- World-class Aerodynamics, State-of-the-art Technology and an Agile,
Responsive Driving Experience Compliments of Alfa Romeo-based
Architecture
- More than 600 hours of development time in Chrysler Group’s wind
tunnel combined with segment-leading technology, such as active grille
shutters and extensive use of under body belly plans, helped Dodge Dart
achieve its world-class aerodynamic performance
- Proven, modular Alfa Romeo Giulietta architecture lengthened 12
inches and widened roughly an inch on each side for North American
market; delivers fun-to-drive experience with more interior roominess
than some mid-size sedans
- The Dart body has one of the highest high-strength steel contents in
the industry, 68 percent, which results in a solid, rigid structure
- Liberal applications of sound-deadening materials contribute to Dodge Dart’s whisper-quiet interior
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| 2013 Dodge Dart R/T |
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The all-new 2013 Dodge Dart was
developed and engineered to exceed customer expectations for
satisfaction, quality and reliability. Dodge engineers looked at every
detail during development by tracking more than 5,000 customer
functional objectives for the car on a weekly basis.
The functional objectives were
determined from consumer clinics that took place at the start of the
design and development of the Dart. Engineers spent time with consumers
who owned a compact car and tracked things that truly matter to them.
”The 2013 Dodge Dart was engineered to
compete with the best vehicles in the compact car segment,” said Matt
Liddane, Vehicle Line Executive – Chrysler Group LLC. “We listened to
our customers and developed an outstanding compact sedan that delivers
where it matters most – it’s fuel-efficient, extremely quiet, has all
the latest high-tech features, is unsurpassed in the class with 10
airbags and it’s an absolute blast to drive. We can’t wait for our
customers to experience it.”
The Dart excels not only in traditional performance metrics, but also as an ecologically smart, fuel-efficient vehicle.
Alfa Romeo Roots FIAT
Group architecture – compliments of the award-winning Alfa Romeo
Giulietta – is the basis for the underpinnings of the new 2013 Dodge
Dart. The Giulietta is renowned for satisfying the most demanding
customers in terms of exceptional driving dynamics and agility, and that
DNA carries over to the new Dodge Dart. Dodge engineers lengthened the
platform 12 inches as they expanded it from a hatch to a sedan and
widened it roughly 2 inches – almost 1 inch on each side –to create a
spacious compact sedan with the interior roominess of a mid-size car.
The Giulietta’s proven modular
architecture means many models can be built using the same basic
underpinnings. The result is better quality and reliability, as well as
lower costs, less development time and tooling. The Compact U.S. Wide
(CUS-wide) architecture Dart is built on is comprised of common, modular
and interchangeable components and allows for modularity of the
wheelbase, front track, rear track, front overhang, length and width
across vehicle lines.
The 2013 Dodge Dart’s body structure has
a high-strength steel content of 68 percent, one of the highest in the
industry. Hot stamped-, high-strength- and ultra-high-strength steel are
used to construct a strong, lightweight, solid vehicle architecture.
World-class Aerodynamics
The
all-new 2013 Dodge Dart hits the mark with world-class aerodynamic
performance compliments of a modern, sculpted exterior design and
innovative technology not typically seen in the compact sedan segment.
The Dart spent more than 600 hours of
development time in the Chrysler Group’s state-of-the-art aero acoustic
wind tunnel. As a result, designers optimized the car’s front end for
smooth airflow above, below and around the car without compromising
styling or engine cooling requirements. Examples include the notch angle
at the rear of the car, the shape of the rear taillamp applique and
rear corners, all of which combine to improve aero performance without
hurting the design aesthetics. In addition, work in the wind tunnel
helped designers aero shape the mirrors for a significant improvement in
aerodynamic performance.
The all-new Dodge Dart is the first
Dodge vehicle to employ an active grille shutter system, which
automatically closes the airflow through the lower intake when cooling
is least needed, reducing drag roughly 3 to 5 percent when compared with
a vehicle without an active grille shutter system.
When the active grille shutters are
closed, airflow is redirected around the front of the vehicle and down
the sides, rather than through the vehicle, enhancing aero performance.
Engine coolant temperature and vehicle speed determine whether the
shutter is open or closed. For example, the shutter will close at
highway speeds when less engine cooling is required and aerodynamic drag
is most significant; the system will open when the car is hot city
driving, traveling up a hill or pulling a trailer.
The 2013 Dodge Dart includes
segment-exclusive underbody panels that run virtually stem to stern on
the Dart’s underbody and are more typically found on luxury vehicles.
The belly panels are constructed of Mold-in-color (MIC) black composite
and essentially cover 90 percent of the underbody. In addition to the
aerodynamic benefits, the panels also serve to stop road noise from
entering the passenger cabin.
The extensive use of
underbody treatments, including a stylized lower radiator close out
panel that is positioned below the front fascia, front and rear tire
spats, an engine belly pan, two mid-floor belly pans, a center diffuser
and outboard diffusers, collectively reduce aerodynamic drag by 7
percent.
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| Never Neutral 2013 Dodge Dart |
Fun-to-drive Dynamics
The
Dart’s chassis was engineered to deliver sporty European handling
dynamics and steering precision with ride and comfort characteristics
tuned for North American roads.
The front and rear suspensions on the
Dodge Dart are built using bushings and geometry tuned to achieve
excellent handling with maximum comfort.
The exceptional balance of fun-to-drive
dynamics, emergency handling, ride comfort and a quiet cabin is
accomplished through the suspension bushing tuning and the exceptional
body structure, including the front aluminum cradle, rear upper/under
body structure reinforcement and superior suspension attachment
stiffness.
The 2013 Dodge Dart features the proven
MacPherson strut front suspension, which is renowned for its packaging
efficiency and light weight. Dodge engineers specifically tuned the
front suspension geometry to minimize camber loss, resulting in more
responsive steering and handling characteristics and a smooth ride with
little to no road noise – all qualities drivers will appreciate.
Dodge engineers used aluminum alloys for
the knuckles and brake calipers and high-strength steels for the
suspension linkages. They also optimized structural components to
minimize unsprung weight (the weight of parts that are not carried on
the springs, such as wheels, axles, and brakes), which results in more
responsive vehicle handling, ride quality and reduced road noise.
The stiffness and low weight of the
front suspension helps reduce typical rolling noise, keeping the road
noise where it belongs – on the road and out of the Dart’s passenger
cabin.
The 2013 Dodge Dart’s suspension
features a flat-bottomed geometry in which the floor plan is nicely
integrated, which actively contributes to the Dart’s exceptional
aerodynamic performance. Many key front-suspension components improve
ride quality, durability and safety.
- Ride quality is improved, in part, thanks to the use of:
- Split dome anti-sway bar blocks that optimize the exchange of forces between the suspension and body, filtering out vibrations
- Telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers with high lateral stiffness
- Solid half-shafts throughout the range that help reduce weight and vibration
- Side load coil springs that optimize the thrust axis and help transfer loads on the shock absorber to improve comfort
- High-strength springs
- Durability and perceived vehicle quality are improved in part by:
- Spring isolators interposed between the springs and their support bases to eliminate running noise
- One-piece cast-iron lower control arms to enhance durability
- A third load path, which provides additional safety benefits for
drivers and passengers, is created with attachments on the
cast-aluminum, flat cross member that are strong enough to absorb loads
in the event of an impact. The flat cross member enhances vehicle
rigidity
The Dart’s front suspension cradle is
constructed of high-pressure, die-cast aluminum, which is 14-pounds
lighter than more conventional front cradle applications. The cradle
also is stiff, helping stop the transmission of noise, vibration and
harshness (NVH) into the passenger compartment, contributing to the
Dart’s exceptionally quiet interior.
A bi-link independent rear suspension on
the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart enables European handling capability for
those drivers who love to lean into corners and the smooth ride North
American drivers covet.
Lightweight, hollow aluminum
longitudinal arms enable the Dart’s exceptional handling capability.
Engineers dampened and isolated the ride harshness by employing premium
urethane jounce bumpers, which provide smooth, progressive engagement
over sharp bumps. The rubber upper and lower spring seat isolators and
shock absorber bushings and tuned rubber bushings at the inboard and
outboard ends of the suspension provide additional isolation.
Many key components of the rear suspension improve vehicle handling, reduce road noise and improve durability.
- Handling performance is improved, in part, thanks to the use of:
- An aluminum cross member with an optimized weight/stiffness ratio improves the reaction to lateral loads
- A stabilizer bar with torsional stiffness delivers sporty handling
- Bushings with stiffness characteristics are designed to maximize handling
- Road and running noise is reduced through the use of:
- Spring isolators between the springs and their support bases
- Bushings with low dynamic stiffening ratios minimize the noise levels transmitted from the road
- Vehicle durability is improved with the use of:
- Steel springs with high fatigue durability allow for weight containment
- Chrome guide rods enable very long durability even under extreme use conditions
- Telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers that connect to the lower link are engineered for minimal bulk
The rear suspension cradle is crafted in
the same manner as the front, with a high-pressure die-cast aluminum
structure. It is optimized to provide minimal weight, which enables
fuel-efficiency, and for stiffness, which reduces the transmission of
NVH into the passenger compartment.
The Dart’s all-season tires provide
exceptional grip and balanced performance and contribute to the
vehicle’s excellent ride comfort. The standard 16-inch and available
17-inch tires were picked with an emphasis on fuel efficiency. Dart
R/T’s standard 18-inch tire puts a priority on steering and handling.
Power Steering System
With
a 15:1 steering ratio, the 2013 Dodge Dart is one of the
fastest-steering vehicles in the compact car segment. The Dart’s
steering system is designed and engineered for the best performance for
the driver in sporty driving conditions, as well as excellent handling
and reduced effort during parking maneuvers.
The all-new Dart employs standard
electric power steering (EPS). All of the power assist is provided via
an electric motor system rather than a traditional hydraulic system.
Because the system is fully electronic, the driver experiences optimal
steering effort at all vehicle speeds, and there is less noise and
better fuel efficiency since there is no parasitic loss from a power
steering pump.
The boost, or assist, is variable and
speed sensitive, responding to sensors monitoring steering torque,
steering wheel speed and angle and vehicle speed. The steering system is
fully integrated with the vehicle’s electronic stability control (ESC)
system and helps to compensate in split-traction, torque steer and
pull-drift (crowned road) situations.
The 2013 Dodge Dart features
next-generation electric dual-pinion steering, which delivers sporty
handling by managing significant loads at all steering wheel operating
speeds, power assist curves modulated according to driving conditions
and up to a 3 percent improvement in fuel efficiency when compared with a
conventional hydraulic system.
The Dart steering column is designed for
telescopic adjustment of up to 40 mm and up to 4 degrees of angular
adjustment. The Dodge Dart has an estimated turning circle of 38.1 feet.
Brakes
The 2013 Dodge
Dart is the only vehicle in the compact sedan segment to include
four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes (ABS) with traction control standard on
all models.
The Dodge Dart features a four-channel
anti-lock braking system that monitors the speed of each wheel
individually. The four-channel system allows individual wheel braking
for superior control and provides backup braking in the unlikely event
that one of the two braking circuits would fail. The ABS software uses a
steering wheel angle sensor that allows the system to differentiate
between straight-line braking and braking in a turn resulting in better
straight line braking with minimal yaw.
The Traction Control System (TCS), which
is integrated with ABS, is an all-speed, four-channel system. TCS helps
maximize driver control in all conditions by combining both engine
torque and brake control to regulate wheel spin at all driving speeds.
When the system senses impending wheel slip during acceleration, it
signals the throttle control to reduce drive wheel torque. Under extreme
situations, such as going from pavement to ice during acceleration, the
system will selectively apply the brakes to maintain control. An ESC
button on the center stack allows the driver to partially turn off the
system.
The all-new Dodge Dart also features
electronic brake-force distribution, which helps the driver optimize
stopping distances and maintain control under all vehicle loading
conditions by regulating braking pressure front-to-rear.
Vented 305 x 28 mm front rotors help
dissipate braking-related heat and improve braking performance compared
with non-vented brake rotors. Solid 264 x 10 mm rear disc brakes improve
braking performance with better pedal feel and reduced stopping
distance. They are also quieter and lighter than drum rotors.
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| Fun from the inside too 2013 Dodge Dart |
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Whisper-quiet interior
The
Dodge Dart’s interior cabin is engineered to be exceptionally quiet.
This is accomplished through the honing of exterior shapes and the use
of sealing and acoustic sound-deadening materials and applications.
The all-new Dart was engineered using
multiple techniques to optimize and hone exterior shapes and to make for
a smooth, quiet ride. From front to rear, those techniques include:
- Laser-braised roof ditch eliminates noise-inducing cavities and resonance along the roof line
- A segment-exclusive seal from the backlight to the decklid stops
turbulence in the area resulting in a quieter ride for rear seat
occupants. The seal also eliminates the chance for air leakage into the
trunk compartment and protects the trunk from water seepage
- The grille grates are optimized to minimize air “swoosh”
- Wiper blades are positioned below the hood line, which ensures near silent operation
- A hood seal closes off the hood-to-fascia gap, minimizing air turbulence
- 3.0 mm acoustic laminate windshield glass delivers a 2.5 to 3.0
decibel reduction in noise when compared with standard laminate glass
- Door uppers were designed and engineered so nothing invades air flow
around the vehicle, which can be a common source of wind noise
- Mirrors were refined and optimized during hundreds of hours of wind tunnel analysis to improve both aero and sound performance
- A triple door seal system for all doors keeps wind and noise from seeping into the passenger compartment
The 2013 Dodge Dart also is the first
Dodge vehicle to use a hybrid system of rocker foam and acoustic
baffles. The acoustic baffles are paint-oven expandable and are placed
in cavities in the Dart’s body structure to reduce road noise.
Twenty-four acoustic baffles are applied in the B-pillars, dog-leg,
sail/C-pillars, rails and A-pillar. Similar to the acoustic baffles,
expandable tape is applied in three-to-four locations in the window
frames of all four doors, which stops air leakage in the door header,
weld flanges and holes.
Engineers also applied 100 percent fully
sealed acoustic perimeter water deflectors in all four doors, which is a
key enabler to reducing the amount of air and related noise that sneaks
into the passenger compartment. The rubberized shield has only one
orifice while most have multiple holes.
Baked on mastic in the floor pan of the
new Dodge Dart reduces road noise and vibration and adds to the
vehicle’s smooth, quiet ride.
Engine covers and a glove-fit instrument panel pad on the passenger compartment side reduce powertrain noise.
All of the treatments result in less air
entering into the passenger cabin, giving drivers and passengers
world-class levels of interior-cabin quietness in the all-new 2013 Dodge
Dart.
Segment-leading heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC)
The
all-new 2013 Dodge Dart offers best-in-class heating and cooling
performance delivering exceptional heat up, cool down and defrost, as
well as quiet performance.
To achieve the segment-leading
performance, engineers used Computational Fluid Dynamics to deliver just
the right amount of air flow through the ductwork. A variable
displacement condenser continually matches the requested cooling load,
which keeps the system stable and helps it operate quietly and
efficiently. The central unit doors of the system are electronic; there
are no cables, so drivers and passengers experience a more consistent
feel when the system is on.
The air outlets are adjusted with
rack-and-pinion vein adjusters, which make them both feel pleasant to
the touch and give a consistent feel when they’re repositioned in a
different direction. Outboard air outlet bezels in the Dodge Dart come
in three finishes: black, satin chrome or black chrome. Models equipped
with automatic temperature control also include a humidity sensor, which
creates an automatic de-fog capability.
Customer-focused Vehicle Development
The
all-new 2013 Dodge Dart was developed and engineered to exceed
expectations for customer satisfaction, quality and reliability.
Engineers used Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) to ensure the voice of the
customer was captured during the vehicle development process. DFSS folds
in voice of the customer data along with lessons learned to ensure
every vehicle is of the highest quality possible.
Before the Dart was even designed,
customer focus teams were established to understand the voice of the
customer. Critical areas and key systems were used to designate
projects. The all-new 2013 Dodge Dart had more than 100 DFSS projects
during its development phases. Dodge engineers looked at every detail
during development by tracking more than 5,000 customer functional
objectives for the car on a weekly basis. The customer functional
objectives were determined from consumer clinics held at the start of
the Dart’s design and development.
The 2013 Dodge Dart was engineered with a
new definition of performance in mind. The Dart excels not only in
traditional performance metrics, but also as an ecologically smart,
fuel-efficient vehicle.
As Quoted by
2013 Dodge Dart Headquarters " The 2013 Dodge Dart is a car for the people, the level of refinement, performance, economy, and customization is at a level never seen before in the segment let alone any vehicle under $50,000 dollars. That this car starts at $15,995 is a engineering miracle."
January
10, 2012 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – When the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart
arrives in showrooms later this year, consumers will have a full menu of
more than 150 Mopar® accessories and performance parts from which to
choose.
