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Chrysler never revealed sales expectations for the Dart, but it hoped the car would attract younger buyers. Darts start at just under $16,000, $2,000 less than the Honda Civic, the top-selling compact in the U.S. The Dart is designed with a luxurious interior and sports-car handling. Chrysler offered numerous options so buyers could customize their cars. But so far, the Dart's sales haven't come close to leaders in the compact car segment. Honda sold nearly 318,000 Civics last year. Marchionne is confident the Dart will eventually sell well. It offers far more features than competitors for the price, he says. Although Chrysler named the Dart after a popular sedan from the 1960s and 1970s, it's nothing like its predecessor. Instead of the somewhat boxy lines of the original, the new Dart has the sleek stance of a modern muscle car, with a short hood, long roof and slightly flared fenders. And it's based on the frame and suspension of a crisp-handling Alfa Romeo hatchback brought over by Chrysler's Italian owner, Fiat SpA. Chrysler, which ran out of cash and had to be bailed out by the government in 2009, saw its overall U.S. sales jump 21 percent last year.
[Associated
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