What makes these gasoline motors "global" is the fact that they were co-developed with partners of DaimlerChrysler. Mitsubishi Motors and Hyundai of Japan and South Korea respectively, pitched in. Because of the
team effort, expect these motors to pop up in future Mitsubishis, Hyundais and Kias - the latter automaker owned by Hyundai. Production of these motors will take place across the globe, in North America, Europe and Asia. It is expected that production will eventually exceed 1.5 million units per year.
As the Caliber will be a critically important model for Dodge, to help it get the upper edge in the lucrative European C-Segment (compact) marketplace it will be available with a 134-horsepower, 2.0-litre, common rail turbodiesel. There's also the possibility that Dodge may offer the Caliber CRD in North America, after seeing the high demand for the CRD-powered Jeep Liberty compact SUV. It would be an excellent fuel-conserving alternative to the VW Golf/Jetta/New Beetle TDI, the only diesel-powered compact cars currently on sale in North America. Dodge, do you hear that? It's the sound of opportunity knocking and a chance to break the VW diesel monopoly...
Another big announcement for the Caliber is that it will be available with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). In addition to conventional manuals and automatics, the CVT will be the tool that enables the Caliber to attain best-in-class fuel economy. Chrysler says that the smart, ratio-adjusting unit can help save a further three percent. DCX has worked to improve the gearbox's feel, and it ensures customers that the next-generation unit will be "less annoying" than the current crop of CVTs.
While details concerning the CVT have yet to be announced, it is possible that Caliber's CVT will employ a paddle-shift or AutoStick manual mode with artificially 'fixed' ratios, allowing the transmission to perform like a regular gearbox. This would help eliminate the common 'slipping clutch' syndrome synonymous with CVTs.
With a new era of Dodge products already emerging, the Caliber further breaks from the past by snubbing compact car tradition. It will be offered in only one body style, a five-door 'tall' hatchback design, similar to that of the Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix twins. Aside from creating a unified standard body for global production, it offers greater versatility and brings styling in line with the brand's popular Magnum sport wagon. The Caliber will also mimic the Magnum by offering an electronically controlled all-wheel drive option. Dodge is one of few entry-level brands to offer AWD in its cars, aside from Subaru and the aforementioned Toyota-Pontiac duo.
 |
| What makes these gasoline motors "global" is the fact that they were co-developed with partners Hyundai and Mitsubishi. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada) |
As the Caliber will be a critically important model for Dodge, to help it get the upper edge in the lucrative European C-Segment (compact) marketplace it will be available with a 134-horsepower, 2.0-litre, common rail turbodiesel. There's also the possibility that Dodge may offer the Caliber CRD in North America, after seeing the high demand for the CRD-powered Jeep Liberty compact SUV. It would be an excellent fuel-conserving alternative to the VW Golf/Jetta/New Beetle TDI, the only diesel-powered compact cars currently on sale in North America. Dodge, do you hear that? It's the sound of opportunity knocking and a chance to break the VW diesel monopoly...
Another big announcement for the Caliber is that it will be available with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). In addition to conventional manuals and automatics, the CVT will be the tool that enables the Caliber to attain best-in-class fuel economy. Chrysler says that the smart, ratio-adjusting unit can help save a further three percent. DCX has worked to improve the gearbox's feel, and it ensures customers that the next-generation unit will be "less annoying" than the current crop of CVTs.
 |
| It is possible that Caliber's CVT will employ a paddle-shift or AutoStick manual mode with artificially 'fixed' ratios. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada) |
With a new era of Dodge products already emerging, the Caliber further breaks from the past by snubbing compact car tradition. It will be offered in only one body style, a five-door 'tall' hatchback design, similar to that of the Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix twins. Aside from creating a unified standard body for global production, it offers greater versatility and brings styling in line with the brand's popular Magnum sport wagon. The Caliber will also mimic the Magnum by offering an electronically controlled all-wheel drive option. Dodge is one of few entry-level brands to offer AWD in its cars, aside from Subaru and the aforementioned Toyota-Pontiac duo.