SRT-4 no longer 300HP?

[VermZ06]

Does anyone know what the deal is with this new Caliber SRT-4? I'm not looking to get one as I love my MS3, but Dodge has been advertising this car on their website for roughly a year or maybe more. They haven't announced when exactly it will be available to the public in 2008 and it is no longer listed as 300HP. They've had 'pricing available soon' on the site ever since they launched it a year ago. The site used to list the HP, but now only lists the torque. I've been curious about this for a while, anyone have any ideas? I want to see both the MS3 and Caliber SRT-4 duke it out asap.

[tunersteve]

I've actually seen one of these with an M-plate on the road one day on my way to school. Haven't heard of any specs, pricing, or ETA either. I'll talk to my source at C&D and see if they've heard anything.

[neit_jnf]

take this with a grain of salt but an inside source told me that the car will be detuned because they can't manage the torque steer too well...

[CantCMe]

Man, to me it doesn't matter if it had 350 hp those things are ugly...I can't imagine someone speeding around a corner in one of those. Why didn't they have a sedan version? Mazda FTW!!!!!

[VermZ06]

Well, I guess time will tell. This just means even more sales for mazda!(rockon)

[seanmcsean]

Well, I guess time will tell. This just means even more sales for mazda!(rockon)

I didn't think it was going to sell well in the first place. It is ugly.. The MS3 is better across the board.

[Rally Ninja]

ehhh....I don't care if it had 1000hp. I don't want to daily drive inside a car designed by rubbermaid

[altspace]

Thanks to “Caliberforum” member Ironside who stumbled upon a 2008 Caliber model guide while visiting a Dodge dealership in Canada (?) we’ve got the full official specs on the long awaited Caliber SRT-4 model. Ironside also managed to photocopy the guide thus giving us proof for his findings. Concisely here are the most important facts as the “Caliberforum” member noted:
2.4L DOHC 16V Dual VVT 4-cylinder intercooled/turbocharged Engine with 280hp @ 6000-6400rpm, 260 lb-ft torque @ 2000-5600rpm.
0-60mph (96km/h) = 6.2 seconds
1/4 mile (400m) = 14.6 seconds
Top speed = 157mph (252 km/h)
So, no 300 Hp as Dodge had promised when the prototype was unveiled last year and as many had hopped for. If you check out the postings at the “Caliberforums” you’ll see that most members are quite disappointed with the fact that the SRT-4 lost 20Hp from prototype-to-production version. Allow us to disagree with an example: VW Golf GTI 200Hp vs Golf GTI Edition 30 230Hp. Unless you favor straight-line racing, the 200Hp version is a better car that allows you to have more fun without worrying about the battle between the front wheels and the tarmac. More Hp doesn’t necessarily mean more fun. Who knows, maybe even the 280Hp might be a lot for the Caliber to cope with. Let’s just wait and see how it drives first.

[CantCMe]

I think the looks will turn alot of people off anyway.

[neit_jnf]

i've known about this for quite a while as my source is a dcx engineer but I dont want to get him in trouble...

(shhh... there will be OPTIONAL awd)

[TinmanMS6]

Chrysler makes such crappy cars. I've got a pair of $30k+ Chryslers in my driveway, and I hate them both. MS3 FTW.

[Hughes412]

Chrysler makes such crappy cars. I've got a pair of $30k+ Chryslers in my driveway, and I hate them both. MS3 FTW.

What do you have?

Hell I was going to try and take up for Dodge, but heck that car just isn't nice. I will laugh my ass of when it comes out and beats the MS3 in numbers!!!! It seems that once again mazda will be better only in looks.

[mikeyb]

I just read that the SRT-4 is going to have 280hp.

[TinmanMS6]

What do you have?

Hell I was going to try and take up for Dodge, but heck that car just isn't nice. I will laugh my ass of when it comes out and beats the MS3 in numbers!!!! It seems that once again mazda will be better only in looks.

My wife has a Crossfire and a Grand Cherokee. There are a lot of things wrong with the interior design of both of them, and the Jeep seems to be developing a transmission problem, with about 12k on the odo.

[VermZ06]

My wife has a Crossfire and a Grand Cherokee. There are a lot of things wrong with the interior design of both of them, and the Jeep seems to be developing a transmission problem, with about 12k on the odo.

Dodge is nortorious for tranny probelms. I've also read earlier reports that the 300 horse version of the engine for the SRT-4 was 'maxed out' so they might be lowering the power so that there is some potential for modding. An AWD option on this car would be a good idea, but I highly doubt people would be paying in the upper 20's for an AWD turbo dodge when you can get an evo or sti for close to that. I wonder if they'll be putting in a torque limiter like the ms3. I highly doubt dodge will be spanking the MS3 in any category this time around. Mazda did their homework by studying many different automobiles and getting the best car out there for the money. And for what you get in terms of price...Mazda has the entire market beat.

[Rotary_Powered]

I don't like the car but from poking around the SRT forums... it looks like dodge decided to underate the car like the last one. A few mopar shops have gotten driving impressions. Should still be an interesting match up.