Intrepidation

You have a point about people in Europe willing to pay more for compacts, supposedly this is why in America we're still stuck with the original Ford FOcus, since the new one is considered a "premium compact" and would cost a lot more than the current Focus if Ford brings it stateside. Stil, if there's demand for it, Dodge may stick it on the options list later on. Who knows.

whatever that it it's damn sexy. Oh how I hope the Avaenger gets a front end that nice.

I posted in another thread about how I think the interior isn't production-spec yet, and that, for example, the steering wheel is not the final product, since it lacks details like metallic trim (like what you find on the 300). I think the design looks great, but I think the guages should be more special and not look like what you find in a Caliber, maybe put crome rings on the pods too. I bet you that the gray will be an option, but they'll be other color options ( i think black with aluminum trim would look pretty sweet, maybe with real wood this time too). Anyway I think the overall design is much more creative than the current Sebring, and that maybe the final production version's materials will look a bit nicer.

On another note, I think Chrysler has done a great job differentiating it's newer products. Even though you can see the family resemblance, the 300/Magnum/Charger look different enough so that they don't look like clones (like how GM likes do do when it badge engineers).

I think the rampage looks great. EVen if they don't build it, let's hope that friend end winds up on the refreshed Dakota or Durango, cuz those front ends suck. I think they should consider building the Rampage though, it looks awesome, it'd be able to compete with both the Ridgeline and to a lesser extent the Avalanche. I thinnk if they do build it, they'd offer AWD as an option or something, perhaps a ystem that splits the power under cornering/acceleration and for towing. It has a lot of good ideas and it's wrapped in a good looking package. I say go for it, and put that ugly-as-sin Ridgeline back in it's place. By the way, for peopel who think the Rampage is wussy cuz the concept was FWD, let's not forget that the Ridline is no man's truck itself. It's ugly, it's based off the Pilot, and it only has a V6. The Rampage would be a good alternative to say, a Dakota or something, like a crossover alternative.

I took the Challenger survey, heck I even sent them an email telling them how awesome it is, they said thanks lol I just took the Rampage survey, since the engine options look realistic, and that they're doing a survey at all shows that Dodge has some interest in building the truck. Personally, I think the styling is great, the front end looks killer, as so the overall proportions. I think incorperating Stow `n Go is a clever move too. There's a market out for teh Rampage, since it can compete both with the Avalanche and the Ridgeline. It's got a midgate system like the Avalanche and Unibody contruction like the Ridgeline, but unlike teh Ridgle, it's not butt-ugly and it's got better engine options.

I think Dodge did a great job styling the Caliber, it looks much more aggressive than most other cars in the segment. The interior design looks alright, way better than a Neon anyway. The SRT-4 looks sweet, should be a blast to drive too. Two things I wonder about the Caliber though: 1.Iis any of the interior besides the seats soft to touch? I can't really tell from pictures, but everything from the dash to the armrests looks like they're made of hard plastic. Wish they weren't if they really are. 2. Since the stereo head unit is identical to what's in the Magnum/Charger, wouldn't it be wise to offer the Nav system in it? I mean, Honda is doing it already with the Civic, if Dodge jumps in now with a Nav, they'll be the only domestic compact with the option. Seems like a smart idea to me; if/when I get a new car a Nav system would be nice.

Maybe the early prototype was using the Caliber's wheel as a stopgap until a finalized wheel design was finished. If you look at the newer wheel design, it doesn't look done either, as there's no detail work on it (like how the 300's spokes have metallic inserts), plus the color of the wheel doesn't quite match the steering column.

Oh, by the way I'm new to the forums

In response to what Petra said before about the Sebring using the same steering wheel as the Caliber...I'm not sure if that's necessarily true. Look at these two spyshots from TCC's site. The first one is an older photo, whereas the second one is more recent. If you look at the first one, the Sebring does indeed have the same steering wheel as the Caliber, but the newer one more closely resembles the 300's (though it looks smaller and thicker). Also note the the newer photo's guage cluster is a little different, it looks better than the older one's. Anyway, I really like how the interior looks so far, it's a lot more creative than the 300's, I hope the offer it in more colors than gray though (like black and tan or something). It's lightyears better than the ugly interior of the current Sebring. Also I hope the Dodge interior is as creative and differentiated (m oreso than the Charger/Magnum's). As for the exterior, I like how the Crossfire's design cues seem to be incorperated into it. Gotta wait for the final verdict until the camo comes off, but so far so good.