2007 Dodge Nitro Liberty in disguise??

MattyMac1 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 17, 2006 4:09 pm

Uh--oh.... Maybe we will have to make another new listing for Nitro owners here?
http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=29&article_id=10229

dano104 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 17, 2006 4:24 pm

There will probably be alot of resentment if this model is released, however I can only see the aftermarket parts list increasing. I think it will benefit us in the end.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Mar 17, 2006 4:25 pm

Thats alittle old. And it is called nitro.

http://www.dodge.com/en/nitro/index.html

BCool · **Posted:** Fri Mar 17, 2006 4:29 pm

I wonder when they will start putting CVT's in these vehicles? What are all your opinions on them?

AlbertFattal · **Joined:** Tue Aug 16, 2005 10:15 pm **Posts:** 44

ROFL at the nitro/drug statment in the article

kickit_in4wheel · **Posted:** Sat Mar 18, 2006 2:47 am

Who cares about the slang thing? I've never heard of "nitro" as slang for any drug, so it shouldn't matter. The Dodge Dope or Dodge Crystal Meth, now that would be different. Maybe they'll call it the Dodge Ramrod...

Rick

ManicMechanicJoe · **Posted:** Sat Mar 18, 2006 5:12 am

I read a previous article about the nitro and they pointed out is being aimed at men (whereas the Liberty was marketed for women). The nitro will be all wheel drive (according to every other article I read).

On dodge's website they call the Nitro a midsize...Strange it's based off of a Jeep Liberty and the KJ is a compact...

The coolest thing about the Nitro-the R/T model uses a 3.7 V6 rated for 255 ponies. Yep, that's right-you folks will have off the shelf parts to hop up your KJ's by 45 horses.

I don't know what DC had to do to get those extra horses. I imagine some computer work/exhaust/intake work was done. Possibly different cylinder heads. Could be a fun project...

Since the Nitro is street biased, don't expect bigger lifts and more offroad parts. Instead, think performance parts.

Boi1ermaker · **Joined:** Tue Jan 24, 2006 1:44 pm **Posts:** 249

Quote:

The coolest thing about the Nitro-the R/T model uses a 3.7 V6 rated for 255 ponies. Yep, that's right-you folks will have off the shelf parts to hop up your KJ's by 45 horses.

The nitro performance page says its a 4.0L V6 that will make the 255hp....still hope it means more performance parts for us. Don't know if its been posted before, here's a photo album with 14 decent pictures of the nitro in it.

shak · **Posted:** Sat Mar 18, 2006 11:34 am

is it only me or does this box remind others of honda element???? i think kj is so much better looking than a box!!!

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Sat Mar 18, 2006 11:55 am

ManicMechanicJoe wrote:

I read a previous article about the nitro and they pointed out is being aimed at men (whereas the Liberty was marketed for women). The nitro will be all wheel drive (according to every other article I read).

Think they got it backwards now. Women would want all-wheel drive and men want 4x4 action. They must have hired the bottom-of-the-barrel marketers

On dodge's website they call the Nitro a midsize...Strange it's based off of a Jeep Liberty and the KJ is a compact...

I don't mind because insurance should be lower for a compact compared to a mid-size

The coolest thing about the Nitro-the R/T model uses a 3.7 V6 rated for 255 ponies. Yep, that's right-you folks will have off the shelf parts to hop up your KJ's by 45 horses.

I don't know what DC had to do to get those extra horses. I imagine some computer work/exhaust/intake work was done. Possibly different cylinder heads. Could be a fun project...

Since the Nitro is street biased, don't expect bigger lifts and more offroad parts. Instead, think performance parts.

PitViper · **Posted:** Sat Mar 18, 2006 5:09 pm

I want to see under the thing... will it have a dana 30a? I'm thinking no but we will see.

LoganSix · **Posted:** Sat Mar 18, 2006 6:18 pm

The Nitro is based off of the Liberty.
Pretty much the same dimensions in every way, except

drum roll please.....

more cargo in the back.
The one thing we want in the Liberty is more room in the back and they put it in the Dodge.

I see the Nitro as a mini-suv for Pimp yo Riding. So, nothing to be upset about. Maybe they'll come out with more lifts for the Liberty and the Nitro. More aftermarket for us is good.

benmar2000 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 18, 2006 10:29 pm

I don't like the looks of it.. I agree with shak.. It looks kind of like a Honda Element.. As for the interior.. It is too flashy... Not into a bunch of chromed parts... But if it is based on the Liberty.. Maybe we will see some more aftermarket parts.. Which will be a good thing..

Ben

Steakgoddess · **Posted:** Sun Mar 19, 2006 12:18 am

shak wrote:

is it only me or does this box remind others of honda element???? i think kj is so much better looking than a box!!!

Nope, it looks more like a boxed Element to me, too

chefdab · **Posted:** Mon Mar 20, 2006 2:44 am

As I recall reading last year, the Nitro will be based on the same platform as the next Liberty, coded KK. It is a longer wheelbase which is why it is considered mid-size. Which means the next gen Liberty will also be considered mid-size since the Patriot will take the compact market.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 20, 2006 2:25 pm

chefdab wrote:

As I recall reading last year, the Nitro will be based on the same platform as the next Liberty, coded KK. It is a longer wheelbase which is why it is considered mid-size. Which means the next gen Liberty will also be considered mid-size since the Patriot will take the compact market.

I have heard rumours that a SRT version of the Nitro will be in production for 2008. Anyone else hearing that?

Nitro Code Name = KA
Next Liberty = KK

The Liberty was launched in 2002 (01 really) so it's almost been 5 years. It's time for an update. Or stated correctly, time for Chrylser to shed the unforgiving image of a "girly SUV" with the new model. The R/T version on the Dodge will use the 4.0L motor and not the 3.7... We might benifit from this, but I don't think too much will be able to be retrofitted. I could be wrong, but that is just my feeling.

The nitro looks like an armoured car with a station wagon glued onto it after the front windshield.

JeepnJer · **Posted:** Mon Mar 20, 2006 3:36 pm

I don't care for the Nitro, especially the low-profile windows. Same thing I don't like about the H3. Of course I'm a hardcore Jeep lover. But I do like the idea of a 255HP 4L V6. I wish we'd see that 4L become an option on future Liberty's, but I doubt it. Altho' it might become available in the redesigned Liberty, especially if they lengthen the wheelbase as they did with the Nitro. I don't know (or care) if we'll ever see an R/T version of the Liberty, but maybe DC will retune that 4L for more low-end torque and make it an optional engine in a future Liberty. Can you imagine, a Liberty with a torguey 4L, 4:1 Lo Xfer case, Dana 44's with E-lockers and maybe even an off-road version with increased ground clearance. Just wet-dreamin'.

Guest · **Posted:** Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:12 am

So when is the next-gen Liberty supposed to come out? later this year, or next year as an '08 model?

they'd better get their stuff straight if they want me to buy another one..I'm already lookin hard at the FJ Loser

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 21, 2006 6:47 pm

The FJ only has two normal sized doors... That is a big draw back for me.

The KA/KK launch sometime later this year. (Maybe september.)

benmar2000 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 21, 2006 7:31 pm

So.. If I am getting this right, the 2006 model is the last year of the KJ Liberty to be replaced by the KK/KA model?

Ben

2007 Dodge Nitro Liberty in disguise??

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