Automotive News, Media & Press - In Your Face Again: SRT Fires Off Another Missile With The 300hp Caliber SRT-4

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/02/08/aye-carumba-dodge-unloads-the-300-hp-caliber-srt-4/


Well it looks like the FWD camp won out over the boys who were shooting for AWD. That's right, this sucker is putting down 300hp and 260lb.ft. of torque through the front wheels ONLY. I was shocked as I was almost dead sure that since the R/T would be available with AWD, there was no chance of the FWD camp getting their way with the tooling and equipment already available for AWD. Well I was wrong. Early reports cited cost and weight as reason for keeping the SRT variant of the Caliber FWD only.

Personally I thought Dodge would go Evo/Rex STI hunting with an AWD Caliber SRT-4 once the rumor of 300hp was leaked. Well the good news is that a much needed LSD is standard unlike this time unlike first year Neon based SRT-4s which had to do without one. Hopefully the lack of AWD does actually in fact keep the cars curb weight somewhat in check. Last I checked FWD Calibers weighed in around 3100-3200 lbs. with AWD optioned models around 3300-3400 lbs.

My only gripe with many of SRTs products is the rediculous curb weight. I understand that many of their products themselves are already heavy in their base and lesser variants, but it would be nice if for once SRT could focus on lowering curb weight over boosting hp.

One welcome piece on the Caliber SRT-4 is a proper 6 speed shift it yourself manual transmission. It's nice to know that SRT hasn't lost all of it's clutchtosterone a la AMG. The one thing that the Charger SRT-8 and Magnum SRT-8 really need but lack is a manual transmission IMO although I understand that they are large vehicles more suited to high speed crusing. It was nice to see a proper 6 speed manual hooked up to the Challenger Concept's 6.1L Hemi and it's nice to see a good ol' 6 speed stick here in the Caliber.

Other than that, the typical SRT styling is all here. seeing the Viper/Chargeresque hood scoop here, I really wish Dodge would throw one onto the Magnum SRT-8 as well. While I mourn the lack of AWD, I think this is yet another hit for SRT. This definitely kicks the shit out of the HHR. With the turbo 2.0L ecotec that's going into the Solstice GXP rated at 260hp, I'm wondering when GM will wake up and put that sucker into the Cobalt. They already build the Delta based Astra OPC/VXR and sell it in Europe and Oz, and that thing packs 240hp, 35 more than the Cobalt SS Supercharged. Nonetheless, if the turbo 2.0L finds it's way into the Cobalt and eventually the HHR, Dodge already has them beat with a full 300hp. The old SRT idea of "punish them, don't just surpass them" seems to be holding up.


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DAmn 300hp, pretty impressive. What sucks is that it looks fucking retarded. It looks like a durango fucked a vibe or a matrix, and this is the thing it shit out.
-Joel

Looks like complete shit. I'll pass.

"An elephant makes love to a pig" :)

Err... I mean... uhh... a Durango makes love to a Vibe. YUK!

DAmn 300hp, pretty impressive. What sucks is that it looks fucking retarded. It looks like a durango fucked a vibe or a matrix, and this is the thing it shit out.
-Joel

Couldn't have said it better myself. I thought everyone bailed out of the PT cruiser fad a while ago? I guess nobody told the manufacturer's that ::cough:: HHR ::cough::

it doesn't look like a pt or the pt's ugly step cousin(the hhr).....and it looks much better in person, i was pretty suprised when i saw the r/t caliber up close that it was pretty sharp....well, as sharp as a vibe/matrix type vehicle can be.....supposedly they won't be doing mopar turbo upgrades because "the vehicle is already at its peak".....yeah, right, 400+hp neons are rolling around but this car is close to it's peak? i'm guessing mopar didn't want to deal with warranty headaches?? who knows.....hopefully the rumored sedan will come out with awd and a prettier face.....

It looks real ugly IMHO. I can't imagine myself driving that! It reminds me of the Pontiac Aztek on roids!

Anyone have an idea as to how much DCX asking for this POS?

Here's a couple of pics from the Detroit Auto Show.

I could not be paid to drive that, I do not care if it has 500 HP and AWD. That is FUGLY!!!

And this is replacing the Neon? Man, I know the Neon was probably the girliest car on the planet, but I'd drive it over this Caliber in a heartbeat.

Ugly cars in Dodge's lineup:

Charger
Caliber
Dakota
Durango
Ram
Neon (if still being made)
Caravan
Magnum
(Stratus and Intrepid if still being made)

That leaves.... well damn, that's just about their whole lineup! And the Viper's getting boring to look at IMO.

And this is replacing the Neon? Man, I know the Neon was probably the girliest car on the planet, but I'd drive it over this Caliber in a heartbeat.

Ugly cars in Dodge's lineup:

Charger
Caliber
Dakota
Durango
Ram
Neon (if still being made)
Caravan
Magnum
(Stratus and Intrepid if still being made)

That leaves.... well damn, that's just about their whole lineup! And the Viper's getting boring to look at IMO.


that must be why ford and gm are kicking their butts:eyes:

that must be why ford and gm are kicking their butts:eyes:

Edited out insult: my apologies.

Well DC has definitely been love it or hate if over the last few years in terms of styling just like BMW. However where as BMW fails I think Dodge has done a wonderful job of adopting the crosshair grille to it's vehicles. I for one am a big fan of the Charger, Magnum and now the Caliber. Everyone says this thing looks like a mini-Durango but that's not true. If anything I think it has more in common with the Dodge Magnum from the front, with a sort of Grand Cherokeeesque rear tailight treatment. Dodge has definitely been on the ballsy in your face front in terms of design where as GM and Ford have both taken a more conservative direction. Personally while I like the clean lines of many of GMs products that are built and sold overseas (Holden Commodore/Chevrolet Lumina, Holden Statesman/Chevrolet Caprice, Opel/Vauxhall Astra, Opel/Vauxhall Vectra) nothing built for the US seems clean but rather boring. The new Impala = one bland looking automobile.

Now the Dodge Nitro on the other hand... THAT is one ugly vehicle. God damn how did that design get past the execs.

Get off your high-horse dumbshit. It's called an opinion. :eyes:

settle down there, tiger, no need for the name calling! you can have an opinion, i was just making fun of it:jest:

yeah dude...chill out


on the other hand GM isn't putting out a line of beuties either. wtf @ impalas, cobalts, ssr, hhr??, whatever fugly truck/minivans they put out now.

they even made the tahoe gayer

yeah dude...chill out


on the other hand GM isn't putting out a line of beuties either. wtf @ impalas, cobalts, ssr, hhr??, whatever fugly truck/minivans they put out now.

they even made the tahoe gayer
the hhr might've been good for GM. I've seen a lot of them in the time they were released to the public. If GM makes money off of it, then why not?

not saying anything about sales...just hard on the eyes lol

I saw one of the regular ones in make ready, they look like a fucking turtle. Dodge had a salesman over and he was like "it can hold 3 20oz drinks in the glove box" I told him "Thats the selling point?"

Ugly f*cking thing but if some people like the scion xb there is going to be people out there that like that thing too.

pretty cool looking hood though

300hp...cool...too bad it looks plain laughable.

hmmm what do you get when a ford focus mates with a dodge durango??? :eyes:

bahahahahah thats the fugliest thing ive ever seen

It's still a long way from release and it's likely it will get AWD at launch or in the near future.

I love the way it looks. It's a shrunken Magnum. It's UNIQUE. More than I can say for the Cobalt which is blandly styled and derivative of the Cavalier.

OMG, someone made something that looks worse than an ASStek.

OMG, someone made something that looks worse than an ASStek.
:jest: That's what I was thinking

OMG, someone made something that looks worse than an ASStek.

:jest: Couldn't agree more. Ya know, with all the shit that's been comin' outta manufacturers' asses lately, the Aztek is starting to look pretty decent. :judge:

It's still a long way from release and it's likely it will get AWD at launch or in the near future.

I love the way it looks. It's a shrunken Magnum. It's UNIQUE. More than I can say for the Cobalt which is blandly styled and derivative of the Cavalier.

i wouldn't say that fall of this year is a long ways off.....that's the 2007 srt-4 caliber, not a pre-production concept......i agree that there may be an awd in the near future, but i think that they wanted to come out with the "bang for the buck" version first, as that's what it been billed as starting with the neon srt4...

adding awd would punch the weight close to 3400 pounds and would likey price it in the mid to high 20s.......they dominate their current competition, but heading north to the awd turbo territory pits them versus some wicked imports...

Edited out insult: my apologies.

it's all good dude

they dominate their current competition, but heading north to the awd turbo territory pits them versus some wicked imports...

something tells me that if anyone can compete with sti/evo it would be dcx with their srt division.

What sucks is that it looks fucking retarded. It looks like a durango fucked a vibe or a matrix, and this is the thing it shit out.
-Joel
Funniest thing I heard all day! :jest:

It's still a long way from release and it's likely it will get AWD at launch or in the near future.

I love the way it looks. It's a shrunken Magnum. It's UNIQUE. More than I can say for the Cobalt which is blandly styled and derivative of the Cavalier.
While I agree with you on the Cobalt, the Calibre is hardly unique looking. It looks exactly like a Pontiac Vibe with a Magnum front end. Its about as unique looking as the HHR imo.

While I agree with you on the Cobalt, the Calibre is hardly unique looking. It looks exactly like a Pontiac Vibe with a Magnum front end. Its about as unique looking as the HHR imo.

I don't mind the Vibe either. I think it looked really good until GM updated the front with flush grilles. If the Aztek had looked more like the Vibe with the cleaner styling, a nice interior, and the Vibe's better proportions it probably would have fared much better.

I guess we'll see if the Caliber can match the Neon's sales. The SRT-4 was surprise hit but the Neon crowd seems pretty chilly towards this car. I'm in the camp that nearly anything is better than a Neon, and a little Magnum isn't a bad idea.

That things looks like DCX's answer to the Aztek. I'd rather drive a K car.

Dodge is turning into Chevy and slapping SRT onto every car.


That thing is horrible lookin makes me wana vomit.

not that the srt4 was much prettier, but that thing is definitely ugly. :(

Dodge is turning into Chevy and slapping SRT onto every car.




not hardly...every srt badged vehicle is at or near the top of performance in it's class....they are engineered for performance way above the level of the base model vehicles they share platforms with....

something tells me that if anyone can compete with sti/evo it would be dcx with their srt division.

i don't disagree, but why leave a segment that you are successful in? the way they have it set up now, they can remain in that cheap fwd horsepower class and also add an awd version later to possibly nip at the established awd "rally" cars

i don't disagree, but why leave a segment that you are successful in? the way they have it set up now, they can remain in that cheap fwd horsepower class and also add an awd version later to possibly nip at the established awd "rally" cars
Thats exactly what i was thinking. I wish Chevy would AWD the cobalt and throw in a turbo six to kill the sti/evo.

also add an awd version later to possibly nip at the established awd "rally" cars
I would like to see DC enter the WRC with that thing. It would be nice to see an American vehicle in there once and awhile (I don't think the Euro-spec Focus RS counts).

i'm taking a welding cert. class this week, and the instructor was just down in st. louis certifying a production procedure and welders for the caliber......he was really impressed with how tough the frame/body was built, citing slightly thicker tubing for the frame and floors, and the use of a better metal alloy in the tubing...

even though the base caliber is cheaper than the base neon was, i'd be suprised if the srt-4 caliber is cheaper than the srt4 neon....
it would be cool to see the fwd version come in around 22k, then maybe in 2008 introduce an awd version for 25-26k....although the 2008 evo is in the 30k range and is built on the same platorm(it does have a completely different drivetrain, however)
http://www.thecarconnection.com/Enthusiasts/Spy_Shots/Spy_Shots_07_Mitsubishi_Evo_X.S178.A9895.html

that is a ugly vehicle.

I have shitted things more pleasent to look at than that thing

DAmn 300hp, pretty impressive. What sucks is that it looks fucking retarded. It looks like a durango fucked a vibe or a matrix, and this is the thing it shit out.lol

that must be why ford and gm are kicking their butts:eyes:

Hmm...I can see DCx passing Ford in sales by the end of this year or maybe early 2008. Yes...GM is sufferring also...

DC still has reliability issues that need to be addressed