When the 2012 Beijing Motor Show opens next week, the 2013
Dodge Dart will make its Chinese debut but it won’t be called the Dart and it
won’t be badged as a Dodge – instead sporting the new name Fiat Viaggio for the
Chinese market.Also, the Fiat Viaggio
will not be built at the Belvidere Assembly Plant with the new Dodge Dart but
rather, Fiat will build the Viaggio at the new GAC-Fiat ‘World Class
Manufacturing’ plant in the Hunan province.
The differences between the Fiat Viaggio and Dodge Dart don’t
end at the name and build site though, as the Chinese market Fiat wears under
fascias that are a bit ‘softer’ than the uber aggressive Dart along with adding
a bit more chrome around the front end to support a more upscale look. More importantly to Dodge lovers – the Viaggio
will not feature the awesome wraparound LED taillight from the Dart.
Next, the
engines from the Dodge Dart have been left in the US as the Fiat Viaggio will
be powered by a pair of 1.4L T-Jet 4-cylinder engines; one making 120
horsepower and the more powerful version making 150hp.These motors both come mated to a 5-speed
manual transmission in standard form but a dry dual clutch automatic
transmission will also be available for Chinese buyers.
For those wondering…Viaggio means voyage in Italian.
The Fiat Viaggio will arrive in Chinese Fiat dealerships
during the third quarter of 2012 – right around the same time that the Dodge
Dart R/T is arriving at American dealerships.
"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.
When the 2012 Beijing Motor Show opens next week, the 2013