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.
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.
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