Dodge Caliber Sedan?

[nadepalma]

http://www.americancarfans.com/spyph...id/6050825.001

The exterior will mostly reflect the Caliber Concept shown this past March in Geneva with the interior styling remaining the same. The Caliber is positioned (C-segment) to replace the Dodge Neon in the model lineup. Other competitors of similar size include the Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe. A sedan version is planned and will be implemented in the same vein the Dodge Charger and Dodge Magnum mirror each other.

The engines come from a joint venture with Mitsubishi and Hyundai which include four gasoline engines: 1.8 liter/140hp, 2.0 liter/150hp, 2.4 liter/170 and the 215hp 2.4 liter turbo from the PT Cruiser going into the performance orientated Dodge Caliber SRT seen here in the last four photos on the right side of this page. European markets get a 2.0 liter turbo diesel making 134hp (100 kW) and peak torque is estimated at 229 ft-lbs. (310 Nm).

In addition, the Caliber will be using the latest generation of continuously variable transmission (CVT2) to improve fuel economy and responsiveness. The Caliber also gets electronically controlled all-wheel-drive which splits torque front to rear.

The Caliber will be the first Dodge sold in Europe and attempts to take some market share away from the VW Golf with lower prices. Expect debut of US production version at Detroit 2006 with sales beginning in the summer as a model year 2007. European launch expected three months later in Geneva.


Many more spy pics at the link above

[nadepalma]

Originally Posted by nadepalma

A sedan version is planned and will be implemented in the same vein the Dodge Charger and Dodge Magnum mirror each other.

I've never heard of this being in the works...has anyone else? I think it's odd that they're going to bring the hatchback out first, before the sedan -- when everyone knows that sedans perform better in the market than hatchbacks do. I mean, even great looking hatchbacks like the Mazda3 only make up about 1/3rd of the total Mazda3's volume -- I guess sedans are just that much more preferred here in the States. I wonder why they would do this -- to launch the Dodge brand in Europe? It doesn't make much sense to me....

And the business about "implemented in the same vein the Dodge Charger and Dodge Magnum mirror each other." -- should we expect a different exterior to accomodate the sedan? And a different name? The Magnum and Charger don't look much a like exteriorwise. I wonder if they'll call both versions Caliber?

[Carver]

It would be a good move if they build a sedan; in fact without it DCX will be without a small, cheap entry-level car (excluding the new small Jeeps).

[DuSpinnst]

Originally Posted by nadepalma

I've never heard of this being in the works...has anyone else? I think it's odd that they're going to bring the hatchback out first, before the sedan -- when everyone knows that sedans perform better in the market than hatchbacks do. I mean, even great looking hatchbacks like the Mazda3 only make up about 1/3rd of the total Mazda3's volume -- I guess sedans are just that much more preferred here in the States. I wonder why they would do this -- to launch the Dodge brand in Europe? It doesn't make much sense to me....

And the business about "implemented in the same vein the Dodge Charger and Dodge Magnum mirror each other." -- should we expect a different exterior to accomodate the sedan? And a different name? The Magnum and Charger don't look much a like exteriorwise. I wonder if they'll call both versions Caliber?

I think it's wishfull thinking.

[Buick61]

That could be the sedan. However, it also looks like it has the same roof-line as the spy shots of what's been called the Stratus/Sebring replacement. So, who knows.

Chrysler does a MUCH better job of concealing future models than GM.

[DuSpinnst]

Originally Posted by Buick61

Chrysler does a MUCH better job of concealing future models than GM.

They have to, they are much smaller.

[steve333]

I guess GM isnt the only American company that likes to change names. How old is the neon name anyway?
Coupling with Mitsubishi is the reason many of their cars aren't reliable. Mitsubishi is crap.

[uujjj]

This is the first I've heard of a Caliber sedan. I'm not sure it will sell under the same name as the hatch.

Part of the reason that the Mazda 3 sedan outsells the hatch is because the $15k base model is sedan-only. Most of the high-level S trim sales are hatches, IIRC, but the price of the S trim hatch is typically just shy of $20k.

[regfootball]

Originally Posted by steve333

I guess GM isnt the only American company that likes to change names. How old is the neon name anyway?
Coupling with Mitsubishi is the reason many of their cars aren't reliable. Mitsubishi is crap.

oh, and i suppose you know this first hand?

[redimpss5]

Hmmm, it looks like a center air scoop on the hood, a roll bar and some gauge on the a-pilar? Might be a player!

[redimpss5]

i forgot the wind deflectors on the roof, and those bumps on the hood could be vents. The white one might be the SRT-4 replacement. Still looks like a pontiac vibe.

[wpbharry]

Originally Posted by Buick61

That could be the sedan. However, it also looks like it has the same roof-line as the spy shots of what's been called the Stratus/Sebring replacement. So, who knows.

Chrysler does a MUCH better job of concealing future models than GM.

As I recall, that was a sketch of the Stratus sedan.

BUT, I've also heard that a Caliber sedan is coming a year after the hatch. Why? Because Dodge dealers say they need it. And they do.

I'm sure the Caliber hatch will do well, but not bringing out a sedan to accompany it is just plain stupid - as it was to bring out a Magnum wagon only, ESPECIALLY seeing that Americans are SLOWLY warming up to wagons.

[nadepalma]

Originally Posted by Carver

It would be a good move if they build a sedan...

I thought so too. I kind of wondered why DCX would have put the Caliber out as a hatchback only. I remember reading articles a few years back when the Zetsche first came to DCX saying the German management in Germany thought that Chrysler should build sedans and Dodge should build only wagons and crossovers cause the two brands were too much alike. I don't know who in Germany came up with this stupid idea, but a few years later when Dodge got the Magnum and no sedan -- I thought for sure they were going to go through with it. Of course we now know that they came out with the Charger and all is well.

But I'm wondering if the Caliber hatchback was a carry-over from that old decision? Lead times take forever, so perhaps they went that route initially but are now back peddling? Even when they showed the concept car in Europe, the Chrysler execs said that there wouldn't be a sedan in the States or in Europe. Either way, if this is true, then I think it's a good decision. And I think that they should continue to call both variants Caliber -- if Ford can seel a Focus sedan and a Focus hatchback, then Dodge can do the same without any kind of conflict. In fact, it'll only make sales of the moniker look that much more impressive.

Originally Posted by Carver

...in fact without it DCX will be without a small, cheap entry-level car (excluding the new small Jeeps).

As for a cheap small-car, yeah, this could be it. But if Dodge decides to try and make this more of a "premium" small car in the vein of the Cobalt and Jetta (just thinking out loud here), then I'd suspect a new cheap car like the Aveo/Fiesta/Fit/Rio to show up soon. There have been reports and articles floating around saying that Chrysler was seriously looking at this to fill a niche in the domestic market -- but to also sell in Europe as an 'entry-level' Dodge.

My guess? It could be possible that they'd be sourced from smart. Rumor in the press is that Zetsche is NOT a fan of smart cause they keep losing money and he doesn't have any kind of soft spot for them like Schrempp did. Plus he sees smart as a redundant niche brand -- they started making them before Daimler-Benz bought Chrysler so they needed something on the bottom end at the time. Now they don't -- they have Dodge to fill that market. If Zetsche takes the same kind fo decisive action in Germany that he took here in the States, I'd guess he'd kill smart then transfer all of that know how and product development to Dodge for their use on a small car. Look at the SlingShot from a couple of years back -- it was based on a smart car -- and to me looks much more stylish than any smart has looked. And look at the new Mistubishi Colt -- it's also based on the mechanicals of a smart model -- so obviously the platforms are flexible enough. Doing this would give Dodge a nice foothold in Europe and give them a product to sell here in the States....

Just my thoughts.

[Whirling_Dervish]

Originally Posted by wpbharry

As I recall, that was a sketch of the Stratus sedan.

BUT, I've also heard that a Caliber sedan is coming a year after the hatch. Why? Because Dodge dealers say they need it. And they do.

I'm sure the Caliber hatch will do well, but not bringing out a sedan to accompany it is just plain stupid - as it was to bring out a Magnum wagon only, ESPECIALLY seeing that Americans are SLOWLY warming up to wagons.

DCX is trying to capitalize on the crossover trend, which is the fastest growing segment now. They are also positioning for Europe, where hatches rule the roost. Therefore the hatch version is first. I heard many months ago the a sedan will follow, so this is old news. What is new however is a possible SRT version of the hatch! So maybe they'll do a performance version of each.

With...

Charger/Magnum/SRTs
Caliber Sedan/Hatch/SRTs

...they will have a VERY solid lineup!

[asim]

I can't wait to see how good this actually is. I propose it will actually beat out the competition.