Based on Fiat’s Alfa Romeo Giulietta, the Dodge Dart likes to hype up its Italian sporting roots. Available only as a four-door sedan though, the Dart is currently lacking attractive hatchback or coupe offerings that many other brands have in their stable. Dodge is looking to bolster Dart sales, and the solution may have been in front of them the whole time.

Over in China, the Fiat Opttimo was introduced at the Ghuangzhou Motor Show, and it will go on sale in the People’s Republic starting next year. But we know better; it’s a gussied-up Dodge Dart hatchback, and we think it needs to come over to America ASAP.

Hatchbacks remain a hot commodity with American buyers seeking a practical but compact vehicle. Dodge has offered hatchbacks before, with the Caliber being the most recent mistake, but Ford has seen a lot of success with hatchback versions of the Focus and Fiesta. Chevy also has a hatchback in its lineup, the Chevy Sonic, and buyers are gobbling those up.

Dodge is looking at a variety of fixes for languishing Dart sales, including a possible V6 option shoehorned into the Dart’s engine bay. A hatchback version would open up the Dart to more buyers as well, and coupled with a powerful V6 engine, it could be a practical and fun people mover for Mopar fans. And we haven’t even mentioned the possibility of a SRT version.

Would you give the Dart another look if this hatchback version was available?