Chrysler has been rising from the ashes with competitive sedans and SUVs, but hasn’t had a fuel-efficient small car for years. That changes with the all-new Dart.

This isn’t your grandfathers’s Dart, or your father’s, or even your brother’s. What you see here is actually a stretched and restyled Alfa Romeo Giulietta, a vehicle that competes with the likes of BMW and Mercedes in Europe. An advanced 1.4-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine from Fiat is offered, as well a conventional 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a 2.4-liter four-cylinder in the R/T. Inside, the Dart borrows a lot from the Dodge Charger such as the massive 8.4-inch touch screen Media Center.

Chrysler has a lot riding on this car. Not only does it fill a gaping hole in their product lineup, but it marks the first use of a Fiat platform for a Chrysler product. The performance and reliability of this model will foreshadow many to come and may determine the future of the company.

Prices will start at just under $16,000, but a reasonably equipped model will cost far more - well into Dodge Avenger territory. But that may not be a bad thing for Dodge buyers, as the Dart has a lot more going for it than the aging Avenger.

For more on the Dodge Dart and other models unveiled at the Detroit auto show, see our special section.