The Dodge SRT team is more accessible than most engineers working for a major OEM, which is evident by its participation in monthly forum chats on CaliberForums.com to update fanboys on the progress of its projects. Currently, the team has the Caliber SRT-4 on its plate, and the focus of the most recent chat session centered around the car's impending arrival. The SRT team revealed that Dodge's 300-horsepower "economy" car will be a normal 2008 model year car, which means it will arrive "as the leaves change colors", according to one engineer. Unfortunately, the on-sale date can't be pinned down to a specific day this far out, so we'll have to be satisfied with an autumnal arrival. We're very eager for someone to get their hands on an SRT-4 to see how Dodge handles the torque steer issues with routing 300 horsepower through the front wheels. But for now, we wait.
Thanks for the tip, John!
[Source: CaliberForums.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Dan @ Mar 22nd 2007 5:09PM
ARGH, they should have made it AWD, that would have been mint!
Don @ Mar 22nd 2007 5:22PM
I'm wondering how they're going to route that power myself.
Aaron @ Mar 22nd 2007 5:37PM
my 2004 neon srt4 had 265 whp, and almost 300wtq before I sold it and through the equal length half shafts and quaife LSD it wasn't horrid. You had to keep your head up, but it was a wonderful and fun daily driver.
as much as AWD would have been cool, the bang for the buck factor would have gone straight out the window.
stefan @ Mar 22nd 2007 5:37PM
Dam that caliber is ugly i just can't understand how some one can prevere this above a civic si or a mazdaspeed 3.
Joey @ Mar 22nd 2007 5:40PM
Mazdaspeed3 for the win! [just not in a drag race :( ]
polar @ Mar 22nd 2007 5:43PM
So what's the cost of entry going to be?
Aaron @ Mar 22nd 2007 6:07PM
I would assume people who want to go fast would PREVERE this over a civic si.
I would hope pricing would be on par with the MS3 if not a hair cheaper.
judd @ Mar 22nd 2007 6:31PM
I just cannot get over how bad it looks. It would have been a fun car with the right look.
DPC car videos @ Mar 22nd 2007 6:38PM
Can't belive this car is not AWD. 300 horsepower and if it will be turbochargd it most likely will have 300 ft/lb of torque also which will be a bit too much for a FWD. We will have to wait and see what happens but from the current specs this car still needs some work befor production.
http://www.dpccars.com
DPCcars
Will @ Mar 22nd 2007 6:43PM
Holy Hideous Car, Batman! I was a big fan of the previous SRT-4, as the Neon donor chassis was a pretty staid-looking vehicle, spruced up by SRT. But anything wearing Caliber clothes is going to look disgusting, no matter how many hoodscoops, wings, or commercials with the 5.7L Hemi's sounds as a backdrop are used...
I agree that all around, the Mazdaspeed 3 will probably rule this roost for a while, with the Civic Si close on it's heels. Sure, the SRT-4 will have time-slips that trounce the others, but like Adam Sandler says: "They're all gonna' laugh at you!" at the track.
c @ Mar 22nd 2007 6:55PM
Cant see how people are going to laugh at it,subaru sti ugly,any civic hideous,mazda 3 horribly ugly and most likely a lemon(i have a mazda 6 garbage)Unless the only people to laugh at the drag's if you take it to a real drag day with classic/muscle car's yeah they will laugh at it like they laugh at all new tuner crap car's!!
Jason @ Mar 22nd 2007 6:59PM
Not before they laugh at how you horrendously slay the English language and come off looking like a complete idiot in an attempt to make an insulting post. haha
HotRodzNKustoms @ Mar 22nd 2007 7:31PM
The love it or hate it looks aside. This car sounds like some kick in the pants torque steering fun.
Will @ Mar 22nd 2007 8:31PM
"horrendously slay the English language"
Did what? Elaborate, if you'd be so kind...
Matt @ Mar 22nd 2007 8:40PM
It's a shame such power is wasted on an ugly vehicle...
Ben @ Mar 22nd 2007 10:51PM
I think it looks kinda rad. I'd prefer an SRT Nitro though. AWD is becoming "de rigueur" (pardon my french) and Dodge has the hardware for it.
TheMac @ Mar 22nd 2007 10:59PM
I really like the way the Caliber looks, especially in SRT garb.. Props to Dodge for doing something different.. and to all those domestic haters; you really only have to focus on the rear of the car, because all your going to see are the tail lights blowing past you.
Tagg @ Mar 22nd 2007 11:04PM
I hope they plan on upgrading the Tupperware interior! Has anyone else had the unfortunate pleasure of riding in one of these things? My girlfriend has one (her dad is a Chrysler engineer) and it rides like a skateboard, drives like a tank, and rattles so bad it drive me crazy! She really liked it at first but now she is starting to hate it. If the current SRT trend continues it will be fast as hell but total garbage in every other aspect. Chryslers smoke and mirrors of making good cars has been exposed and I can honestly say there is NOTHING in their lineups I would consider buying.
Snix @ Mar 22nd 2007 11:26PM
I dunno, this Caliber is starting to grow on me, hopefully they will keep it in production long enough to build some equity and get a following like the STI/EVO/SI crowd. That's the problem with the domestics, they have a 5 minute patience waiting period before killing a vehicle and building something new with a new name. How are you going to build a loyal following if you keep changing the damn thing?
Judd @ Mar 23rd 2007 1:02AM
It's pretty much like dating an ugly girl/guy (whichever you prefer) that's great in bed. You would have to always explain why.