Spy Shots: Caliber

[ifcar]

http://www.allpar.com/cars/dodge/caliber.html

[TBR]

Looks like you might bang your hands shifting into 1st, 3rd, and 5th. Also:
"The diesel engine, also used in the Volkswagen Golf range of vehicles, was apparently chosen due to cost and size; it produces a bit less horsepower than the bottom-end gas engine, but has gobs of torque available from low engine speeds (and out-torques all of the gasoline engines except perhaps the turbo)."

Not likely, there is no way DaimlerChrysler would buy a diesel from VW when they have plenty of good small displacement diesels themselves.

[Raghavan]

Why the Vee-Dub engines?

[BMWDave]

That shifter placement will make for some awkward shifts...

[Raghavan]

That shifter placement will make for some awkward shifts...

It's like the honda elements.

[TBR]

My concern is about how close it is to the dash, not how high it is placed. The Element's shifter isn't nearly as close to the dashboard:

[Tom]

It's not close to the dash- probably 2-3 inches away(It looks to be parked in first).  Think about how you place your hand on the shifter- it won't collide with the dash.  

[Run Away]

The shifter looks like it's in first there anyways.

Ever seen the shifter on a fox on SN95 mustang?

[TBR]

Yeah, I see that it is in first, it is still too close imho.

[Raza]

That shifter placement will make for some awkward shifts...

Ever seen a Civic Si or Element?  It's really not as awkward as you'd think it would be.

[Colonel Cadillac]

I think Dodge got full of themselves with that interior. Plastic heaven

On the otherhand, I would think a manual SUV would be a ton of fun, so I like it.  

[ifcar]

It's not an SUV, it's a Neon hatchback. The Caliber is replacing the Neon the way the Magnum replaced the Intrepid.  

[Fire It Up]

Thats one funky shifter.

[Tom]

Does anyone else think this is really good looking?  And the diesels and 6-speed tranny are welcome changes.

[giant_mtb]

It looks like a mix of a Malibu Maxx and a Durango.  The design is a little too busy for my tastes.

[TBR]

I personally think it looks very good, unfortunately it looks like the production model will have a taller greenhouse which might completely screw up the porportions.

[giant_mtb]

I personally think it looks very good, unfortunately it looks like the production model will have a taller greenhouse which might completely screw up the porportions.

And it will look even more similar to a Durango and/or the HHR.

[TBR]

Sorry, I see no resemblence between the HHR and Caliber concept and the only resemblence I see between it and the Durango is expected (similar grill, headlights, and taillights).