Kelley Blue Book: Dodge Dart Hits the Bull's Eye of Cool

HOT SPRINGS, ARK. (07/05/2012)(readMedia)-- The all-new 2013 Dodge Dart has just recently arrived at dealer showrooms, but the compact car is already hitting the mark when it comes to industry accolades. Recently topping the 10 Coolest Cars Under $18,000 list from Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com, the Dart was honored by the auto-research site for its mix of performance, style, features and value.

Aside from requiring that each vehicle on its list have a certain cool factor, kbb.com also made sure that its 10 Coolest Cars were both fun-to-drive and fun-to-own. Editors noted the Dodge Dart's spacious interior and huge personalization potential while placing it at the number one spot, adding that the car has the goods to compete in the crowded compact-car segment.

"Cool means different things to different people, but the Dart features an array of colors, powertrains and technologies to suit whatever a customer's definition might be," said Tim Parker, dealer principal of Tim Parker Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, a Hot Springs, Arkansas Dodge dealer. "Younger buyers don't want their car to look the same as every other one that rolls off the production line, and Dart owners can be confident that they will rarely see another model that is identical to theirs."

The 2013 Dodge Dart offers up to 100,000 different feature combinations as buyers consider its 12 exterior colors, 14 interior color and trim arrangements, three engines, three transmissions, seven wheel options and six trim levels. Dodge says that unparalleled selection is aimed at buyers in their 20s and 30s and serves as a key differentiator between the Dart and competing compacts from the likes of Honda, Hyundai and Ford.

Housing a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, the standard Dodge Dart outputs 160 horsepower while returning up to 36 mpg on the highway. Opting for a 1.4-liter turbocharged unit with identical horsepower not only improves efficiency to 39 mpg on the highway, but also boosts torque by 36 units to 184 pound-feet. That added torque gives the Dart one of the fastest 0 - 60 mph times in its class, but those that want more horsepower might prefer the Dart R/T, which arrives later this year with a 184-horsepower 2.4-liter engine.

Tech-savvy car shoppers will also find plenty to like about the Dodge Dart, including the vehicle's available seven-inch reconfigurable Thin Film Transistor (TFT) display and 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreen. Intuitive technology can be found beyond the dashboard as well, with options like rain-sensing windshield wipers and a Rear Cross Path Detection system that alerts drivers of passing vehicles when backing out of a parking space.

"Fans of the original Dodge Dart probably remember that it could be customized with a variety of features, and the new Dart is following in its footsteps," Parker added. "The only difference is that the 2013 Dart's combinations of performance, fuel efficiency and technology would have been unimaginable when its predecessor was popular decades ago."

About Tim Parker Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram:

A winner of Chrysler's Five-Star Dealer and Environmental Leadership awards, Tim Parker Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram has been serving Arkansas drivers for years with new and pre-owned car sales, service and parts at their Hot Springs auto dealership. Whether you're looking for a Ram 1500, Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger or Jeep Wrangler, Tim Parker Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram will find your ideal model with their unmatched customer-first approach. You can visit their showroom located at 4722 Central Ave. in Hot Springs, call them at 888-227-1487 or find them online at www.timparkerchrysler.com. They can also be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TimParkerAuto.