2007 Dodge Caliber SRT4

Press Release

2007 Dodge Caliber SRT4 Safety and Security Features

Following are safety and security features in the all-new 2007 Dodge Caliber SRT4:

• Advanced Multi-stage Air Bags: Offers enhanced protection for a range of occupants and is designed to identify the size of an occupant in the front passenger seat based primarily on weight

• Anti-lock Braking System: Equipped with electronic sensors that help prevent wheel lockup, the ABS system offers improved steering control under extreme braking and/or slippery conditions

• Auto-reverse Sun Roof: An advanced sensing system that automatically engages and reverses the sun roof (to the open position)

• BeltAlert: This feature sounds a periodic chime to alert the driver and all occupants to fasten their seat belts

• Brake Assist: The vehicle senses a panic brake condition and applies maximum braking power, providing the shortest possible stopping distance

• Brake/Park Interlock: Prevents an automatic transmission or transaxle from being shifted out of Park unless the brake pedal is applied

• Constant Force Retractors (CFR): A mechanical device in each front seat belt is designed to mitigate the force of a seat belt according to the load or force exerted on it. CFRs are engineered to force-limit the belt system and gradually release seat-belt webbing in a controlled manner during a severe impact

• Crumple Zones: An area of the vehicle that is designed to compress during an accident to absorb energy from an impact, preventing transfer of that energy to occupants

• Electronic Stability Program (ESP): Feature aids the driver in maintaining vehicle directional stability, providing oversteer and understeer control to maintain vehicle behavior

• Energy-absorbing Steering Column: Steering column contains two hydroformed coaxial tubes that move relative to each other, which allows the column to move forward and provide more energy absorption during an impact

• Enhanced Accident Response System (EARS): In the event of an impact, this system makes it easier for emergency personnel to see and access occupants by automatically turning on interior lighting and unlocking doors after air bag deployment. The system also shuts off the flow of fuel to the engine

• Height-adjustable Seat Belts: Allows passengers to lift and lower the shoulder belt to a comfortable level.  Encourages seat belt usage by offering a more comfortable fit

• HomeLink® Universal Home Security System Transceiver: HomeLink can store three separate radio-frequency codes to operate garage door openers, security gates, security lighting and other radio-controlled devices

• Inflatable Knee Blocker: The inflatable knee blocker is an air bag that deploys whenever the driver's primary air bag deploys, helping position the driver relative to the primary air bag

• Interior Head-impact Protection: Interior pillars above the belt line, instrument panel, windshield and rear window headers, roof and side rail structures, and shoulder-belt turning loops are specifically designed to limit head-impact forces

• Knee Bolsters: The steering column, lower instrument panel and the glove-box door are reinforced to protect unbelted occupants during frontal impacts. They both restrain and position the occupant properly and enable air bags to work effectively

• Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH): This system helps ease the installation of compatible aftermarket child seats

• Occupant Classification System (OCS): The OCS measures the conditions for activation or deactivation of the front passenger-side air bag based upon the weight of the occupant

• Octagonal Frame-rail Tips: Octagonal tips are designed to collapse rearward in a controlled manner during a frontal or offset front impact

• ParkSense Rear Back-up System: Assists with detecting stationary objects when driving at low speeds in Reverse. This system consists of visible (lights when the driver looks at the inside rearview mirror) and audible warnings

• Power-adjustable Pedals: Allows brake, accelerator and clutch pedals to move toward or away from the driver. This helps the driver achieve a safe and comfortable seating position for improved vehicle control

• Remote Keyless Entry: The remote keyless entry locks and unlocks doors, and turns on interior lamps. If the vehicle is equipped with a vehicle-theft security alarm, the remote also arms and disarms that system

• Seat-belt Pretensioners: During a collision, impact sensors initiate front seat belt pretensioners to immediately remove slack from seat belts, which reduces the forward movement of an occupant's head and torso

• Sentry Key® Engine Immobilizer: This utilizes an engine key that has an embedded transponder with a pre-programmed security key code. When the key is inserted into the ignition, the controller sends a random number to the transponder and the engine is allowed to start. If the correct key is not used, the engine will shut off after only a few seconds

• SmartBeam® Headlamps: Intelligent headlamp system that adjusts to ambient light and oncoming traffic to deliver maximum lighting

• Supplemental Side-curtain Air Bags: Available side-curtain air bags extend protection to front- and rear-seat outboard occupants. Each side air bag has its own impact sensor in order to autonomously trigger the air bag on the side where the side impact occurs

• Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPM): This advanced system monitors tire pressure and alerts the driver to improper tire pressure conditions. Low pressure on any tire illuminates the amber warning indicator in the instrument cluster

Street- and Track-tested Quality

The all-new 2007 Dodge Caliber SRT4 was designed and engineered under the Chrysler Development System (CDS), the comprehensive, coordinated and disciplined product-creation process that improves quality and speed-to-market while reducing costs and encouraging practical innovation in new vehicles.

CDS emphasizes systems engineering, design and up-front planning to avoid time-consuming and costly trial and error, or changes during the later phases of the product development cycle. With CDS, all product and process planning is completed and fully integrated before production tooling begins.

2007 Dodge Caliber SRT4 development also encompasses actual conditions, both on the street and on the race track.

To simulate real-world conditions, the 2007 Dodge Caliber SRT4 will have logged nearly 2 million customer-equivalent road miles by the time vehicles begin appearing in dealerships.

To ensure its track-ready character, extensive durability testing of the Dodge Caliber SRT4 will take place at Firebird Raceway in Phoenix; Texas Motorsports Ranch in Ft. Worth, Texas; and Nelson Ledges in Garrettsville, Ohio.

Process, Productivity Key to Manufacturing Excellence

The all-new 2007 Dodge Caliber SRT4 is built at the Chrysler Group's Belvidere (Ill.) Assembly Plant on the same assembly line with the Dodge Caliber SE, SXT and R/T models.

Previously the home of the Dodge Neon, the plant recently underwent a multimillion-dollar upgrade to prepare for Caliber production.

A new body shop and other upgrades are part of a total program investment of $419 million that was announced in January 2005. The robotic body shop can build the Dodge Caliber SRT4, Caliber and potentially three other vehicles with no negative impact on production. Robots can make necessary tool changes automatically within cycle time, in about 45 seconds.

The 3.7 million-square-foot Belvidere Assembly Plant has approximately 1,700 employees represented by United Auto Worker's Union Locals 1268 and 1761. The plant began production of the Plymouth Fury and Dodge Monaco in 1965.