Dodge Caliber Soon to be Replaced by the Dart

That news will probably come neither as a surprise nor much of a shame to many of you, as Dodge's baby hatchback hasn't exactly set the market on fire and has been representative of a time before American carmakers cared about making competitive compacts.

Detroit News has revealed that production of the Caliber ended last week, and is set to be replaced by the much more promising 40-mpg 2013 Dodge Dart, due to be revealed in full at January's 2012 Detroit Auto Show.

Intended to replace the Dodge Neon, the Caliber attempted to cash in on the crossover boom, but was uncompetitive even against some pretty average rivals.

According to Jim Hall from 2953 Analytics LLP, the Caliber was "the last of the American bottom-feeder compacts," also referencing the previous Ford Focus and Chevrolet Cobalt as "cynical thinking" products.

Hall says the Big Three were wrong to assume that consumers purchasing entry-level vehicles wouldn't know better if the products were sub-par.

Even the tire-smoking R/T model drew no more than faint praise, and Dodge will be hoping the upcoming Alfa Romeo Giulietta-based Dart will be better suited to tackle talented new rivals like the Ford Focus and Chevrolet Cruze.

Hall expects the Dart to triple Caliber sales, and green-thinking consumers will be happy with a predicted 40 MPG rating from the Fiat 1.4-liter, turbocharged MultiAir engine.

Two other engines handed down from the Caliber will also power the Dart, a 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter. The latter will also carry Fiat's efficient MultiAir technology. A choice of transmissions, both manual and automatic, will be offered.

Chrysler is clearly keen to distance the Dart from its predecessor though, going as far as to market the Dart as having "Alfa Romeo DNA".

For further details on the 2013 Dodge Dart, head over to our details preview.

Source: Green Car Reports

A Dodge Caliber Range Extended Electric Vehicle from FEV

A quite cool concept from FEV that converts a Dodge Caliber into a Volt-like PHEV. Let's hope this particular vehicle becomes a reality.



From FEV.com:

FEV, Inc., (FEV) a leading developer of advanced powertrain and vehicle technologies, announced today that it will show a range-extended electric vehicle (ReEV) with plug-in capability based on the Dodge Caliber platform at the 2009 SAE World Congress. FEV's internal development project is designed to demonstrate the company's full spectrum of capabilities in hybrid engineering. The announcement was made by Dr. Joachim Wolschendorf, CTO and vice president of the Vehicle and Drivetrain Engineering Division of FEV, Inc.

“FEV believes that to provide the most value to our customers, we must continue to develop innovative technologies and capabilities within our own walls, conceiving and developing projects that our customers will need now and in the future,” said Wolschendorf. “This ReEV concept vehicle has been developed as an internal R&D project, and gives us an opportunity to show our capabilities. We are also using this vehicle to evaluate different options for the engine/generator unit, and the associated calibration strategies.”

The Caliber ReEV concept is one of several new hybrid vehicle technologies that are being developed in FEV's recently completed Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Development Center in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

The ReEV propulsion system was developed entirely by FEV, including:

• Performance modeling and simulations
• Component selection and procurement
• Design, analysis and packaging
• High Voltage system architecture, development and integration
• Hybrid controls and powertrain development and testing
• Complete vehicle integration
• Vehicle exhaust and evaporative emission calibration
• Overall vehicle calibration, testing and validation
• NVH optimization

The ReEV propulsion system employs a 1.0L, 3-cylinder, 4 valve engine that is mated to a UQM PP75 generator that provides 41kW of continuous power in extended-range mode, with a peak power of 75kW. The energy storage system consists of a 20 kW-h liquid-cooled Lithium Ion battery pack that operates at 346V, with a Delphi DC/DC converter. A UQM PP125EX traction motor powers the wheels.

Performance statistics for the demonstrator vehicle include:
• All-Electric Range – 40 miles
• 0 - 60 mph time – 8.3 seconds
• Top Speed – 84 mph

About FEV

FEV is an internationally recognized powertrain and vehicle engineering company that supplies the global transportation industry. FEV offers a complete range of engineering services, providing support across the globe to customers in the design, analysis, prototyping, powertain and transmission development, as well as vehicle integration, calibration and homologation for advanced internal combustion gasoline-, diesel-, and alternative-fueled powertrains. FEV also designs, develops and prototypes advanced vehicle / powertrain electronic control systems and hybrid-electric engine concepts that address future emission and fuel economy standards. FEV Test Systems, Inc. is a global supplier of advanced test cell, instrumentation and test equipment. FEV employs a staff of over 1,400 highly skilled specialists at advanced technical centers on three continents.