One of the traditions at our family's Thanksgiving table preceding the meal is for everyone present to take a turn and state what they are thankful for.
I now realize I forgot to mention something this past Thanksgiving. So, here goes: "I am thankful for Chrysler's Street and Racing Technology (SRT) organization."
The folks at SRT must love what they do because it shows in every one of their creations. Every SRT vehicle, like the all-new 285-horsepower
2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4, showcases five key attributes; exterior styling that resonates with brand image, race-inspired interiors, world-class ride and handling characteristics, benchmark braking and standout powertrain.
The 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4 unquestionably delivers in all five areas. This isn't merely a gussied up, more powerful Caliber. It's obviously much more than that.
The muscular-toned front fascia is unique, it needed to be modified to accommodate the turbocharged engine's intercooler. Also, the fascia includes ducts to direct air to cool the brakes.
The aggressively-styled hood incorporates a functional scoop that brings cooling air into the engine compartment and a pair of extractors that exhaust hot air.
The rear fascia continues the muscular theme and it's accented by a single, 4-inch exhaust tip that exits from the right side. The rear spoiler, which is nearly 60 percent larger than that on the standard Dodge Caliber, is tuned for smoother air flow and increased downforce.
I also like the lowered, hunkered down look. The suspension has been dropped 28mm in the front and 22mm in the rear. The athletic appearance is further accented by 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Goodyear performance tires.
There are four exterior colors offered on the all-new 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4; Brilliant Black, Sunburst Orange, Bright Silver and Inferno Red.
Under the hood is where the real fun begins. The 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4 is powered by a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces a whopping 285 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque.
That's V-8like power from a four-cylinder. That muscle is sent to the front wheels through a slick-shifting six-speed manual transaxle. My only complaint is that at times there's a fair amount of torque steer when hammering the accelerator pedal hard.
The SRT4 goes from 0 to 60 mph in about 6 seconds. I especially liked using the available built-in Reconfigurable Display (RCD), with exclusive "performance pages" that provide lateral and longitudinal G-force, 1/8-mile and 1/4-mile acceleration time and speed, 0-to-60-mph time and braking distance.
You'll need to find a racetrack to fully enjoy this car and the display. Unique SRT touches include sport seating with aggressive bolstering and performance fabric inserts to hold occupants during spirited driving, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Audiophiles will appreciate the available Kicker high-performance audio system with 13 speakers in seven locations, powered by a 322-watt amplifier and 200-watt subwoofer.
The 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4 is undoubtedly a fun car to drive. There's minimal body roll thanks to a lowered and stiffer suspension. The Electronic Stability Program (ESP) has been uniquely calibrated to provide better directional stability in all driving modes without being overly intrusive.
Yet another ingredient in SRT's performance recipe is benchmark braking. Up front the SRT4 features 340 by 28 millimeter vented rotors with 57 millimeter twin-piston aluminum calipers. In the rear, the rotors measure 302 by 10 millimeter and the calipers feature a single 35 millimeter piston. All calipers are painted in signature Dodge SRT red and display nicely behind the alloy wheels.
The standard anti-lock braking system was uniquely calibrated for the all-new 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4 to minimize stopping distance and maintain directional stability without wheel lockup.
When you consider everything you get with the 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4, including its awesome performance attributes, you'd expect to pay much more. The starting price is just under $23K, and that's a bargain. Kudos to the folks at SRT.
2008 Dodge Caliber SRT4
Engine: 2.4-liter (285 hp) turbocharged I4
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Drive type: FWD
Fuel economy: 21 city/26 highway
Base price: $22,435
As tested: $25,145 (includes $560 for destination)
Web site:
www.dodge.com