Dodge Bids Farewell to Caliber Crossover and Nitro SUV

The end of 2011 brings about the death of two much-criticized Dodge models, the Caliber crossover and the Nitro SUV, both of which were conceived and developed during the time Mercedes-Benz's parent company Daimler reigned over the Chrysler Group.

The last examples of the Caliber and Nitro models rolled off Chrysler's Belvidere, Illinois and Toledo North assembly plants respectively this month.

Introduced in 2006, the Caliber was designed to replace the Neon in the same fashion that Nissan tried to win the European C-segment (think VW Golf) with the Qashqai crossover, but without the same success.

The Caliber left a lot to be desired, especially in the powertrain/drivetrain department and its rent-a-car like interior.

Monthly sales of the compact five-door model peaked in May 2008 with 12,856 units, dropping to a pitiful 412 units in November 2009, with Dodge delivering 1,202 Calibers last month.

The Caliber's replacement will be introduce in a couple of weeks at the 2012 Detroit Motor Show with the new 2013 Dodge Dart, which is a compact-sized sedan model based on the platform architecture of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

The Nitro SUV made its debut in 2006 as a more masculine and sportier Dodge derivative of the second generation Jeep Liberty with which it shared its platform but not the latter's more hardcore all-wheel drive hardware. It too suffered from a cheap interior while its on-road dynamics were poor.

The best sales month of the Nitro was in March 2007 with 7,532 deliveries, while the worst was in July 2009 with 1,115 units, with Dodge selling 1,661 units in November 2012.

In a recent interview, Fiat-Chrysler Group CEO, Sergio Marchionne, said that "This car should never have been built” referring to the Nitro.

Story References: Automotive News

 

DODGE CALIBER

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2011 Bentley Continental GT Facelift Revealed, Gains 4.0-liter V8

Introduced in 2003, Bentley Continental GT is officially the oldest model in the range of British car manufacturer. It was time for a facelift? Bentley think too much. Conti 2011 has been updated with an interior and exterior have changed more in line with Mulsanne flagship brand, while a new 4.0-liter V8 will join the W12 refined in 2011.

Most notable on the front is the jewel headlights look from behind the wings recently passing the hole on the front panel Fender / bumper down. Moreover, the grille officially become a part of the lines of Hood and now houses the front as well.

You can see a similar project on the back of a Bentley Mulsanne use the "double horseshoe" theme. On either side of the trunk, the rear fenders are a little 'more definition and the car's rear lights are slightly out of square. The total package adds a front track width of 41 mm and 48 mm rear.

Now the good part: the engine (now plural). Offered under the hood now two forms of propulsion: 1) as usual, a large 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12, which creates 575 horsepower and Nm 700 / 516 lb-ft of torque and is compatible flex (up to E85), and 2) for the first time in the performance of the model, a 4.0 V8 that comes later in 2011 with Bentley claiming emissions 40% lower than the W12.

With the extra 15 horses (and the car's weight reduced by 65 kg), the W12 is good to begin with 0 to 60 mph (96km / h) in 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 198 mph / 318 km / h . Bentley kept their lips sealed about leaving 8-cylinder, for now, but they say "high efficiency", so expect loud.

Set the power range of the sidewalk, revision 6-speed automatic allows the "double scaling", and still use all four wheels, 20 - or 21-inch rollers now have 40/60 front-rear power distribution (compared to the outgoing model, which was 50/50).

Seating is arranged a script, a unit of information and entertainment touch screen with a 30 GB hard drive (15 GB for music in particular), and redesigned, the interior, while still clearly continental, it is updated before offering an additional burden rear of 46 - mm of legroom. The sounds are presented by 11 speakers of Nain, and there are TV / DVD / phone / iPod / etc connectivity, almost everything you expect from a Bentley.

Generally, Bentley was able to update his livelihood while keeping very clear and identifiable. Expect to see off the Mulsanne, in Paris, and as soon as there are some official figures on the V8, you will know. Now back to your regular dreams.

By Phil Alex

 

 

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