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

Read More

Chevrolet Trailblazer To Build New SUV In 2012 In Colorado, Will Debut In Dubai

New products continue to wear the Chevrolet division of General Motors this week.

After reports that the collection truck in Colorado in 2013, the ZL1 Camaro convertible, FR-V project and Spark EV, Chevrolet unveiled today that it will introduce the all new 2013 Trailblazer SUV size in the next room Dubai International Motor on 10 November.

General issued a darkened out a teaser photos and a brief statement saying that the 2013 is based on a leading role in the "new global platform developed for mid-sized GM do Brasil" and that sales will begin in Thailand in early 2012.

Automotive added that "Leading the way to combine the ability to lift and towing SUV with the comfort and efficiency of the crossover."

So where are we? Well, all points of the proof of the Trailblazer 2013 will be based on the same platform as the new Colorado, which GM has just confirmed for sale in the SU We'll have to wait and see if Trailblazer gets the same fate.

Read More

Renault to Resurrect Alpine Brand with a New Sports Car

Renault is planning to develop an all-new sports car, and one of the options examined by its management is looking to its past and, more specifically, a brand that has ceased to exist for close to two decades.

Speaking to journalists at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Renault product manager Beatrice Foucher said that the next-generation Megane and Laguna, due to be launched in 2013/14, will be based on a common C/D platform. And this platform will surely include a sports car.

“We need conventional cars as well as innovative cars”, Foucher told Autocar magazine. “It’s very early, but we will have at least one coupe in the line-up off the new platform.”

The new model will ditch the Laguna Coupe name, which has not been a success, and adopt a new one. Foucher revealed that work on the new platform begun last year and that RenaultSport is involved in its development from the beginning.

Her next revelation, however, was the most interesting: “We’re working on an Alpine. It’s a possibility and we’re looking at what an Alpine would be in a RenaultSport line-up.”

Alpine was founded in1955 by Jean Redele, who used a humble Renault 4CV to build small coupes with a glassfiber body and very stiff chassis. Its first model was the A106, a small coupe based on a 4CV. In the 1960s, Alpine started a closer cooperation with Renault taking part in motorsport events with considerable success.

Its greatest achievement was in the 1973, when an A110 driven by Jean-Claude and Michelle Petit won the Rally Monte Carlo, the first ever FIA World Rally Championship event. Alpine also won that year’s title beating rivals such as Porsche, Ford and Lancia.

Alpine continued through the 1980s following the same recipe of placing Renault powertrains in its own chassis and bodywork, but competition was getting stronger and its sales were dwindling. Production of the last Alpine, the A610, ceased at the end of 1994 and Renault, which owns the name, has let it lay dormant since.

Now it is about to make a comeback. Given its record of accomplishment and the RenaultSport division's experience in creating sport versions, expectations are quite high.

 

PHOTO GALLERY

Read More

IAA 2011: Concept You Previews Volvo’s Next Large Sedan

True to its word, Volvo hosted the world premiere of its new concept model at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The oddly named Concept You was created not only to give us a glimpse of the Swedish firm's evolving design DNA and showcase its new platform architecture, but it also hints at Volvo's next generation large sedan.

“Concept You gives you a good indication of what you can expect from our next large sedan," said Volvo CEO, Stephen Jacoby,. "The blend of contemporary Scandinavian design, exquisite craftsmanship and intuitive technology will appeal to luxury car buyers all over the world," he added.

Volvo’s head of design Peter Horbury says that the study adopted a more coupe-like profile and a fastback rear end after gathering feedback from the Concept Universe, which was displayed in Geneva this past March.

“The most valuable input has been used in the development of Concept You," says Horbury. "This car features a more daring profile, while the front moves towards a more classic Volvo look.”

The cabin features a clean and minimal design with the control center comprising of four main areas: a digital Driver Information Monitor, a HUD (head-up display) on the windscreen, a touch-screen in the upper part of the center console and another one between the two rear seats.

"We used a number of touch screens to replace buttons and controls," says Horbuury. "Smart phones and pads have brought mobile infotainment into the new era. The technology helps us to create a refreshingly uncluttered interior.”

Another innovation is the Alpine sound system which features the “FreshAir” subwoofer, a technology not yet in production that uses air outside the car to optimize the car's occupants' listening experience.

The Concept You also demonstrates the carmaker’s new Scalable Platform Architecture (SPA) that will be used on a variety of vehicles together with a new range of downsized engines.

 

PHOTO GALLERY

Read More

Carlos Ghosn Hints at a GT-R Based Infiniti

Nissan’s luxury offspring, Infiniti, already has a sports car, the G37 coupe. But lately there has been a lot of talk about cooperating with Red Bull now that the latter is considering entering the car-making business.

In addition, Nissan’s boss, Carlos Ghosn, is teasing us with a rather exciting prospect: an Infiniti version of the amazing Nissan GT-R. At least that’s what he hinted at during an interview in CAR magazine.

The two companies belong to the same group, so platform and parts sharing is common practice these days and Infiniti could definitely use a halo model to combat the M’s and AMG’s of this world. The Essence concept would be a great idea for coating the GT-R's hardware with a sexier outfit.

Like all CEOs, Ghosn was being coy: “If you ask me ‘are we going to do that’, I would say ‘no, I don’t think so’. But if your question is ‘could we do that, I would say ‘yes’. The idea of using existing technologies on the body of an Infiniti… All technologies developed for Nissan are available to Infiniti”.

So, he didn’t say they will do it, by he didn’t deny it either. Chances are they won’t, at least not now, as Infiniti has other priorities: “I think we need to go step by step” says Ghosn. “We have the FX, the M, the G. Then we have the high-end 4x4 QX in the US. We have the electric car and a sub-G smaller car coming”.

No GT-R Infiniti dreams, then? “The idea makes sense. The technology and platform are readily available. The GT-R is a great car. Is it a project now? No. But I don’t want to give you the impression we’ll never do that. But don’t think it’s coming in the next two or three years”.

It’s okay, Mr. Ghosn. We can wait a little longer…

 

 

PHOTO GALLERY

Read More