THE last time the Dodge brand featured in Australia was back in 1976. Few will remember the rebadged Valiant ute assembled by Chrysler Australia and even fewer will remember the Dodge Phoenix, which was built by Chrysler Australia between 1960 and 1972. So why relaunch the brand into a market groaning with ultra-competitive offerings? Simple. Dodge is part of the DaimlerChrysler conglomerate. It has the funds, and desire, to push the Dodge brand back into the limelight globally. The small Caliber hatch is the first of many Dodges destined for Down Under. We may be a bit cynical but we've heard it all before with Renault. So let the battle begin.