European buyers could get a Dodge Dart hatchback – that could come to the US as the Chrysler 100

Shortly after the Dodge Dart was first introduced at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, rumors surfaced regarding a hatchback version being introduced as the Chrysler 100.  Over time, those rumors seemed to become more popular but there was never any real proof that the Chrysler Group planned to build a hatchback based on the architecture of the Dodge Dart – until now.

In Europe, the sedan that we know as the Dodge Dart is sold as the Fiat Viaggio and according to Autocar, Fiat will soon introduce a hatchback version of the Viaggio. The existence of the Fiat Viaggio hatchback shows that the Chrysler Group has indeed been working on a hatchback version of the CUSW platform on which the Dodge Dart is built and although there is no proof right now that a 5-door Dart will hit US shoes – the likelihood of the Chrysler 100 hatchback is far better than it was a during prior debates.

Even though the Chrysler Group has worked to remove redundancies within the brands, a Chrysler 100 hatchback based on the Dodge Dart sedan would differ in the basic design of the vehicle while also offering a unique exterior look and interior layout that would be very different than the Dart.  The Dart is designed to be a compact sport sedan and the exterior design leaves no question as to the sporty nature of this C segment offering.  Inside, even though the Dart is much nicer than previous low-cost compact vehicles from Dodge, the Chrysler 100 would likely offer a far more luxury themed interior where the Dart has a more sport minded design. The higher end Chrysler 100 would also likely demand a higher natural price point than would the Dart and that means more potential for profit.

There is no question that the Chrysler 100 and the Dodge Dart would cater to the tastes of very different buyers so there shouldn’t be any concern about the two battling for attention in the same showroom. The main sticking point right now could be the build location of the Fiat Viaggio hatchback. Fiat builds all of the Viaggio saloons (sedans) in a joint venture plant in China and the Fiat hatchback will also be built in China. On the other hand, the Dodge Dart is built in Belvidere, Illinois so Chrysler would either have to import the Chrysler 100 from China or rework the Belvidere assembly line to build the new Chrysler hatchback. Then again, there have long been rumors that Chrysler would eventually be selling Chinese-built Chrysler Group products here in the United States so the Chrysler 100 could be that vehicle. However, going that route would give the Chrysler 100 the stigma of being “built in China” – a title that many American products look to avoid.

Patrick Rall

"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.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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