Connie Keane - Motor Matters - 12/08/07

Imagine a compact turbocharged hatchback with 285 horsepower, American muscle Dodge looks and a price tag under $23,000. You'd be thinking of the all-new 2008 Caliber SRT4.

The exterior design portrays an aggressive attitude, but the menacing appearance is not just window-dressing, the styling is functional. The beefy look of this compact is designed to functionally handle the prowess of the Caliber SRT4.

The SRT4 houses the "World Engine" built in Dundee, Mich., at the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance plant, co-developed by Chrysler, Hyundai and Mitsubishi.

Under the hood is an all-new 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that puts out an incredible 265 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,000 rpm. Coupled to a Getrag six-speed manual transmission the turbocharged four delivers 285 horsepower at 5,700 rpm. The Chrysler SRT powertrain folks brag that this is the kind of performance expected from a V-8. Dodge estimates drivers will get fuel economy figures of 21 miles per gallon city and 26 mpg highway.

This five-passenger, front-wheel drive hatch goes from 0 to 60 mph in the low 6.0-second range. The car is fun to drive with not only tons of power, but also with the stability and handling character needed to harness the SRT4's motive force. Nineteen-inch cast-aluminum wheels and Goodyear W-rated all-season tires are standard. Electronic Stability Control and anti-lock brakes are standard equipped on the Caliber SRT4.

Dodge engineers say the Caliber SRT4 has met a new standard in benchmark braking. The front brake rotors are the 13.4 x 1.10 vented discs with dual piston floating calipers. Rear rotors are 11.9 x 1.39 solid discs with single-piston floating calipers. The brake calipers bear the signature Dodge SRT red paint. The braking system, including the ABS, has been uniquely calibrated to minimize the stopping distance without wheel lockup.

The aggressive SRT-signature look incorporates everything that is Dodge muscle. The auto brand's crosshair grille has the functional feature of ducts that direct air to cool the brakes. The front grille's wide center inlet is also a design element with purpose: it provides adequate airflow to the radiator. The SRT4's hood scoop is not just a bold look, it is also a functional system that brings cooling air into the engine. The attractive hood extractors are an exhaust system for the hot air. A large rear spoiler above the rear liftgate glass is sporty looking and serves with a lift-reduction purpose, as well as smoothes out the forces of airflow.

The interior of the Caliber SRT4 is sporty and speaks volumes about the performance nature of the SRT4. The interior treatment is laid out in black -- to help the driver concentrate -- and is driver-focused.

All this extra turbo-based power performance in the Dodge Caliber SRT4, plus beefier external appearance over the regular Caliber, results in a higher price tag. The SRT4 starts at $22,995. The normally aspirated four-cylinder Caliber starts at $14,000.

My tester featured optional packages, bringing the out-the-door price to $26,490. Equipment options included the SRT Group II ($1,185), which had some nice upgraded features, such as an automatic rearview dimming mirror, garage door opener, UConnect hands-free communication and driver information display center. The MuscleGate Power Sound System at $915 appeals to audiophiles with two articulating liftgate speakers, a subwoofer, Sirius Satellite radio, and AM/FM/CD/MP3 system.