June 16, 2012 4:06 PM
Sports broadcasting legend Vin Scully has described a perfect
California day as having “a Warner Bros. sky” –
white, puffy clouds dotting an azure blue background. This more
than describes the lovely community of Long Beach, Calif.,
where last weekend the city hosted three days of tire-kicking,
horn-honking and – dare I say – test-driving vehicles
in a first-of-its-kind auto show experience.
And one of the emerging stars of the inaugural “SoCal Ride
and Drive New Car Show" was the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart.
The Dart made its initial hands-on public appearance at the show.
Participants in the “ride and drive auto show” had
nearly a two-week jump over consumers waiting to test-drive the
Dart from dealer showrooms.
"It's all about getting people behind the wheel of the car,"
explains Todd Leutheuser, the show's executive director. "We see
this as the next step in the evolution of the traditional auto
shows' 'ride and drive' exhibits."
And the response from consumers after their “close
encounter” with the Dart has been nothing short of
impressive.
“Just great!” gushed Todd Martins of Torrance, Calif.
“It doesn’t look like a compact car, it’s got a
great interior and lots of trunk space.”
“I came to this show for one reason,” said Jesse
Crawford from North Hills, Calif. “It was to see the Dart up
close, and it was to drive it before it got to the dealers. I am
looking to buy a new car, and I’m convinced the Dart’s
for me”
The Dart will be in dealer showrooms by the end of the month.
Other Chrysler Group vehicles on display at the show and available
to drive were the Dodge Challenger SRT8,Dodge Charger SRT8 and
Dodge Durango; Jeep Compass, Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and Jeep Grand
Cherokee; Fiat 500 Cabrio; Chrysler 200, Chrysler 300 SRT and
Chrysler Town & Country; and the Ram 1500.
Maybe Vin Scully was only half right. A perfect California day
could be you behind the wheel of a 2013 Dodge Dart, driving away
under a Warner Bros. sky.
