Be si sono decisi di produrla

Date Posted 05-19-2005

When the Dodge Caliber concept debuted at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show, it looked less like a concept and more like a thinly disguised production model. Our most recent spy shots confirm that the 2007 Dodge Caliber will indeed share the unique styling of the concept, a move that Dodge hopes will make it stand out in a segment populated mostly by faceless sedans and drab hatchbacks.

Sized similar to the Pontiac's Vibe sport wagon, the Caliber will replace the Neon in Dodge's current lineup. The four-door hatchback will be the only body style offered initially, but we expect that Dodge will introduce a more traditional four-door sedan about a year after the Caliber goes on sale in the summer of 2006.

Power will come from three different four-cylinder engines displacing 1.8, 2.0 and 2.4 liters. According to the Dodge enthusiast site allpar.com, the engines will deliver 140, 150 and 170 horsepower respectively and may send their power through a continuously variable transmission. The prospect of a diesel engine in the U.S. lineup is also a strong possibility as is a turbocharged version of the 2.4-liter engine.

Although these displacements may look familiar to current Neon and Chrysler PT Cruiser owners, the engines in the Caliber will be the first application of Chrysler's "world engine" co-developed with Hyundai and Mitsubishi. High-tech features will include variable valve timing for both the intake and exhaust ports and a variable intake manifold. Compared to the current engines, these new power plants will not only offer more power, but they'll do it with 5-percent less fuel and reduced emissions. The Caliber will not only replace the Neon in the U.S., it will also be the first Dodge product to be sold in the European market. Chrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche has already been quoted as saying that Dodge intends to price the Caliber less than Volkswagen's Golf, long considered the benchmark for European hatchbacks. Expect to see it start at around $15,000 when it goes on sale in the U.S. next year.

da CarSpyShots

Su http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=102534 ci sono nuove foto della Dodge Caliber ed anche del nuovo mini suv della Jeep basato sul conept Compass del 2002

http://www.edmunds.com/media/news/column/letterstoeditors/04.apr/jeep.compass.500.jpg

Ma credo che la versione di serie avrà 5 porte

a me piace e pure tanto

dice che la compass è praticamente la versione jeep del caliber.

La caliber a Ginevra non mi ha colpito per niente... abbastanza deludente.

No mi sembrano abbastanza diversa perlomeno le concept, il pianale sarà lo stesso così come i motori.

2,63, ma ha lo stesso passo della nuova punto...

2.63 è un passo da media mica da Punto, la Focus ha un pianale da 2,64.

si, a parte che la compass era tutt'altra cosa...

nell'articolo dice "with major differences coming in grille design—bold crossbars for the Dodge, vertical slots for the Jeep—and rear end designs, including unique hatch covers and roof profiles."

a me infatti è sembrata tipo una mazda3 con archi passaruota giganti e assetto rialzato

cmq la Dodge ha scelto di sostituire la Neon con un modello tipo Pontiac Vibe o Toyota Matrix, sotanzialmente l ' idea è simile a queste 2 vetture