Late last week, the first batch of new 2013 Dodge Dart
compact sedans were assembled at Texas Motor Speedway for dealership
representatives from around the southwestern US to come experience the new car.At the end of the presentation, reps from
roughly 250 Chrysler Group dealerships around the southwest each took one of
the specially marked Dodge Darts back to their area where this first vehicle
would serve as the dealer demonstration model.
A similar program will go on at other locations around the
nation as the first batch of 2013 Dodge Darts arrives in showrooms over the
course of the next few weeks – with the first large scale rollout for customer
purchase coming in July.
This first batch of 2013 Dodge Dart sedans are not intended
for sale to the customer but dealerships are reportedly permitted sell these
units if the price is right.Since they
are serving as dealer demonstration models, all of these 250 Dart sedans sport
unique decals on the sides and hood prominently displaying the name and logo of
the sporty new C segment compact.Based
on the pictures provided by Chrysler, it appears as though all of these first
Darts are Rallye models in Redline 2-Coat Pearl exterior paint (bright red)
with two large blacked out areas on the hood also sporting the Dart logo.
While these standoffish decals might discourage the average
consumer from buying these particular 2013 Dodge Dart sedans, these first units
could be quick collectable items for diehard Dodge fans so it will be
interesting to see how many dealerships are willing to let these leave the lot
in the hands of a private owner – at least before the full wave of production
units arrives next month.
"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.
Late last week, the first batch of new 2013 Dodge Dart
