The Dodge Dart, a reinterpretation of the 1960s' nameplate, needs to hit the bull's-eye if Chrysler is to have any chance of regaining a toehold in the competitive compact car market long dominated by import brands such as the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic.
It's the first car jointly developed by Chrysler and Italy's Fiat, which gained a controlling stake in the Auburn Hills, Mich., automaker since the federal government bailout and bankruptcy reorganization in 2009. Fiat Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne runs both businesses.
How the Dart performs will be a yardstick for the partnership. It reaches dealerships in the coming weeks.
"If the Dart does well, it will be a feather in the cap of the alliance, but if it does not, it will reflect negatively," said Thomas Libby, an analyst with R.L. Polk & Co.
Long known for its trucks, SUVs and minivans, Chrysler knows it needs to crack the small-car market, which is among the largest segments of U.S. auto sales, making up more than 16% of all new-car sales to consumers this year, according to a Polk study of registration data.