2007 Dodge Caliber SRT-4


This is the performance version of the new Dodge Caliber. It will come with a 2.4-litre turbocharged engine that delivers 260 lb. ft. of torque and 300 horsepower. It will go 0-60 mph in less than 6 seconds.




For those of you going to the Chicago Auto Show, you'll get to see it up close as it is going to be displayed at the show.

You forgot that it will be all-wheel-drive.

That too :D

i did a commercial with my roommate about this car for a class a few weeks backsince it was a cool new car. I like the idea and options dont know about the looks though

Esthetically not a fan, but I like the drivetrain choice haha...

looks like a rav-4 got in a fight with a caravan, that thing is ugly as sin, I'd rather drive a chevy avalanche than that thing

you know, I would have prefered they slap an AWD system under the SRT 4.. eh.

looks like a rav-4 got in a fight with a caravan, that thing is ugly as sin, I'd rather drive a chevy avalanche than that thing



Because of the ugliness of this vehicle, I'd pay the extra $$ and get an STi or EVO.

looks like a rav-4 got in a fight with a caravan, that thing is ugly as sin, I'd rather drive a chevy avalanche than that thing
It looks like a Charger that got into a fight with a caravan and the R-Class was the referee. That thing is UGLY, I hate all of Dodge's new cars(except for the viper)

Mike told me it was really ugly...I actually don't think it looks that bad. I kinda like it actually just don't tell anybody okay?!

OMG someone, sedate her. we need to get her in for therapy immediatly!

I think it is wretched. UGH!

I hated the Neon SRT-4....but I would rather drive one of those than this thing.

I saw one in Lowes parking lot today.. then I saw this.. and then I was like 'I bet those SRT 4 guys are laughin' their asses off.. until they find out they missed out on the AWD..."

throw awd on the neon errrr... srt-4 and you'd have my business, till then when they switch to a new platform, make sure the car doesn't look like an angry minivan

Ok ok I might go to the auto show geeeeeesh

throw awd on the neon errrr... srt-4 and you'd have my business, till then when they switch to a new platform, make sure the car doesn't look like an angry minivan

DUUUUUUUDE!!!! Its still a Neon!!!! :shakehead

Precisely...their laughing their asses off until they realize they are driving around a glorified Neon..

Glorified Neon? Hardly the case, this car is on an all new platform, the very same that underpins the new Jeep Compass, and will be used in several additional offerings as time goes on.

I'll try to get my pictures from the Press Conference at the Chicago Auto Show up asap, but trust that this doesn't looks THAT bad. In fact, I'd consider it far more attractive than the Vibe, and Matrix, two of the Caliber's closest competitors.

one of the really neet features was the cargo area light that would pop out and double as an LED flashlight (the mount in the ceiling doubling as a charger). The Interior is very well done, though material quality wasn't setting any new standards.

I can't see how the matrix and the vibe could be considered competitors to this car...This will be on a whole new level of performance, the vibe and the matrix and just slow and ugly, this will have the performance but still looks like a motorized peanut

Well, the Vibe, Matrix, HHR, Mazda 3, WRX...all will compete more directly with the base Dodge Caliber models. This SRT-4 certainly will be gunning for the WRX STi and Evo where performance is concerned.

http://www.dodgehornet.com/

^Wot the bloody 'ell is this thing supposed to be?^

^

Is it a Jeep Compass in Dodge drag? Why compete with their own Caliber?

that's a European model Dodge....looks alright though

TURD!!! Well, it's a fast turd! I'd take a Neon, thank you very much!

Hi Guys,
I know I’ve spoken with some of you before, but for those I haven’t met yet, my name is Kelly S, and I am from the Dodge Information Center, how is everyone? :wavey:
I was reading your posts and found your comments interesting. I was curious, who has seen the All New 2007 Dodge Caliber (http://www.dodge.com/mktcode/index.html?pid=Forum&adid=Caliber_FI_Auto&actionURL=http://www.dodge.com/ ) in person? With personal experience, and feedback from others, the Dodge Caliber does have a sportier :cool: , cooler look in person. Pictures don't do justice for this vehicle.

For the fans of the Dodge Caliber, what features caught your attention?

Keep me posted guys ... :)
Thanks

Kelly S
Dodge Information Center
1-800-4A-DODGE / 1-800-423-6343
www.dodge.com / dodgeforum@bbdodetroit.com

I saw it both at the Cleveland Auto Show, where I sat in it, and I have seen several at Great Northen Dodge in North Olmstead. While a marked improvement over the Neon it replaces, I wouldn't go so far as to call this vehicle "sporty". I really liked the size and practicality of the car and some of the styling cues are excellent. Like the ergonomic placement of the shifter and the way the dash stretches out in front of you and attaches to the windsheild. It gives the car a very strong, powerful feel from inside. But sporty? I'm not completely sold. I also didn't like the cheap plastic feel of the interior door panels on the base model. But the upcoming SRT-4 version looks amazing to me. But it looks amazing in a Dakota R/T or Shelby Durango sort of way. The Caliber looks like an SUV, even though it's small. And the the SRT-4 version looks like the Jeep SRT-8's little brother. Both vehicles are awesome, and have outstanding performance, but what are you comparing it to? Civic Si? Sentra SE-R? Cobalt SS? Ion Redline? If anything, people are going to be looking at this as opposed to buying a Scion Xa. I don't see "sporty" with the Caliber, I see "utility".

Where the Neon SRT-4 was obviously in competition with other sport-compacts out there, the Caliber doesn't fit the same mold. The SRT-4 was the fastest thing you could buy for under $20K and blew away cars costing $5K - $10K more than it. The Caliber would need to have 250 HP and AWD just to compete.

It's a great car, but I wouldn't push too heavily on marketing it as a performance car. While the Neon SRT-4 was fast, the buying public could not get over the fact that it was still just a Neon. Even though Mitsubishi owners seem to be able to do so with the Lancer / EVO. The Caliber is not going to be able to overcome the stigma of compact utility vehicle. Dodge would have done well to bring back a 2-door compact car, stuffed the 2.4 Turbo under the hood and blown away the competiton. I don't care what Wolfgang says, 4-door cars suck. Just look at Charger sales.

If you are looking for ways to align the Caliber SRT-4 into the performance market as a replacement for the class-leading Neon SRT-4, then you're going to need to push the media to run stories on comparisons between the Caliber and the competition you are going after. And if the Caliber cannot compete with those cars, you should rethink your marketing.

Cyco

IThe Caliber would need to have 250 HP and AWD just to compete.



Doesn't the Caliber SRT-4 already meet or beat both of those requirements?

Last I checked the SRT version was only FWD.

Last I checked the SRT version was only FWD.

Oh.

So their AWD system is more for off-road or all-weather than for performance? Never mind.

And I quote...

Our minds are still reeling at the thought of pushing 300-hp through the front wheels of an “econobox� to comment too much on the new Dodge Caliber SRT-4. It’s quite frankly mind boggling, though not that surprising from the speed freaks at Dodge’s SRT division.

According to Dodge, four numbers are important when contemplating the significance of the Caliber SRT-4: 85, 125, 300 and 260. Eighty-five represents how much more horsepower the Caliber SRT-4 has than the Neon SRT-4 it replaces, which means it produces 125 hp per liter of displacement with a total output of 300 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Umm… wow. Just wow.

The prodigious amount of power provided by the turbocharged 2.4L VVT “World Engine� is chopped up and served by a six-speed manual and delivered via the front wheels, which has to be one scary fun sub-six-second ride to 60.

The company says in its release that the mission of SRT is to provide benchmark performance for the best price, so we’ll be eager to find out later today what that means in terms of dollars and cents. Either way, the first shocker of the 2006 Chicago Auto Show goes to Dodge.

I noticed that the R/T comes as AWD and uses a 172 HP non-turbo version of the 2.4 L. The SRT4 comes with 300 HP but it's FWD.

Cyco

there add on the web says "anything but cute" well there right butt ugly comes to mind

it may not be that pretty, but i like the fact that the windows aren't tiny

uhhhhh ya im replieing to the hornet that is a wierd looking thing im a dodge enthuse but i dont know what they think they doing latly ... maybe they stoped careing about looks and started looking only at performance ( all cars should be this way) so as long as the performance is there i dont know or care about the look

I wonder how long it's going to take for somebody in the aftermarket to mate the new SRT4 engine to the AWD drivetrain. My guess, the AWD system cannot handle the torque that the little 4-banger belts out and they had to stick with wrong-wheel-drive.

Cyco

You all seem to hate this car so much. Does anyone see potential here?

It's too big to be sporty. There is NO WAY it can handle very well. It's wrong-wheel-drive. It's heavy. It's ugly. Even with it's 300 HP, there are far better options out there for the money. But for that select few, that want PT cruiser practicality with more "go" than the PT cruiser has, then this might be the car. But I don't see it setting any sales records or being any real competition for the other cars in it's class.

Cyco

It's too big to be sporty. There is NO WAY it can handle very well.

According to dodge, it’s an inch shorter in length, and 3 and a 1/2 inches taller than the neon. I thought it was huge until I saw a picture taken by a normal person, no dealer crap. This is some random guy's caliber R/T, a 1/2 an inch taller than the SRT-4.


http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/9/web/2337000-2337999/2337462_13_full.jpg

Maybe im a little biased to this car, cause I can get a crazy deal on it when it comes out, but the handling can’t be that bad, can it?

being taller and of that design puts a lot more weight higher up. maybe the handling isn't horrible, but it's never going to be a corner carver

the spoiler would be functional though. i think i would have put a little more angle on it, but hatchbacks and other round assed cars need some sort of a lip spoiler. it helps break the air from the back and causes less drag and more mpg

http://www.max-mpg.com/

It'll handle like a truck, im sure ;)

I sat in one at the auto show. A Neon it is not. It looks and feels much more like my mother-in-laws PT cruiser than it does a Neon. I really can't see how it could be much of a performer. Let's do the math, 3200 lbs, a drag coefficient similar to that of a city bus (0.40), and a respectable 300 HP and 260 ft/lbs, however powering the wrong wheels, for an estimated price of around $25,000+ is just not the best bang for the buck. The Neon SRT4 was quicker to 60 and a more capable handler. It was also less than $20K. This is going to find itself in direct competition with the Ford Mustang GT.

Let's see that comparison. The Caliber SRT4 will cost $25K, runs to 60 in about 5.9 seconds, run the quarter in about 13.9 seconds, have limited handling capabilities and let's face it, not much of a performance "attitude". Whereas, the Mustang GT is $27K runs to 60 in 4.9, covers the quarter in 13.3 seconds, has world-class handling capability and looks better than almost every production car built today. Throw a few grand in performance modifications into each car and the gap widens immesurably. I just think the Caliber is outgunned at the price point, lacks that certain pinache required of a "sporty" car, and lacks any real potential for future performance gains.

I'm sure it may sweep away some potential Subaru buyers but then it's not AWD. Or it could draw some potential Mitsubishi buyers, but then again, it's butt ugly. Honda drivers would never even dream of purchasing a Dodge product for "reliability" concerns. Toyota drivers don't care about performance so they wouldn't be interested, I just don't see how this "thing" is going to fare in the marketplace.

Cyco

I'm sure it may sweep away some potential Subaru buyers but then it's not AWD. Or it could draw some potential Mitsubishi buyers, but then again, it's butt ugly. Honda drivers would never even dream of purchasing a Dodge product for "reliability" concerns. Toyota drivers don't care about performance so they wouldn't be interested, I just don't see how this "thing" is going to fare in the marketplace.

CycoGood points! It looks too much like my grandma's car. It think Dodge is trying to phase out the Caravan or something. It's too ugly to compete with cool cars and it's a Dodge...I would be surprized if it last 3 years.

another good name wasted, First it was Toyota Matrix then the Dodge Magnum and now this? It doesn't matter how well the Magnum performs or how the front of it looks like a charger. It's a STATION WAGON no matter what. Who names a station wagon a magnum? And who names this crap a caliber? Those sound like cool names for muscle and sports cars. The magnum on 1 hand has potential to rule station wagon market but The people at Dodge should be shot for creating this crap.

I like the Magnum, and I think it is appropriately named as well. Have you seen a Dodge Magnum SRT8 in person? It's looks seriosuly badassed.

Yea I dig the magnum. It's fast and its useful..

too many blinds spots on the magnum, tiny windows

that is one pimp hatchback

I like the Magnum, and I think it is appropriately named as well. Have you seen a Dodge Magnum SRT8 in person? It's looks seriosuly badassed.
BUT IT'S STILL JUST A STATION WAGON :lol:

Please. It's a station wagon that would hand you your ass.

saw a 300c srt smoking, quite funny. was it that the car can't handle being driven hard, or more likey he didn't allow the car to be broken in. either way, i laughed at his dumbass.

Or it could draw some potential Mitsubishi buyers, but then again, it's butt ugly.
Cyco

LOL, I can't stop laughing.

The inside is quite roomy, but reminds me of a mini Pontiac Aztec. I was going to try and talk my wife into trading her Hemi Durango for one (gas miliage). This car is far from a performace car. 300hp, FWD still ='s turd

When is this car supposed to come out?

the fall

i swear i've seen them already....or is it just the srt-4 that comes out in the fall?

i swear i've seen them already....or is it just the srt-4 that comes out in the fall?
The Caliber is out...the SRT badge is slated for the fall

I sat in one at the auto show. A Neon it is not. It looks and feels much more like my mother-in-laws PT cruiser than it does a Neon.

But the PT Cruiser was just a Neon dressed up in '30s panel delivery drag.

Okay I am not reading your guys million pages of BS but I just wanted to join in and say that I saw one of these today and they look pretty nice. BUT I think that they should bring back the SRT-4 in AWD and that would be badass

Okay I am not reading your guys million pages of BS but I just wanted to join in and say that I saw one of these today and they look pretty nice. BUT I think that they should bring back the SRT-4 in AWD and that would be badass

Doesn't look like a car, though, does it? I bet most people see it as more of a mini-SUV.

I hate the roof line, the way the rear end of the roof is squared off but they've painted the profile of a fake sleek fastback on the side of it, and blacked out the real profile. What a cheap-ass styling trick.

And thats just what we want right? A 4-banger turbocharged SUV with no AWD?

I'll stick to Mitsubishi and Subaru, thats all I have to say...

all i have to say about this car is why did they drop the neon....
the new skittle is pretty quick. but not as fast, or anywhere near as good of handling as the neon skittle. the only reason world engines tuned the motor over the 05srt-4 neon is becasue 230hp wouldnt have been enough for its fat ass. hell, th 2.4na RT model barely pulls it around. i wasnt too happy about the column mounthed shifter either. you end up punching the radio if you go for 3rd too quikly. but still a good, reliable car to have fun in, and still get some practical use out of. just dont go to fast and furious with it

the caliber is not that bad looking it has grown on me since the debut date but you still wouldnt catch me drivin one of those!!!!

and the reason they dropped the neon because it was fast but a realisticly a peice of shit/ a tin can. i am a dealer with my dad and we did not sell anything for neons but now the calibers are still on the lot but moving off at a steady pace.

the caliber is canned ass

Dealerskid- wouldn't you know when the Challenger was coming if you were part of the Mopar family? lol, jw.

And the Caliber/Neon/whatever are still pieces of shit. I can care less how fast you can make it, its a piece of shit. A fast piece of shit, but a piece of shit regardless.

yea i know but dodge with their candy ass shit they never give you a specific date i have heard anywhere from 06 to 2010 so i was just seeeing what you guys have to say

Wouldn't have been 06, it would have happened already, wouldn't have been 07, same reasons. Thus 08/09 or beyond.

i know that was my complaint with dodges system
but this was a wile back that i heard 06 07 so...