Is the Dodge Dart an Alfa Romeo?
No. The Dodge Dart is a Dodge model, not an Alfa Romeo.
To understand why the question arises, note that the 2013–2016 Dodge Dart was developed within Fiat Chrysler Automobiles on a compact-car platform that Alfa Romeo used for its Giulietta. The linkage is technical and historical, not a badge swap: the Dart is sold as a Dodge, while Alfa Romeo remains a distinct brand with its own lineup.
Shared engineering, not a badge swap
Before detailing what is shared, it helps to know the nature of the connection. The Dart’s development reflected the Fiat-Chrysler alliance era, during which engineering work and platform concepts circulated across brands. This means some underlying architecture and powertrain components trace back to Fiat/Alfa Romeo engineering, even though the Dart itself carries a Dodge badge.
- Platform underpinnings: The Dart was developed on a compact-car architecture tied to Fiat-Chrysler collaboration, with design inputs also related to Alfa Romeo’s small-car programs.
- Engine families: The Dart used four-cylinders that were part of the broader Fiat/Chrysler engine family, including turbo and naturally aspirated options common to multiple brands in the group.
- Driving dynamics: The Dart’s front-drive layout and suspension concepts align with the small-car engineering shared within the FCA family.
- Branding: Despite engineering links, the vehicle is marketed and sold as a Dodge, with Dodge styling, trim, and branding cues.
- Conclusion: The Dart is not Alfa Romeo; it sits in the Dodge lineup but emerged from a shared FCA engineering ecosystem that included Alfa Romeo.
The upshot is a technical kinship rather than a badge-level duplication: the Dart is a Dodge product built within the FCA alliance, not an Alfa Romeo.
Branding and market positioning
Beyond engineering links, the brands market very differently. Alfa Romeo emphasizes Italian design heritage and a performance-oriented image, while Dodge targets a more mainstream, American-oriented market with bold styling and value-focused trims. The Dart reflects Dodge’s brand language and dealer network rather than Alfa Romeo’s.
- Brand identity: The vehicle wears the Dodge badge and participates in Dodge’s US lineup and marketing.
- Design cues: The Dart follows Dodge’s design language, distinct from Alfa Romeo’s signature styling.
- Market strategy: The Dart was positioned for the U.S. and similar markets as an affordable, practical compact sedan, not as an Alfa Romeo product.
- Conclusion: While the Dart shares some engineering heritage, it remains a Dodge, not Alfa Romeo, product.
In short, the difference is branding and market strategy rather than a complete rebranding of an Alfa Romeo model.
Timeline and current status
The Dodge Dart debuted for the 2013 model year and was discontinued after the 2016 model year, as FCA reorganized its lineup and shifted toward other segments. Since 2021, FCA has been part of Stellantis, a multinational automaker that also includes Alfa Romeo and Dodge as distinct brands within the group. Alfa Romeo continues with its own models (such as Giulia, Stelvio, and Tonale) under Stellantis, while the Dart remains a historical Dodge model with no direct Alfa Romeo successor.
Summary
Bottom line: the Dodge Dart is not an Alfa Romeo. It is a Dodge vehicle built by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles with engineering ties to Alfa Romeo via the FCA alliance, but it was sold under the Dodge brand and produced from 2013 to 2016. The Alfa Romeo brand remains separate within Stellantis, with its own current lineup and identity.
