Hoping to boost 2016 Dart sales, Dodge has announced a sweeping “simplification” plan for the compact sedan set to start later this month. The base Dart SE and the range-topping Dart Limited will be dropped, while the remaining trio of repackaged and renamed Dart models priced to boost their appeal. Dart sales have dropped 33 percent.
The new entry model will be the Dart SXT Sport which opens at $18,990, $1,000 more than the base SE but $1,400 less than the current SXT. Powered by the 160-horsepower/2.0-liter Tigershark 4-cylinder engine, the SXT Sport will come with remote keyless entry, Uconnect voice command with Bluetooth, multifunction steering wheel, Sirius Satellite radio, air conditioning, cruise control and 16-inch aluminum wheels.
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Effectively replacing the Dart Aero and aimed at those who want to shift for themselves, the 2016 Dodge Dart Turbo is fitted with the 160-horse/1.4-liter MultiAir 2 Turbo engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. Opening at $20,490 — which is $1,600 under the Aero — it comes with a sport appearance hood, dual exhaust, Rallye Appearance accents, 17-inch Granite Crystal alloy wheels and a 41-mpg EPA highway rating.
Topping the range is the 2016 Dodge Dart GT Sport, which opens at $21,990 — an $1,100 reduction from the existing Dart GT. Packing a 184-horse/2.4-liter Tigershark 4-cylinder that can be backed by a 6-speed manual transmission or the 6-speed automatic, the GT Sport boasts performance gearing, a host of exterior accents and 17-inch alloy wheels as well as a 10-way power driver seat, 7.0-inch full-color reconfigurable digital gauge cluster, rear backup camera, dual-zone automatic temperature control and the Uconnect 8.4 infotainment system.
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“We are repositioning the Dart lineup to better align production and dealer inventory with consumer demand and preference,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Car Brands — Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA — North America. “The simplification of Dart models, coupled with the availability of popular Rallye, Blacktop and Chrome appearance packages across more of the lineup, makes it easier for dealers to order and stock vehicles that customers are looking for.”
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