Chrysler Canada president and Dodge brand CEO Reid Bigland confirmed in an interview recently that Dodge offers only a sedan version of its upcoming Dart compact, even though the best-selling compact vehicles in this country offer multiple body styles.
In an interview on the floor of the Canadian International Auto Show, Bigland said sedans represent 90 per cent of the compact segment, and 25 per cent of the overall Canadian new-car (not including truck) marketplace, so the company wants to focus on one mainstream product to launch itself back into the compact car game.
“We’re going to go right up the middle of where the demand is,” said Bigland, although he acknowledged that hatchbacks and two-door coupes have helped the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra and Mazda3 become the best-selling cars in Canada. “Right now, the evidence is overwhelmingly on a four-door sedan.”
However, the new Dart will offer one uniquely practical option at launch: the industry’s first cordless recharger for one’s cellphone. There will be a pad and sleeve setup offered as an accessory through Mopar – it will be available first on the Dart – and will cost about $200, said Mopar president Pietro Gorlier. It will then roll out into other pricier Chrysler products such as the Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee, Gorlier said at the show.