South Africa gets Dodge Caliber Mopar Edition. Lucky them.

South African Chrysler fans has a new special edition vehicle coming their way. Described by Chrysler as a way to “satisfy the boy racer in all of us,” the Dodge Caliber Mopar Edition is a blacked-out hatchback rolling on 18-inch powdercoated alloy wheels.

Under the hood sits a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that’s been juiced up courtesy of a cold-air induction kit and an upgraded manifold and exhaust system, and the mill is paired with a manual transmission. The Caliber Mopar Edition is dropped two inches, wears Mopar decals and gets a unique hood as well.

Priced at 259,990.00 Rand, the Dodge Caliber Mopar Edition will set you back a bit over $37,000 at current exchange rates. We understand that car cost is a hard thing to directly translate, and if you ditch the stripes it’s not half bad looking, but that’s still a ton of money for a tarted up Caliber… and it’s a far cry from the long-lost turbocharged SRT4. Check out the South African press release after the break.

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Report: Next Chrysler Sebring to be built in Italy?

If ever there was a model in the Chrysler line up that needs updating, it’s the Sebring. While the car was a perfectly capable competitor when it debuted way back in 1995, subsequent generations have left it as nothing more than rental-fleet fodder. But if a report from Automotive News is to be believed, that may change significantly when the next iteration of the sedan debuts in 2013. According to AN, Fiat has its eyes on producing a new mid-sized four-door in Turin, Italy just for the Chrysler brand, with the new sedan being sold exclusively in the U.S.

While it may no longer carry the Sebring name once it hits our shores, the car will likely be a spiritual successor to the company’s Camry-fighter. Beyond that, details are scarce as to what will be under the hood, what gearboxes will be offered or how much it will cost.

Fiat also made mention of the fact that starting in 2012, the company will build a new small sedan here in the Land of the Free that will be sold under the Chrysler banner. That may mean the company is looking toward sending the near unlovable Dodge Avenger out to pasture or eying a replacement for the Dodge Caliber. Either way, Chrysler is getting a much needed infusion of new metal sooner rather than later.

From autoblog

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Report: Dodge version of Alfa Giulietta coming for 2012

According to the latest reports, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta will serve as the basis for the Dodge Caliber’ssuccessor, and it’s set to arrive in late 2011 as a 2012 model. USA Today credits Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Chrysler and Fiat, with the proclamation that some form of Giulietta will wind up as a Dodge. Considering last year’s five-year plan that shows the Caliber discontinued after 2011, Chrysler will need something to fill its place in showrooms.

Refreshes will carry the venerable LX cars, and the Sebring has been transformed into the more promising200, but those moves are mere stopgaps. Without a small car to sell against its domestic rivals, Chryslerand Dodge will be at a significant disadvantage. Fiat has expressed its desire to expand its stake in Chrysler beyond its 20 percent level, and the only way that’s going to happen is if the automaker succeeds Stateside. Enthusiasts have looked longingly across the Atlantic at the Giulietta, and if the car connects as well with the public at large and carries the right blend of quality and verve, it could be a boon for Chrysler.

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