an ALFA and calling an Alfa a DART is like dissing the Pope.

WHY would you choose SUCH a dumb name when you have ALL that Alfa sexiness and mystique to draw from?

Now the Chrysler marketing people have been doing some bang up stuff lately but guys in our opinion you BLEW it on this one.

If I was running the show and really wanted to send the competition shuddering I would have called it the Dodge Alfa.

Sexy, Italian (oops, one in the same), screams magic, premium, mystique and heritage. PROUD heritage.

And subliminally you think Alpha, like the beginning of something good.

So WHAT say YOU Spies? Is Chrysler right? Is the Dart name a WINNER? Or is 001 right and the better name would have been Alfa?

Side by side in the showroom, WHICH would have more cachet? A Dodge DART or a Dodge ALFA?

Discuss...

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ALFA ROMEO DNA


The all-new Dart is the first Chrysler Group vehicle based upon a Fiat architecture – adapted from the award-winning Alfa Romeo Giulietta. The Giulietta is renowned for satisfying the most demanding customers in terms of road-holding, agility and safety, with exceptional driving dynamics. The Dart leverages all of these attributes within a lengthened and widened platform delivering segment-leading levels of interior roominess.





The all-new Compact U.S. Wide (CUSW) architecture underpinning the Dart is a state-of-the-art architecture with an industry-leading 68 percent of the body composed of high-strength steel, resulting in a very strong and rigid structure. Combined with responsive steering, four-wheel independent suspension, and available 18-inch wheels, the Dart brings fun back to driving in the compact car segment.

UNMISTAKABLE STYLE

The all-new 2013 Dart marks the Dodge brand’s re-entry into the compact sedan segment, hitting the bulls-eye with a modern, unmistakable Dodge design that builds upon its performance heritage while evoking emotion, efficiency and fluidity of movement.





Eye-catching exterior proportions are set off from every angle by dynamic lines and curves, along with advanced technology, to deliver class-leading aerodynamic performance. The personality-packed front view is instantly recognizable as an all-new Dodge with its tailored split-crosshair grille, projector headlamps and fog lamps and accentuated fenders. Signature Dodge full-width LED ‘racetrack’ tail lamps and class-exclusive integrated dual exhaust – both inspired by Dodge Charger – accentuate the athletic and muscular stance of this dynamic and passionate new design.

THREE SOPHISTICATED, FUEL-EFFICIENT & POWERFUL ENGINES
The 2013 Dodge Dart will be powered by three fuel-efficient, powerful, state-of-the-art four-cylinder engines that add to Dart’s fun-to-drive quotient.





Drivers can select from a new Tigershark 16-valve 2.0-liter engine, a 16-valve 1.4-liter MultiAir Intercooled Turbo engine, and a new Tigershark 16-valve 2.4-liter MultiAir four cylinder engine. These three engines, combined with three transmission choices, combine to redefine performance by providing the most diverse powertrain lineup in its class.

MultiAir technology delivers optimum combustion at any speed under all driving conditions by allowing direct and dynamic control of air intake and combustion. The result is up to a 15 percent increase in low engine rpm torque, a 7.5 percent improvement in fuel efficiency and a 10 percent reduction in C02 emissions.





THE ALL-NEW DART – BUILT IN AMERICA

The all-new Dodge Dart will be made in America at Chrysler Group’s Belvidere Assembly Plant in Belvidere, Ill. The Company is in the process of investing $600 million dollars to support the production of future products, including the 2013 Dodge Dart. The investment includes the construction of a 638,000-square-foot body shop, as well as the installation of new machinery, tooling and material handling equipment. Work on the expansion began in the summer of 2010 and will be completed this year.

The all-new Dodge Dart has been engineered with great levels of refinement, craftsmanship and engaging driving dynamics. Consumers can follow www.Dodge.com/Dart for additional photos and more information about the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart.














irishmikeirishmike - 1/29/2012 2:46:28 PM
-1 Boost
Giulietta .


NostradamusNostradamus - 1/29/2012 11:23:57 PM
+3 Boost
'Giulietta" has absolutely zero name-recognition to most Americans, and even less association with Dodge's past.

Anyway... "Similar to the Dodge Dart of the late 1960s, the 2013 Dart offers a special blend of style, performance and innovation", yet the question being posed is "The New Dodge Dart Looks Nice But OH, THAT NAME!" ?

Contradictory Much?


alpha_q2alpha_q2 - 1/29/2012 3:18:47 PM
0 Boost
Dodge a fart.


iamdabest1iamdabest1 - 1/29/2012 3:23:28 PM
-2 Boost
not impressed by dodge milking a classic name and associating it with this...


iamdabest1iamdabest1 - 1/29/2012 3:23:28 PM
-1 Boost
not impressed by dodge milking a classic name and associating it with this...


Agent00RAgent00R - 1/29/2012 6:54:04 PM
-2 Boost
Well, I see it this way.

If Buick got away with it with the LaCrosse and Regal, I am sure Dodge can swing it with the Dart.

Granted, I think "Dart" is a terrible name not factoring in the heritage.


bfghemicudabfghemicuda - 1/29/2012 7:03:48 PM
+4 Boost
Dodge Dart is perfect. Most of you probably don't remember but there was the Dart GTS 340 Dart GT and HEMI Dart. The first scca race was won by a 1965 dodge dart. The Dodge Dart was never Lame and BTW the Demons were 340s that kicked ass. Chrysler had to discontinue the Demon name because of it's reference to the devil, same with the warlock pickup in 1978. And you boneheads that think Dart had a bad heritage, well nothing could be farther than the truth. They were all quite venerable. A vast majority still exist and have a loyal following.


AutopinionAutopinion - 1/29/2012 8:13:35 PM
+3 Boost
Good thing you're not running the show 001. If you would have called it the 'Dodge Alfa' what the heck would you call the next platform that we should be lucky enough to get? The Dodge Alfa 2?

I agree, Dart seems to have baggage but Dodge Alfa is worse for this little beauty!


iamdabest1iamdabest1 - 1/29/2012 9:17:39 PM
0 Boost
i meant that i respect and like the "dart" heritage, and dont think this car is awesome enough for it...


85bmw745i85bmw745i - 1/30/2012 12:35:39 AM
+2 Boost
I just don't like the name period. Nice car. Anyone notice the 9.8 mpg average on the instrument panel. Someone must have been driving the hell out of it to get the average that low! Honestly the name sounds corny for such a nice car. Somehow theres nothing cool about saying I have a 2012 dart. And they made some pretty potent darts back in the day. They were utter crap if you didn't have a big 340 though.


chewychewy - 1/30/2012 2:39:54 AM
+1 Boost
Just driving it onto its exhibition spot will do that. Mileage is pretty crappy at 2.7 mph.


chewychewy - 1/30/2012 2:36:10 AM
+1 Boost
Don't like the name either. Challenger and Charger sound cool even without knowing anything about their predecessors.


mini22mini22 - 1/30/2012 1:05:46 PM
+1 Boost
It's important to have a brand in the auto business.It's the brand name that attracts thousands of people.Why do you think Mullaly brought back "Taurus". The name "500" had no meaning at all.The Dart(whether the car was good or bad)had huge following of people back in the 60's and 70's. It was Dodge's "small compact" car back then. Can you imagine if Ford used "Galaxy" for a full size sedan. They do use it for a small mini van in Europe. However to me that makes no sense.Why does Chrysler use the name "300". What was the most luxurious car Chrysler had in the 50's and 60's that signified luxury and performance.There is nothing wrong with using a brand name. Using "Demon" might offend Evangelical's.The name "Hornet" signify's an insect.Since Dodge is already using "Superbee" that's a little insect heavy.


bfghemicudabfghemicuda - 1/30/2012 9:01:20 PM
+1 Boost
The Dodge dart came in first in the over 2.0l class in the first scca race. [ how's that? ]


francescofrancesco - 1/30/2012 4:22:09 PM
+2 Boost
I like the name DART is perfect name for this beauty. DODGE ALFA? THE ALLREADY HAVE ALFA NAME. CHYSLER GOOD JOB.


85bmw745i85bmw745i - 2/1/2012 11:45:03 PM
+1 Boost
I think the dart will prove to be a great car but I just can't get past the name. it is so uncool and overly simple. for a car this promising they need a better name.


and003and003 - 2/1/2012 2:12:02 PM
+1 Boost
@NoMoreObama2012: Exactly at what point did Fiat SpA become a government-supported company? Last I knew, Fiat was supported by its shareholders, none of whom are associated with or a member of the Italian government.


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