The 2013 Dodge Dart began hitting dealerships around the
United States last month via dealership “drive away” programs and even though
the vehicles handed out last week were all identical models intended to be
demonstration models – 202 of those new Darts driven back to dealerships around
the country were sold to consumers.
All of the first 2013 Dodge Darts sent to dealerships last
month were identical, being Rallye models in Redline 2 Coat Pearl paint with
the 1.4L Turbocharged Fiat motor mated to a 6-speed manual transmission.Literally thousands of these similar Dart
Rallye demonstration models were driven to dealers all over the country and 202
of those were quickly sold – many on the same day that they arrived at the
dealership.
The Chrysler Group hopes that the new Dodge Dart will be the
next “it” vehicle – at least mimicking the success seen by the Dodge Dart and
their unique drive away program plan was designed to give a dealership
representative a good chance to get real driving experience behind the wheel of
the 2013 Dart.While these vehicles were
intended to be demonstration models at dealerships for walk-in customers hoping
to meet the new Dart, dealers were permitted to sell these vehicles just as
they would any other vehicle on the lot.
In some cases, dealerships are very willing to sell their
first 2013 Dodge Dart while others are holding onto it so that more prospective
customers can check it out before the full wave of production models arrives
later this month.We can expect the
sales numbers for July 2012 to show far more than 202 Darts sold.
To continue to spur interest and enthusiasm in the 2013
Dodge Dart, the Dodge website now has the Dodge Dart Customizer.On this new toy, you can pick your trimline,
exterior color, wheel style, mirror style, exhaust tip design, headlights and
accessories while choosing from a variety of backgrounds.The image above was taken from the Dart
Customizer, showing the Dart set up just like the first units sold last month.Click here to customize the 2013 Dodge Dart
for yourself!
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
The 2013 Dodge Dart began hitting dealerships around the