Dodge Dart

The original Dodge Dart is an automobile built by Dodge from 1960 to 1976 in North America, with production extended to later years in various other markets. The Dart nameplate was resurrected for a Fiat-derived compact car introduced in 2013.

The Dart name originally appeared on a 1957 show car featuring a body designed by the Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Ghia. The production Dart was introduced as a lower-priced, shorter wheelbase, full-size Dodge in 1960 and 1961, became a mid-size car for 1962, and finally was a compact from 1963 to 1976.

First generation (1960–1961)

1960

The first Dodge Darts were introduced for the 1960 model year. They were downsized large cars developed to replace the Plymouth in the standard, low-priced car segment for the Dodge dealer network. Dodge dealers had been selling Plymouths since 1930, but divisional restructuring took the Plymouth brand away from the Dodge dealer network. Project planners proposed the name Dart, only to have Chrysler executives demand an expensive research program which produced the name Zipp. This was promptly rejected in favor of Dart.

Dodge Dart (PF)

The current version of the Dodge Dart is a compact sedan based on a slightly enlarged Fiat Compact platform that debuted at the 2012 North American International Auto Show on January 9, 2012. The Dart was Dodge's first compact sedan since 2005, when the Dodge Neon was discontinued as part of the end of the PL platform.

The Fiat Compact platform, on which the Alfa Romeo Giulietta is built, was enlarged 1.5 in (38 mm) in width and with a 3.7 in (94 mm) longer wheelbase and is now called the Compact U.S. Wide (CUSW) platform. This modified platform, named PF and adapted to U.S. requirements, took about 18 months to design, with development costs of US$1 billion.

History

A mini MPV concept car was designed and developed by Chrysler and revealed in 2006 as the Dodge Hornet. This was Dodge's first attempt at building a car this small and the car was expected to be released in 2010. The concept was dropped because of the 2009 financial crisis and the restructuring of the Chrysler Group. After Chrysler's merger with Fiat in late 2010, the small Dodge Hornet concept took on a new form to share a Fiat platform. In December 2011, the automaker surprised industry pundits and insiders with an announcement that the new small sedan will be called the Dodge Dart rather than "pay homage not only to the well-received 2006 concept car that carried the name but also to an ancestry of vehicles stretching back 60 years to the original Hudson Hornet." Commentators have debated the merits of resurrecting the Dart name for the new car.