Dodge Nitro Is Go!

[YSSMAN]

Chrysler Group today announced the 2007 Dodge Nitro — the first mid-size sport-utility vehicle from the Dodge brand."The Dodge Nitro's styling delivers something extra; that little something mid-size buyers are still searching for — attitude," said George Murphy, Senior Vice President - Global Marketing. "In addition, the Dodge Nitro offers many features that are not typical of a mid-size SUV, such as two V-6 engines, 20-inch tires and chrome-clad aluminum wheels and a performance suspension." Engine choices include V6 engines at 210 and 255-horsepower.

Three models are available: Dodge Nitro, Dodge Nitro SLT and Dodge Nitro R/T. Available on the Dodge Nitro and Dodge Nitro SLT is a 3.7-liter SOHC V-6 engine. It produces 210 hp (157 kW) @ 5,200 rpm and 235 lb.-ft. (319 Nm) @ 4,000 rpm. The Dodge Nitro R/T features a new 4.0-liter V-6 engine that delivers 255 hp (190 kW) @ 5,800 rpm and 275 lb.-ft. torque (360 Nm) @ 4,000 rpm. Standard on the Dodge Nitro R/T and optional on the Nitro SLT is a new performance suspension and 20-inch tires and chrome-clad aluminum wheels, providing performance-oriented drivers with fun-to-drive handling and a firm ride.

"Being the first mid-size SUV for the brand, Dodge Nitro had to personify the bold, powerful and street-smart attitude of Dodge," said Murphy. "In a world of mostly bland SUVs, the 2007 Dodge Nitro has the design, engineering and performance to inspire consumers and ignite the mid-size SUV market."

Three transmissions — one manual and two automatic — will be offered. The Dodge Nitro comes with a standard six-speed manual or optional four-speed automatic. The Dodge Nitro SLT has a standard four-speed automatic. The Dodge Nitro R/T has a standard five-speed automatic. All U.S. models offer 4×2 and 4×4 capability. The new mid-size SUV boasts excellent acceleration, braking, handling and towing capacity of 5,000 lbs. when properly equipped. Standard on the Dodge Nitro SLT and Dodge Nitro R/T is a new Chrysler Group feature, the LOAD 'N GO cargo floor that slides 18 inches rearward for easy and convenient loading and unloading of packages, and can hold up to 400 pounds. It is made of a heavy-duty plastic for easy cleaning. A compact utility table is an available option on the Dodge Nitro model.

The Dodge Nitro also includes many standard safety features, including Electronic Stability Program, Anti-lock Brake System, Electronic Roll Mitigation and side-curtain airbags.

Available options include a DVD-based navigation system with traffic data update, rear-seat DVD entertainment system, AM/FM/6-disc/DVD/MP3 audio with premium speakers with a subwoofer, remote start, UConnect, and Sirius Satellite Radio.

I don't like it, and quite frankly, I'm surprised they are going through with it. Of course, maybe some of the Durango sales can lean back on the Nitro, but even then, I'm not sure about it. I'd still rather buy the Jeep Liberty, but if this is going to offer similar performance for less money, I guess it might not be a bad deal.

 

[1X83Z]

I participated in a Chrysler focus group this summer that included the new Liberty and other interesting Chrysler products - this included. It was the sort of thing where they confiscate your camera phone at the door. I was very pleased with the styling of this vehicle, but I had some issues with the new Liberty - I'm excited to see it in this forum before long.

I praised the Nitro, though, for its engines - 255hp was fantastic, especially because the new Liberty appeared with the same 210hp 3.7 and 4-speed auto that they're using right now. I chastened them in my comments about the vehicle for that idiocy. Hopefully my comments and mine alone will convince them to put something bigger in it.

Anyway - I'm excited - I like this vehicle!

 

[Slicks]

Is the Nitro based on the same platform as the Jeep Commander? Save for the nose (Which is just plain ugly), it looks quite similar to me.
I can't see this truck being much of a success. It'll just mooch sales off of Durango customers.

 

[YSSMAN]

The Nitro shares it's platform with the Liberty. The Commander goes with the Grand Cherokee and Durango.

 

[boomboy]

Nah dont like it. Can anyone else see a bit of a landrover look going on with the front end?

 

[Pupik]

While the car looks and probably acts the part, it's going to be tough being another latecomer to the small SUV market. DaimlerChrysler is diluting the Jeep brand with too many duplicate products, some of which will only sell to a niche market, others which will be forgotten because of similarity.

 

[exigeracer]

Styling wise, I actually said "wow" outloud, but not in a good way. It looks as if they were so conflicted with the front-end styling because they wanted to keep those massive wheel fenders. If they let the nose of the car speak as wide as the actual car is, it would a much more pleasing nose. The rear, however is the car's critical failure. The creativity they used in the back-end styling is so ahead of its time, it's almost too complicated. They should definitely clean up the back and make it more simple and square.

Dodge - swingandamiss.

 

[Alex.]

ugly

 

[xXSilencerXx]

That thing is butt ugly. It's worse than the liberty.

 

[Tornado]

I could have sworn the first gen. Durango was a Mid-sized SUV. Maybe that doesn't count then.

 

[Pink_the_Floyd]

Stolen from the Pathfinder!

 

[STLbarcelona5]

Oh my god that thing is hideous. It's like, let's take one of the ugliest cars on the market (Caliber), and combine it with ANOTHER ugly car (Commander). Then you've got yourself a car that is about as attractive as, cat vomit.

 

[TS]

That thing is probably as aerodaynamic as a box.

 

[Smallhorses]

Can anyone spot the difference?

That is URRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGLLLLY. With a capital UG!

 

[JCE]

1 more excuse for me to hate Chrysler. They DO NOT need to pull a GM and make 50 million SUVs to cover every IOTA of segments 25 million times over. All they need is; Wrangler, Liberty, Cherokee, and Durango. Anything else is just overkill. This thing is FUGLY with a capitol FU. I don't care if it has 9,000bhp it's worthless and useless. I just don't get it, they need to concentrate on making a good set of saloons and coupes first before trying to add more new stupid useless vehicles. But, alas as much of a POS as this is it will sell well and make them some money (at least in the USA). So I give this as a business decision a 85% and as a functional product a 30%.

[/anti-Chrysler rant]

P.S. Chrysler bring back the Avenger and make it RWD+V6 (minimum) and I will reduce my hatred of thee.

 

[Tornado]

I mostly agree with you, but I must say I would like a full-size SUV (based on the RAM) like the 90's RAM Charger.
And the Liberty was crap when it was new. The Cherokee was better when it was discontinued.

 

[JCE]

I mostly agree with you, but I must say I would like a full-size SUV (based on the RAM) like the 90's RAM Charger.
And the Liberty was crap when it was new. The Cherokee was better when it was discontinued.

I liked that Ram Charger actually...and the 80's model was even better looking in my opinion. The Liberty may not be my thing but I know people who own them and they are happy so more power to them. It's a small SUV and that fits in the small SUV segment so I'm ok with it. The Cherokee was a decent SUV, it's offroad capabilities were good.

 

[ND4SPD]

Its got an odd front end, but past the front fenders it just looks extremely bland.

 

[red70mach1]

Between the Liberty and the Nitro. The rounder Jeep is my prefrence.

 

[YSSMAN]

DCX would be better off letting Jeep cover the SUV market, leaving Dodge to only build pickup trucks, and sell the Sprinter Van.

Atleast that way their lineups make sense, and there isn't the gross overlap going on between the Durango, Grand Cherokee and Commander, all of which are based on the same platform, and are essentially the same mechanically speaking... The Jeeps however recieving better 4WD systems.

 

[1X83Z]

I could have sworn the first gen. Durango was a Mid-sized SUV. Maybe that doesn't count then.

That's arguable - it was V8 only unlike the others and it was sized at the higher end of that class - but the present one is DEFINITELY not midsize - it's longer than the outgoing Tahoe.

Another thread where people call a new car that they've never seen before ugly?!??! You're kidding!!!

 

[niky]

I'm trying to keep an open mind here, mind you ( ), and I still can't bring myself to like the looks.

Is it traditionalism? Maybe. But I'd like to think that the design is unharmonious enough to register as a dud on my aesthetic senses.

But then, I hated the looks of the Civic for years before I warmed up to it. And I actually think the current Corolla isn't bad. And I hate the looks of the 612, but oddly, I love the 599, which looks very similar... so my taste is questionable.

 

[Delirious]

That has got to be the ugliest front end I have ever seen...

Then again, I saw a Dodge Caliber yesterday and thought it was also ugly, it didn't look too bad considering the performance/price/size/gas mileage.

Does anyone else agree after actually seeing a Dodge Caliber (not just pictures) that it isn't too shabby of a car?

 

[Dave A]

Nope, I don't. I really, really, really don't like the Caliber. From what I think of the pics of this, I think I would disslike this even more should I see one in the metal.

 

[Cod_Father]

The Nitro shares it's platform with the Liberty. The Commander goes with the Grand Cherokee and Durango.

The Durango doesn't share platform with the Commander and Grand Cherokee. It's on it's own as far as I'm aware and more an offshoot from the Dodge trucks.

The Mercedes SUVs are shared with the Grand Cherokee, I do know that.

As for SUVs coming from DCX, I don't believe the Nitro is a mistake. The Aspen on the other hand is. The caliber is selling extremely well, so that move seems to have paid off for the time being.

As for styling, that's always in the eye of the beholder.

 

[YSSMAN]

There isn't a single part shared between any of the Mercedes-Benz SUVs and the Jeep line other than the 5-speed automatic and the upcomming BluTec diesel. The Durango, Aspen, Grand Cherokee and Commander all ride on the same platform, that has been my understanding of the DCX situation from the get-go. The Jeep version may be slightly larger, I do remember reading about that, but that does not make it an entirely different platform.

...I've seen the Nitro in person at the Chicago Auto Show, and although it is pretty nice looking, I'm questioning how well it will sell. Even Ford has it's reservations on SUV sales, as they will be cutting back production of both SUVs and pickups over the next year.

Is Chrysler digging a hole for itself again? I'm going to say yes...

 

[Cod_Father]

There isn't a single part shared between any of the Mercedes-Benz SUVs and the Jeep line other than the 5-speed automatic and the upcomming BluTec diesel. The Durango, Aspen, Grand Cherokee and Commander all ride on the same platform, that has been my understanding of the DCX situation from the get-go. The Jeep version may be slightly larger, I do remember reading about that, but that does not make it an entirely different platform.

...I've seen the Nitro in person at the Chicago Auto Show, and although it is pretty nice looking, I'm questioning how well it will sell. Even Ford has it's reservations on SUV sales, as they will be cutting back production of both SUVs and pickups over the next year.

Is Chrysler digging a hole for itself again? I'm going to say yes...

Im positive I've heard on multiple TV shows and seen in print that the new M class is built off the Grand Cherokee platform. Either that, or the new Cherokee and Commander are built from the M platform. Or I really am going crazy like I thought I was a couple months ago.

As for digging itself a hole, perhaps in a few years. Remember, Chrysler operates on a 10 year cycle from good to almost bankrupt.

 

[Matt R]

Looks decent with good photography. On the road however, that will be a different story.

 

[niky]

@Delirious: actually, I've always thought it kind of pointless, but I've never thought it ugly... (now I'll just wait for someone to search through my previous posts for evidence to the contrary...) just... odd.

But after seeing this Nitro, I'd say the Caliber is downright beautiful.

The Nitro may be appealing in a Tonka sort of way, but that's it's downfall... the proportions look cartoonish from the pictures.

But I could be wrong. I've always hated the H2's looks (as compared to the H1, it looks like a pointless caricature), but it sells (or sold) like hotcakes.

 

[Frizbe]

Dear God! I never thought I would rather have an H3 over something. But alas the Crysler Group never fails to amaze me.