Dodge News: No Foolin’ Around: Dodge May Delay Dart Launch Date

[Blake Noble]

G. Noble

Editor/Reporter

CheersandGears.com

March 12, 2012

Recently at the Geneva Auto Show, Fiat/Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne expressed that the upcoming Dodge Dart compact sedan may have its release date rescheduled. Why? Well, Marchionne says the production launch will be moved around for no other reason except — and we’re not making this up — “to avoid being jinxed.” Previously the Dart was on track to hit dealers on April Fools Day, April 1st.

So when should you expect to be able to drive the Alfa Romeo-based small Mopar? While hopeful minds might wish for a March 31st launch date, perhaps April 2nd could be the targeted day since it is, after all, the day proceeding April 1st. Since Marchionne didn’t specify when, it’s really anyone’s guess.

Marchionne went on to say the Dart is “a huge step forward in terms of moving the brand into the American heartland.” With the promise of some class-leading features and very good fuel economy, who’s to argue with that?

Source: USA Today

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[G. David Felt]

Honestly if they are worried about a feaking day jinx their product, then they do not have much faith in the quality of the product.

April 1st is a sunday what moron releases a new product on a sunday. If they wanted to do this rightl, they should have it on Friday March 30th to drive people into the show room over the weekend.

Clearly someone was not thinking with their big head in Marketing.

[regfootball]

I walked by the Dart on the display at the autoshow this weekend and thought... "Neon 2.0" the exact same time some kid was commenting to his buddy on how it reminded him of the Neon...... me thinks the public in general will probably say that a lot...

[G. David Felt]

Reg, have to disagree with you as I do NOT get the Neon 2.0 feeling from the design at all. I was no fan of the neon but the SRT4 neon was not bad. Yet this is totally dfferent in my eyes and has far better looking design cues.

[Robert Hall]

More of a Neon 3.0 (since there were 2 generations of Neon). This is a much nicer looking car overall from the pics, though.

[regfootball]

like I said, others in the crowd were saying Neon, outloud. Family resemblence is working then, I guess. As long as they don't have ads saying "Hi"

[2QuickZ's]

I don't see Neon at all. Is the comment more directed at the fact it is a small FWD sedan or are people really seeing a resemblance?

[daves87rs]

Neon....

[§carlet §wordfish]

In the general shape of the body I see a bit of resemblance. The front ends both have fenders that follow the contours of the headlights, with hoods that dip below the peaks to to grilles. They both have wide grilles that run all the way between the headlights. They both have straight character lines that run from the top of the front wheel arch above the rear one. And they both have very arch-like greenhouses.

However, I always thought the Neon's most distinctive features were its big, round, friendly headlights, and the Dart's mug is not at all friendly. And the extravagant taillights clearly establish it in the same family as the Charger. In my eyes the Dart holds its stylistic ground just fine against all the others in its class.

[Drew Dowdell]

Many dealers in the US are not allowed to be open on Sundays by state law. Step 1 of picking a release date of an anticipated product is making sure your stores will be open to sell said product on said day.

This was just a stupid flub on Chrysler's part, that's all.

[2QuickZ's]

I saw one today on my way home from work (one perk of living in metro Detroit is you see pre-prod cars all the time). I have to say I really don't see Neon from any angle. I guess its just me?

[Hudson]

"Recently at the Geneva Auto Show, Fiat/Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne expressed that the upcoming Dodge Dart compact sedan may have its release date rescheduled. Why? Well, Marchionne says the production launch will be moved around for no other reason except — and we’re not making this up — “to avoid being jinxed.” Previously the Dart was on track to hit dealers on April Fools Day, April 1st."

This was just a stupid flub on Chrysler's part, that's all.

Isn't this old news by now. When this quote was first mentioned in the news, it was mentioned that the reporters were too dense to GET THE JOKE! Marchionne wasn't serious...at no time were they planning to launch production on April 1. C'mon, guys...I expected more from you.

[SAmadei]

The Gremlin was released onto the public April 1st... and sold in huge numbers for a decade (though it was called a Spirit at the end)... not really a jinx.

[G. David Felt]

Stupif flub by marketing as you should always release on a thursday or friday so you can drive traffic and sales into the floorroom for sales.

[Hudson]

Stupif flub by marketing as you should always release on a thursday or friday so you can drive traffic and sales into the floorroom for sales.

It's the start of production, not sales.