Chrysler Caliber on the way

By Neil Dowling
The Sunday Times
29 June 2011

Caliber - which may get a name change before its launch - will be built in the US. Photo credit: Dave Moore.

Ho-hum Chrysler dingy, the Caliber, hasn't floated close to Australian shores for about a year but the sails of a new model aren't far off.

And if the predictions are correct, this time the Caliber will have a bit more gunpowder to back up its name.

Thanks to the ownership by Fiat, the Chrysler family-owned Dodge Caliber will sit on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta "Wide C" platform and make its appearance at the 2012 Detroit motor show in January.

The "Wide C" platform will also provide the underpinnings for the 2013 Alfa SUV and possibly the later Jeep Compass and Patriot.

Caliber may get access to the Giulietta's 173kW/340Nm 1.75-lire turbo-petrol engine to create a hot SRT4 version, though most will either retain Chrysler's tired 2.4-litre petrol engine or gradually move into the hi-tech Fiat Group MultiAir engine range.

Add your comment on this story

Indicates required

Enter your comments:

We welcome your comments on this story. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Please provide your full name. We also require a working email address - not for publication, but for verification. The location field is optional.

Full name (Will appear on site) Email address: Location

Antispam code