TristateNeons

thought i'd maybe try to get some convo going here...

in case no one's seen it, the first concept car off of the platform to replace the neon was announced in europe a few weeks ago. it's a 5-door hatchback called the caliber. in terms of size, it's slightly shorter in wheelbase and overall length than the neon, but it's much taller and sits higher off the ground with a taller wheelbase. some rumors have been saying there will be a total of 5 different variants built off this platform at belvidere within the next year or two. other rumors have stated only 3 variants being the 5-door, a 4-door sedan, and a roadster (so keep this in mind before you go off bashing DCx for screwing up their place in the compact market).

here's a good article i found, and some pics that are in it...

CanadianDriver: Geneva Motor Show - New Dodge Caliber to replace Neon/2.0SX







so what's everyone think? (and please, let's try to keep this convo intelligent)

btw. there's an entire forum dedicated to discussing this on the org, and one thread in particular that asked for people to post chops of the caliber in a SRT-style trim. so i thought i'd also share the chops i did for that here as well...

I don't really care for it. Give me a low-slung coupe any day.

hopefully they'll produce a coupe (maybe something like the razor concept?) off of this platform.

Yeah I keep hearing this isn't going to be the direct Neon replacement, that there will be a few different body styles on this platform. I just hope there is a coupe in there!

yea, i wouldn't call the caliber the direct neon replace per se, but the platform the caliber is based off of is for sure the neon replacement... seeing as it's compact car architecture and all.

and if they're making a coupe, i'll be happy if it's a two-seater and they chop the top off of it and call it a roadster. CC is gonna need one with the solstice coming out this summer.

Hell yeah a 2-seater would rock, with or without a top. I never use my backseat, I really don't need one.

i think it looks like a mazda protege5, or one of the newer mazda 3s... sigh... i even like wagons, i just wished it looked more like a wagon and less like a truck/suv hybrid.

id like to see some of the other body styles, especially the sedan...

Cincinnati Auto Expo had the Solstice and the Razor on display Saturday.

I snapped a couple shots of the Razor. Interesting piece.


Jonathan (RopeRat1)