Dodge adds some muscle to its initially anemic Dart with the launch of the GT model.

Even during a quick couple spins around Chrysler’s suburban Detroit test track, it is very hard not to be impressed by the performance of the 2013 Dodge Dart GT.

Just now reaching showrooms, those two little letters speak volumes about the latest version of the Dart, a promising and generally well-executed sedan that had one big problem when it came to market a little more than a year ago: a set of seriously underpowered engines.

The GT is, as those letters are meant to suggest, the sort of sporty addition to the Dart line-up that Dodge desperately needed.  That’s all the better in light of the fact that the lavishly equipped GT packages comes with more standard equipment than many a car costing twice as much.

But what is likely to sell most potential buyers is the new 2.4-liter “Tiger Shark” inline-four engine that packs 184 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque into a compact platform that is both fast and nimble. The enhanced sports suspension only adds to the car’s excellent feeling out on the road, even jouncing over the lumpy pavement built into the Chrysler test track in Chelsea, Michigan.

The GT shares the "racetrack" taillamps seen on the rest of the Dodge Dart line-up.

The 2.4-liter version of the Tigershark MultiAir engine is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, though a six-speed PowerTech automatic with AutoStick is available.  While it’s not quite up to some of the sportiest players in the compact segment – the Ford Focus ST, for example, or the Volkswagen GTI – the Dodge Dart GT is certainly a welcome addition for those who like the sedan’s crisp styling and well-equipped interior.

Better yet, the maker has tapped the expertise of its Italian Alfa-Romeo division – which provided the starting platform for the Dart – to tune up the suspension, yielding a much crisper ride than what we had previously experienced in the Dart.

While the new GT isn’t quite what many had hoped for in the long-anticipated Dart R/T, it clearly shows promise and should bring more potential buyers into the Dodge showroom.

Along with the spirited ride they’ll discover plenty of upscale features normally not seen in this segment, and certainly not at this price point – including LED tail lamps as well as integrated dual exhaust, perforated and heated Nappa Leather seats, an 8.4-inch touchscreen with ParkView rear backup camera and 18-inch aluminum wheels, which fit neatly into the Dart’s overall exterior design without distorting the car’s handsome proportions.

The Dodge Dart GT's well-executed interior and lavish list of features are another set of pluses.

A heated steering wheel; heated front seats; dual-zone automatic temperature control; remote start with automatic transmission, and GT badge are also part of the package.

The overall price tag for the Dart come in at $20,995 – plus $775 in destination charges – and while a motorist might find a few comparable  models that are less expensive or that offer more performance, they are going to have a hard time finding one that offers the same combination of performance, features and styling in the same package.

Incidentally, for trivia buffs, the original Dodge Dart GT model originally made its debut in 1963 and offered drivers enhanced performance and style, including a heavy-duty suspension, and was an immediate hit. Chrysler has done a solid job of recreating that formula 51 years later.