A couple of months ago at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, Dodge stepped up to the plate with its new entry in the compact car the the Alfa Romeo Gulietta-based 2013 Dart. In addition to digging up an old name, the new Dart has drown comparisons to Chrysler’s last competent compact car, the Neon.
But no Neon ever had the range of customization Dodge will offer on the 2013 Dart. Ahead of its official release, the 2013Dodge Dart configurator has hit the web, allowing you to play around with some of the many colors and options the Dart will offer. But as usual, that’s a catch.
The 2013 Dodge Dart will launch with five models; SE, SXT, Rallye, Limited, and R/T. The starting MSRP for the SE will be $17,000, while the 184 horsepower R/T model have a base price of around $23,000. But the catch is that these prices are not set in stone, and it should be noted that at the intial unveil, Dodge announced that the Dart’s starting price would be around $15,995.
Other tidbits on the configurator reveal the option of HID headlights, an integrated dual exhaust, and 18-inch wheels on the R/T models. Rumor has it that Dodge is already working on a 300+ horsepower SRT version of the Dart, though the compact will launch with three engines ranging from 160 to 184 horsepower. But will that be enough to compete in this competitive compact car market?