Press Release
Page 1: Overview
Page 2: Design
Page 3: Model Range
Page 4: Powertrain
Page 5: Quality
Page 6: Safety
Page 7: Engineering
Page 8: Technology
Page 9: Specifications
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Dodge Caliber: a new slant in passenger cars
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Bold styling, crossover design and innovative features
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5-star safety rating for side and frontal-impact crash protection (NHTSA)
Dodge offensive begins: one new model, every six months, for the next two years
Dodge has shaken up the automotive industry releasing the segment busting Dodge Caliber, a crossover hatch delivering a new slant in the booming small to mid-sized car market.
The Dodge Caliber, a five-door crossover that combines a sporty coupe-like profile with the strength, stance and functionality of an SUV, is the first of a raft of all-new vehicles from Dodge which will ignite the Australian market over the next two years.
"Dodge is very unique - it is bold and in your face, edgy, unapologetically American and street smart- it is for those with a real zest for life.
"Sporting these characteristics the Dodge Caliber is far from your typical car - powerful styling, high value and utility, this crossover is pure Dodge!
"Caliber brings emotion to this segment. And with fuel efficient cars booming in Australia, Dodge Caliber ishitting the streets at the perfect time," said Jenkins.
Available with a range of fuel efficient four cylinder engines, Caliber's sheer surface treatment commands attention and sports the face of Dodge, a distinctive crosshair grille front end.
Offered in four models - ST, SX, SXT and R/T - Caliber boasts a comprehensive list of standard features including: dual front and side-curtain air bags, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, keyless entry with Sentry Key® engine immobilizer, security alarm, central locking, air-conditioning, CD stereo, tilt steering wheel, driver one-touch power windows, power folding heated exterior mirrors and 60/40 split rear seats that fold flat.
Testifying to the Caliber's clever design, the all-new vehicle has also received the US government's highest rating for side and frontal-impact crash protection with a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Unique features available on the Caliber further differentiate the product from the 'vanilla' offerings currently in the market place. These fun features include MusicGate Power®, a 458 watt nine-speaker Boston Acoustics premium sound system with subwoofer that includes two articulating speakers packaged in the liftgate, Chill Zone® (standard) - a cooled beverage storage bin that can hold up to four standard bottles or cans and a dual-purpose self-recharging removable flashlight (standard), mounted in the headliner of the vehicle.
"Our research tells us that customers are tired of the bland offerings," said Jenkins. "The Caliber will appeal to owners looking for a car that stands out from the crowd, a car with attitude that gives them the flexibility to do more in terms of seating friends and storing gear".
Two petrol engines are available from launch, a 1.8-litre (110 kW) and a 2.0-litre (115 kW) four cylinder engine. A more powerful 2.4-litre petrol engine (127 kW) and a state-of-the-art 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine (103 kW) will be available late in the year.
The entry Caliber ST model is offered with the 1.8-litre petrol or 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine and comes standard with 17-inch steel wheels along with the comprehensive list of standard features.
The Caliber SX, available with the 1.8-litre or 2.0-litre petrol engines or the 2.0-litre turbo diesel, builds upon the ST model adding more standard equipment including: 60/40 split rear seats that both fold flat and recline (up to 12 degrees), a fold-flat front passenger seat, 17-inch alloy wheels, manual driver's seat height adjuster, cargo cover and six disc CD changer.
Moving up to the Dodge Caliber SXT, also available with the 1.8-litre or 2.0-litre petrol engines or the 2.0-litre turbo diesel, the model comprises additional standard features over the SX including leather seats, heated front seats, leather wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, cruise control, bright silver instrument bezels and switches, body-colour bodyside mouldings, chrome grille crosshairs, front fog lamps and 17-inch alloy wheels with five-spoke design.
The Caliber R/T model will arrive later in 2006 with the higher-powered, normally aspirated 2.4-litre petrol engine.
Dodge Caliber comes in a range of colours; Inferno Red, Sunburst Orange, Marine Blue, Steel Blue Metallic, Bright Silver Metallic, Black, Stone White, Light Khaki (late availability) and Solar Yellow (limited availability).
Customers can take delivery of the Dodge Caliber through an extensive network of Chrysler Group dealerships around the country.
"Pure Dodge" design
Dodge Caliber is a five-door crossover hatch that combines a sporty coupe-like profile with the strength, stance and functionality of an SUV.
Caliber's sheer surface treatment commands attention and evokes attributes that define the Dodge brand: bold, powerful styling, capable and street smart.
"With its bold styling and clever packaging, Caliber is pure Dodge," said Trevor Creed, Senior Vice President - Design.
There is no mistaking Dodge Caliber. The all-new car has Dodge's imprint stamped into its DNA from the grille to the tailpipe. The signature crosshair grille gives Caliber the distinct face of Dodge and defines its strong, muscular front view.
Strong, sculpted fender forms, broad shoulders and a distinctive bonnet give the Dodge Caliber its proud, powerful stance. Large, precisely styled headlamps and available fog lamps complement the Dodge grille and create an integrated look that completes Caliber's sporty appearance.
A black graphic design accent, which runs the length of the roof, melds into an integrated rear roof spoiler, creating a coupe-like visual quality from the side view. Unique glass-to-body proportions give the Dodge Caliber a tough, protective presence, and the forward sweep of the tailgate further emphasises Caliber's sporty profile.
The rear view of the Dodge Caliber is as distinctive and powerful as the front. The black roof spoiler with integrated centre high-mounted stop lamp (CHMSL), and large modular, crystal-like taillamps that fill Caliber's rear corners, provide distinct focal points of the car's rear view design. Dodge's Caliber's rear liftgate provides easy access to the vehicle's spacious interior.
Fun features and flexibility
Customer demand for a vehicle with a lot of interior flexibility and utility had a big influence on Dodge Caliber's interior, which provides comfortable seating for the driver and up to four passengers, plus room for gear.
"Dodge Caliber's spacious interior is also very versatile," said Matt Liddane, Chief Engineer - Dodge Caliber. "We combined style and comfort with innovative features and clever packaging to create a vehicle that gives new meaning to functionality in this segment of the market."
Dodge Caliber is full of clever interior features, including:
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MusicGate Powerâ„¢. An optional 458-watt nine-speaker Boston Acoustics premium sound system with subwoofer and two articulating speakers packaged in the liftgate. When the liftgate is open, the speakers can swing down to face rearward and play music to augment outdoor activities
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A dual-purpose self-recharging removable flashlight is mounted in the headliner above the cargo area and can snap out of the bezel to serve as a flashlight
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Chill Zoneâ„¢: A cooled beverage storage bin can hold up to four standard bottles or cans
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A floor console sliding armrest moves forward 76 mm to accommodate shorter drivers. The armrest lid includes a unique flip pocket for storing a mobile phone or an MP3 player
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Illuminated front cup holder rings glow blue-green to match other centre stack lighting
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Front passenger seat folds forward to create a table-like surface for versatility (SX, SXT and R/T models)
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60/40 split rear seats both fold flat (ST) and recline (SX, SXT and R/T models)
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A vinyl load floor in the rear cargo area is both washable and removable
World-class engineering
The Dodge Caliber features innovative new engines and transaxles to deliver world-class performance, fuel economy and refinement, no matter where the road leads.
"Circling the globe for best practices enabled our engineers to develop an entirely new front-wheel-drive," said Larry Lyons, Vice President - Front-wheel-drive Product Team. "We targeted things consumers want most and developed a vehicle with an all-new global powertrain that addresses these priorities by providing excellent fuel economy, reliability, performance and value."
Dodge Caliber's powertrain and drive systems offer many Chrysler Group firsts. Caliber is the first Chrysler Group vehicle to offer the full range of four-cylinder engines with variable valve timing and a second-generation Continuously Variable Transaxle (CVT).
For the three petrol engine offerings (1.8-litre, 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre) for the Dodge Caliber, Chrysler Group engineers met aggressive performance and fuel economy targets through advanced cylinder head port and intake manifold design. Technologies in the Chrysler Group four-cylinder engines include dual Variable Valve Timing (VVT) and an intake manifold design with flow control valves. Combined, these features produce more power, better fuel economy and smoother, quieter operation than engines without them.
Dodge Caliber's CVT has been calibrated for pleasing engine response, precise ratio control and Auto Stick feature that allows for manual control with the simulation of six stepped gears. CVT contributes to a fuel economy improvement of 6-8 per cent compared with a traditional automatic transaxle.
A 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine will also be available in Australia late 2006. It is a state-of-the-art, direct-injection power unit with high-pressure fuel injection, a variable geometry turbocharger and four valves per cylinder. The turbo diesel engine positions the Dodge Caliber among the best in its class for power, torque and acceleration.
Built for global appeal
Dodge Caliber will be available in nearly 100 countries globally, which led designers and engineers to consider global market demands when developing this all-new vehicle.
In addition to its global powertrain, Dodge Caliber meets safety, feature and convenience standards in markets around the world. Caliber's manual and automatic transaxle shifters are packaged in the centre stack instead of the floor console, which is more common in global markets. The Caliber's transaxles also have been designed to provide excellent shift quality and shift effort.
Dodge Caliber production
Production of the Dodge Caliber began in early 2006 at the newly refurbished Belvidere, Ill., Assembly Plant. The new four-cylinder petrol engines for this vehicle are built in the state-of-the-art Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA) assembly plant in Dundee, Michigan.
