Jan 9 2012

2013 Dodge Dart represent the future

Three engines will be available when the Dart launches later this year. The base powerplant is a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter Tigershark inline-four producing 160 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. Next up is an available 2.4-liter naturally aspirated Tigershark four with 184 hp and 171 lb-ft, and topping the range is a 1.4-liter turbocharged MultiAir four with 160 hp and 184 lb-ft. A six-speed manual transmission is available with all three engines, a six-speed automatic is optional on the 2.0- and 2.4-liter mills and a six-speed dual-clutch box can be had on the 1.4-liter turbo unit. Fiat/Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has stated that a nine-speed automatic is in the works, though that won’t drop until sometime in 2013. As for fuel economy, Chrysler has been quick to boast a 40 mile-per-gallon rating, but that’s CAFE, and the final EPA numbers should be somewhere in the mid-30s. Respectable stuff. And considering that the Dart uses a slightly modified version of the Giulietta’s European suspension setup with a new electronic steering rack, all that power will hopefully be put to the ground with proper poise.

Source: Chrysler