journalists, seven of them had made contributions to the local economy.)

The key to driving the Dart--especially the base two-liter version, which I drove in the afternoon--is to choose gears wisely. Staying in sixth with all the hills made no sense. It is strictly an overdrive for cruising flat Interstates. Cruising in fifth with the ability to take advantage of the sharp response and precision of the shifter, dropping a cog or two, is the way to wring out all the drivetrain combination had to offer.

Yet again, the sense of quiet was hard to believe--more in keeping with a German sports sedan than an entry-level domestic compact. Maybe there's something to the claims of the Dart being infused with Alfa Romeo DNA?

During the second stop of our morning drive, curious onlookers wanted to know what we were driving. They were incredulous I was behind the wheel of a Dodge, especially when they peeked inside. We demonstrated the racetrack rear lighting, its 151 high-powered LEDs clearly visible in broad daylight.

The proportions of the car overall are excellent. With the steep rake of the rear back light (rear window), the Dart has very coupe-like styling. The design is more aggressive than its direct domestic competitors, the Cruze and Focus, and more of a