Earlier today we brought you a look at the upcoming Fiat Ottimo – a hatchback version of the car that we know as the Dodge Dart. The Ottimo has been designed specifically for the Chinese market and although it could spread to other markets, it isnt likely to arrive in the US market for a variety of reasons. First, the Dodge Dart replaced the fairly infamous Dodge Caliber hatchback and when the Dart debuted, many Caliber haters hailed the end of the funky little 5-door. Also, the hatchback in generally is not looked upon as favorably in the US as it is on other markets so many vehicles offered as 5-door models abroad are never offered in that form in the US.
However, the steady growth in popularity of US-sold hatchback models that are compact, efficient and sporty slowly help to kill the anti-wagon stigma so there is a possibility that the Fiat Ottimo could be offered here some day as a Dodge Dart hatchback. There are a handful of competitive models with the Dart that are offered in a 5-door design including the Ford Focus, the VW Jetta, the Mazda 3 and there will eventually be a Chevy Cruze hatchback sold here. Should we see continued growth from those models as the segment grows, there is a slim chance that there could be a Dart hatchback.
Should that be the case, would you be more inclined to buy the Dart as a hatchback than you would as a sedan?
"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.
