The Ottimo (a word that means “excellent” in Italian) is based on the four-door Viaggio sedan, which is essentially a Dodge Dart with a bespoke front end sold exclusively on the Chinese market. In its transition from a sedan to a hatchback, the Viaggio gains a model-specific front bumper with a smaller, more upscale-looking radiator grille adorned by chrome trim. The sculpted hatch and the tail lamps draw inspiration from the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, the hatchback that the Dart and the Viaggio both trace their roots to.
Mechanically, the hatchback will be offered with two versions of Fiat’s widely-used 1.4-liter four-cylinder gas-burning engine rated at 120 and 150 horsepower, respectively. A five-speed manual will come standard and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic will be offered at an extra cost.
At the time of writing Dodge is not planning on offering a two-box version of the Dart in the United States because buyers have a tendency to shun hatchbacks, but the car could make a late appearance in Fiat’s European lineup.
Built in China, the hatchback will help Fiat reach its ambitious goal of selling 300,000 cars a year on the world’s largest automaker. So far, its efforts have been in vain
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