Chrysler was looking for a performance vehicle to add to its already impressive repertoire and turned to its SRT – Street and Racing Technology team to design something new and out of the box.
Using the boxy four-door Dodge Caliber as its benchmark, the team set about designing the group's newest addition. However new and improved the Dodge Caliber SRT4 was, it has come under fire for its outlandish modifications.
Let's dive deeper into each new look.
Performance Exhaust
While the single-pipe exhaust is tuned for maximum performance and meets federal noise regulations, the general feeling is that it could have been a smaller exhaust with a free-flowing muffler allowing for more power and a smoother exhaust flow. After all, this is a sports car and needs more of a sporty exhaust tone with some more kick in the power department.
Chrome Mirror Covers
The Chrome Mirror Covers are a high-grade plastic designed to ensure durability and style with the shiny mirror finish, but begs the question: "Why would we make a rough and tough-looking sports car have shiny glammed up mirrors?"
These stick-on accessories are a bit flamboyant for an athletic car and do not fall in sync with an outdoor vehicle's overall look and feel. With the overall feel that we are taking away from the sporty look and feel and leaning towards flashy and tacky, we recommend that you give the flashy mirrors the slip unless bling is what you think your SUV needs.
Custom Badges
Custom badges on the Dodge Caliber SRT-4 allow for clients to experience their own individuality when branding their vehicles. As a brand, this tends to take away from the hard work that marketing experts have put into the brand's design and feel as a whole.
Custom badges are freely available online, taking away from the solidity of the reputation that has long since been established. Not only does this clip-on badge take away from the brand's reputation, but the look of the alternative does not hold up the class of its predecessor, the actual badge.
The ability to "clip" off your vehicles badge and replace it with one that is supposed to be more aesthetically pleasing to the eye is akin to being able to buy an entry-level car of any brand and place a dodge badge on it, claiming that this it is indeed part of that brand.
Stick to the original design if you are a true Dodge enthusiast; the black clip-on design only takes away from your Dodge's uniqueness. Overall the optional badge change has made room for dissent among Dodge fans damaging its reputable image.
Custom Hoods
Custom hoods can be purchased in the Dodge Caliber range allowing for functional add-ons that are said to upgrade the vehicle's exterior while cooling off the internal parts of the engine more efficiently. The scoops on the hood are designed to make for a more aggressive look and enhance the engine's performance by increasing its oxygen supply.
This being said, the add-on hood is a bit of a misfit to the rest of the vehicle. As depicted in the image above, the black hood on the red body looks a little fake, not to mention plastic.
The idea of an interchangeable hood seems to appeal to Dodge fans making their entire car interchangeable. Still, in our opinion, this reiterates the sentiment that interchangeable parts are ruining the brand and taking away from the original design and intention of the vehicle that was released.
With all the additional replacement parts, this car looks more like a toy and less like a sports SUV.
Duck Bill Spoiler
Traditionally with minimal effort, a spoiler can be fixed onto your Dodge; the Duck Bill Spoiler should be no different. With no drilling or screwing and endless hours of frustration, the spoiler is said to be installed effortlessly to give your car a new distinguished look while adding a sense of individuality to your ride.
Advertised to enhance your vehicle's look, this spoiler is doing everything but that. Besides the fact that it is rather bland, bringing into view a sense of laziness by the design team, Dodge Caliber has an already elevated rear that bounces around when cornering; this spoiler does little to alleviate that feeling.
Besides a bland look, the spoiler isn't as easily fitted as one would assume, receiving a host of customer complaints regarding its inefficient installation mechanism, despite it being advertised as an easy installation.
Front Splitter
A Dodge Caliber front end splitter is designed to provide a proper angle that enforces a maximum sufficient downforce over your front end. The splitters come in a signature black finish made out of your selection of materials, the most common being fiberglass, carbon fiber, or upon request, aluminum. Finishing touches include black, black matte, or carbon fiber vinyl.
However, installing this accessory requires a large amount of attention to details requiring sanding and trimming to get the perfect fit. Once installed, the splitter is used to make your car more aerodynamic and look like it is glued to the road.
Missing the mark with the splitters used on the Caliber, the general feeling is that it makes the car look like a ramming truck rather than a sports car, and it is anything but aesthetically pleasing. The design of the front splitters leans towards the look of a demolition vehicle more than anything else.
The Bottom Line
As a whole, the Dodge Caliber has received numerous critical reviews. Dubbed in some reviews as having a wagon's look, much like the Cadillac CTS-V station wagon, the Caliber seems to have been a misfire in the design department.
Other terminal problems with the vehicle included internal design elements such as a bland grey plastic interior, which gave a cheap and gimmicky feel to the inside of the vehicle.
Overall, the Dodge Caliber is reported to be better suited to a colder climate; it is reported to shut down or overheat in warmer climates.
With the added stress of handling problems, where the steering wheel needs additional strength due to it ripping out of your hands under high speed and pressure, the Caliber has certainly not won any popularity contests and was quickly discontinued due to ongoing failures in the design and functionality of the vehicle.