Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep have just finished an impressive comeback year. They grew their market share, and paid off government loans early, the company boasts. And thanks to the introduction of the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart compact sedan to the media, here at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, there should be plenty to boast about this year as well.

The Dart, the automaker says, hits an area of the market that's been poorly represented by the automaker until now (covered somewhat by the Dodge Caliber)—and it's a segment that by sales is 15 percent of the market in the U.S. and 25 percent in Canada.

Dodge anticipates that at least one model in the Dodge Dart lineup will achieve 40 mpg on the highway. It announced pricing; the base Dart SE will cost just $15,995. And according to Chrysler, the base model will include a reconfigurable TFT gauge display, ten standard airbags, and vastly improved interior materials.

Chrysler plans to offer the Dart in a vast array of combinations, including three different engines, three transmissions, seven different wheel options, 12 exterior colors, and 14 interior color and trim combinations. In addition, there will be more than 150 Mopar add-ons.

While we haven't yet had a chance to crawl around in the Dart, we did get to walk around up close; click through the gallery here to get a closer look, and check back for more coverage live from the Detroit Auto Show.