Dodge Nitro ready to rock Melbourne

THE small Caliber hatch got the ball rolling for Dodge in Australia last year and now it is the Nitro’s turn.

Based on the Jeep Cherokee platform, the Nitro SUV will make its Australian public debut at this Friday’s Melbourne motor show opening – six months before its official release in August.

The Nitro takes on a distinctly chunky style, with wheel-arch blisters, a dominant Dodge crosshair grille, 20-inch tyres, performance suspension and a bluff front-end. Like the Cherokee, it will be available with both petrol and diesel engines.

The Nitro is Dodge’s first mid-size five-seat SUV and will become the second Dodge to be sold here after the Caliber, which arrived late last year.

The new off-roader has form as well as function, with a cargo floor that extends out 460mm over the rear bumper and can hold 180kg to facilitate the easy loading of heavy items.

The Nitro also offers electronic stability control, traction control and multi-stage airbags as part of its safety package.

In-car entertainment includes a CD/DVD/MP3 player and a new innovation, the "MyGIG" multimedia information and entertainment system.

Prices and Australian specifications will be announced at the Nitro’s official launch the third quarter of 2007.