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For those who missed it.
From the Q&A at the NAIAS, Jan. 14 2013:
"The more difficult question that you asked is on the Dart, as to whether I'm happy with the way in which it launched and the answer is no. I made the comment today to the press, and I take full ownership for, at least, not the perfect execution that I wanted.
We decided for a variety of reasons, including the desire to prove that we can get phenomenal mileage out of the car, and we can, that we would rely on technology that is not common in the United States. And so we introduced a dual-dry clutch transmission on the car as part of the initial offering. The 9-speed transmission, which is going into the Toledo solution (Liberty successor), was unavailable when we launched the Dart. And so we decided to go with a manual, the dual-dry clutch; we did not have an automatic transmission solution to the car until later in the launch and there was really a remedial action because we could not access the 9-speed.
So the combination of the powertrain solutions that we offered was less than ideal. And so, it's slowed the progress down of the Dart into the marketplace. I'm still satisfied with the numbers that it's pulling. I think it could have done more and we're in the process now, once we deal with the demand requirements of the Liberty successor, to devote our resources to the installation of the 9-speed in the Dart and move it on.
I think we need to move that car one level higher in terms of offerings and I think at that point in time we'll probably see a better performance in the marketplace with the Dart than we've seen so far. The car is certainly over-equipped for the money that you get to be perfectly honest. It's a hell of a steal. You're almost getting a D-segment sedan for the price of a C. The car is there, we need to complete the powertrain offerings and I think we'll be fine."
From the Q&A at the NAIAS, Jan. 14 2013:
"The more difficult question that you asked is on the Dart, as to whether I'm happy with the way in which it launched and the answer is no. I made the comment today to the press, and I take full ownership for, at least, not the perfect execution that I wanted.
We decided for a variety of reasons, including the desire to prove that we can get phenomenal mileage out of the car, and we can, that we would rely on technology that is not common in the United States. And so we introduced a dual-dry clutch transmission on the car as part of the initial offering. The 9-speed transmission, which is going into the Toledo solution (Liberty successor), was unavailable when we launched the Dart. And so we decided to go with a manual, the dual-dry clutch; we did not have an automatic transmission solution to the car until later in the launch and there was really a remedial action because we could not access the 9-speed.
So the combination of the powertrain solutions that we offered was less than ideal. And so, it's slowed the progress down of the Dart into the marketplace. I'm still satisfied with the numbers that it's pulling. I think it could have done more and we're in the process now, once we deal with the demand requirements of the Liberty successor, to devote our resources to the installation of the 9-speed in the Dart and move it on.
I think we need to move that car one level higher in terms of offerings and I think at that point in time we'll probably see a better performance in the marketplace with the Dart than we've seen so far. The car is certainly over-equipped for the money that you get to be perfectly honest. It's a hell of a steal. You're almost getting a D-segment sedan for the price of a C. The car is there, we need to complete the powertrain offerings and I think we'll be fine."