Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Auto Show, SUVs
Reader Spy Shots: Dodge Nitro
We just received a slew of spy shots from Rob, an avid Autoblog reader who fortunately has a Sony Clie equipped with
a 1.2 megapixel camera on him at all times. Rob caught these pics of the Dodge Nitro lighly camouflaged in Bloomfield
Hills near DCX HQ. He also attempted to street race the Nitro in his 2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport and was kind enough to
document the experience for us.
Notice the wheels on this Nitro compared to the ones in the concept Nitro we snapped at the Frankfurt Auto Show.
They're the exact same wheels, although apparently powder-coated black on the test vehicle. Can't say if that's just
for discretion out on the streets of Detroit or it implies this is an SRT version of the Nitro being tested. Rob does
comment on the explosive power of the vehicle while he was pursuing it for pics. Either way, the production model is
shaping up to be the spitting image of the concept.
Rob's own words on shooting the Dodge Nitro…
It was intense. There she was, cruising down Telegraph Road in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan doing 10 over. I
quickly scrambled for my Sony Clie with a 1.2 megapixal camera, almost swerving into the Toyota Prius next to me. Not
that hitting it would have affected me or deterred me from the objective at hand.
The driver made a quick right onto Square Lake Road heading towards the I-75 expressway. There we were, face to
face, stopped at the red just before entering 70mph land. I turned off the A/C to get extra power to the
engine. Green hit and he took off like like the Discovery (minus the week delay).
Anyway, Ill cut to the chase since its 5:19pm and I want to get out of the office. The guy was going 80 down
the expressway, knowing that I was snapping shots. We both dove to the University Road Exit. Took a few last
shops before he drove into the DaimlerChrysler headquarters through the secret gate.
The car was fast. Real fast. Especially compared to my 2001 V-6 Jeep Cherokee Sport.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Justin Lutz 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
DCX should have just offered to make the Hummer H3 off this platform, for GM, instead of both companies developing "another tall boxy wagon" separately. This vehicle does nothing for me, except the body panel cut lines... those do inspire a little vomit in the back of my throat... Should have just spent a little more cash on the Liberty freshening, IMHO.
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r rudorf 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Rob,
how come you swapped out the 4 liter stright six in your cherokee for a v6? Was is expensive to do?
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Fred D. 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Even dumber looking than the HHR... :(
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Jim in Tampa 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Looks like another SUV being introduced as SUV sales tank in the face of high gas prices!
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Travis 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
re: #2, my thoughts exactly. :-D
also, I had a 95 cherokee sport and it was a DOG. massive amounts of torque off the line, then it was lagging big time. the 4.0 is great for many things, driving fast unfortunately isn't one of them. not surprised that this thing is faster than his cherokee, most things are.
otherwise, I give a big ol "bleh" to the new "super SUVs". Who really cares that they stuffed a high-hp motor into something just so that it can acheive the same accelleration of something half its price?
not impressed.
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Jesus 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Rob approaches me in his greatness. Excellent work.
#2, shut up before I arrange a smiting.
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Jonas Elderwood 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Man. Know that i think about it, I think I saw that car or a similar vehicle here in Durango, Co. I was in my friends car and she declined my request to follow it. Sneaky stuff.
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Mike 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
Street racing SUVs... on the highway? Pretty lame. Funny thing is, that looks like 696, and I get moronic SUV drivers that want to race my RX-7 too. Highway racing is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. Not only are you not launching the car, but you're starting at 60+ mph. Good way to crack your car up and kill people as well. FIrst of all, get a real car. Second, go to a real race, SCCA has events all over the place, and there ARE dragstrips around Detroit (Lapeer, Milan).
Sorry, but the comment above about trying to get the new SUV to race really hits a nerve.
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skeet 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
mike yur retarded
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Rob 11:07PM (12/18/2005)
#2 - you got me. Although, I don't think Jeep ever made a "stright 6."
One of the most interesting pics I took of this car was not posted. We had a soft brake situation where only the center brake light lit up. When the driver had a hard braking situation, all 3 lights lit up. Does anyone know if there will be new brake light technology to determine if the car in front is slamming the brake, or giving it a slight tap?
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