We’re going to say this right off the bat: the new ’13 Dodge Dart is NOT a Fiat. It’s not even an Alfa Romeo Giulietta, in which it’s based off of. That would be like saying that the ’11 SRT8 Challenger is an E-Class Mercedes-Benz. The new Dart is all-American. Don’t believe us? Here, we’ll show you…

First, to meet what Chrysler calls the “Compact U.S. Wide” architecture, the Alfa was both lengthened (106.4-inch wheelbase, 183.9-inch total length) and widened (72 inches); making it about 200 pounds heavier than the Alfa.

The fifth, hatchback door was removed, making the platform a sedan, and Dodge completely reconfigured the four-wheel independent suspension design comprised of MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link rear.

Dodge retained the Alfa’s electric power steering, which will assist the FWD sedan’s sporty handling.

There’s no single strip of sheetmetal that is shared between the Dart and Alfa Giulietta (68-percent of the metal used in the unibody design is high-strength steel, says Dodge), particularly as every Dart will be build in Chrysler Group’s Belvidere Assembly Plant in Belvidere, Ill.

As for powerplants, the Dart comes with three engine options:

For SE, SXT, Rallye and Limited trim levels, the 160-horsepower “Tigershark” 16-valve 2.0-liter engine is available with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged 16-valve 1.4-liter engine (similar to what’s found in the Fiat 500) featuring Fiat’s innovative MultiAir variable valve intake system, makes 160hp and an increased 164ft. lbs. of torque at 2,550rpm takes either the six-speed manual or a six-speed, dual-clutch automated manual gearbox.

For the Dart R/T, a 2.4-liter “Tigershark” MultiAir – making 184 hp at 6,250 rpm, but only 145 lbs. ft. of torque, is available with six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, but not the dual-clutch. And don’t fret, all three engines are made here in America (including the Fiat 1.4L, in case you were wondering). Oh yeah, and expect to see the 9-speed ZF automatic you’ve heard so much about the following year.

With all the added size to the Dart, leg, shoulder and hiproom are expected to rival if not surpass other vehicles its size. But the big thing about the Dart isn’t size, it’s style.

The gauge cluster features – at least some models – a 7-inch thin-film transistor (TFT) display, with an optional audio-navigation system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen available.

The available safety features and creature comforts are on par with some luxury cars, with driver and front-passenger knee airbags, blind-spot monitoring mirrors and a back-up camera with cross-traffic alerts, optional HID headlights on some models, heated steering wheel and a keyless ignition.

On the outside, the Dart is both subtle and menacing (that is, for a FWD sedan), sharing its wraparound LED tail panel with the statelier Charger and a wide, blacked-out grille that looks better in our opinion than the aforementioned Charger.

Nonetheless, we’re pretty happy with the new Dart. Dodge has been needing a proper successor to the Neon – particularly the generally praised SRT4 – and we’re certain that this eco-box will rise to meet the challenges the brand is faced with. With an estimated 40 mpg from the EPA (for the 1.4L turbo, we presume), we have pretty high hopes.