Dodge is reviving a name not seen since the mid seventies and borrowing heavily from its Fiat overlords for a new compact car. The Dodge Dart, set to be introduced at the Detroit Auto Show in January, is said to offer a special blend of style, performance and innovation - much of which will come from its Alfa Romeo Giulietta underpinnings.

To accommodate our more generously proportioned American cousins the Giulietta chassis has been widened and lengthened to form what is known as the Compact U.S. Wide (CUSW) architecture. High strength steel will make up 68 per cent of the chassis meaning the Dart will be stronger, more rigid and lighter than its competitors and will go some way to retaining the handling prowess offered by the Italian foundations.

In addition to the chassis, Alfa Romeo has also provided the powerplants for the new Dart. Gone are the V8 engines of old to be replaced by two 'Tigershark' engines - 2.0- and 2.4-litre 16v units - and a 1.4-litre turbocharged MultiAir engine already used throughout the Fiat/Alfa Romeo range. Three as yet undisclosed transmissions will also be offered, though one of them is likely to be based on Alfa Romeo's dual-clutch TCT gearbox.

While the car's architecture's lineage can be traced back to Italy the styling of the Dart is unmistakably American. The black split-crosshair grille flowing into projector headlights mimics that of the Dodge Charger, as too do the full-width LED 'racetrack' tail lamps and dual exhaust system. The Dart will also be fully American built at Chrysler Group's Belvedere Assembly Plant. This concession was part the deal struck between Fiat and the US Government when the Italian carmaker bought the bailed out company.

Paul Healy - 8 Dec 2011