The Caliber is not a replacement for the Neon any more than the Neon was a replacement for the Spirit, or the Colt, or the Omni, or the Charger. Even less so since the Neon shares parts with all of those cars... The Neon has outlived its useful life and the line is ending. The Caliber is not based on the same chassis. It does not share any parts. It does not have a remotely similar engine. It is a completely new car. It barely becomes the cheapest car, beating the PT Cruiser by a couple hundred bucks, and the PTC has more in common with the Neon than the Caliber does.
For those who haven't been keeping up, you can now head to the Dodge site and build your own Caliber...
(These numbers are directly from the Dodge site, don't shoot the messenger...) The base model and SXT will come standard with a 140HP/124 ft-lb 1.8L DOHC, with an optional 150 HP/135 ft-lb 2.0L DOHC or a 2.0L DOHC turbo diesel (specs?... supposed to have more power than the 2.4L). The R/T has either a 134 HP/229 ft-lb (no that's not a typo) 2.4L DOHC or the $5k+ optional 2.0L turbo diesel. I realize all the reports say the diesel was only going to be available in Europe. This is from the Dodge site. Maybe they're catching on that we aren't all executives making plenty of money to put $3.00 a gallon gas in our 12 mpg cars? And I realize the anticipation was that the 2.4L DOHC would have more like 170 HP. Dunno on that one, probably a typo on Dodge's part...
If you get the FWD, you have the option of a 5-speed, a 4-speed auto, a CVT, or a CVT with a paddle shift feature. If you go with the AWD (yes, it's even available on the base model), you only get the 4-speed auto.
The base gets 15" steel wheels, the SXT gets 17's, and the R/T gets 18's.
An absolute bare-bones model (no a/c, $1000+ option) will run just shy of $14k. A yellow (more money) AWD R/T with the turbo diesel, premium sound system, AM/FM/6-disc CD/mp3/Sirius player, leather interior, removeable 60/40 rear seat, front seat mounted thorax air bags, chrome wheels, Tonneau Cover, Security Alarm, Air Filtration, reconfigurable display in the vacuum-fluorescent odometer readout, Electronic Stability Control, cig lighter and ashtray (optional for $30), Sport Appearance Package (ties the exterior paint color to the seat inserts and center stack and shifter bezels for a customized look), Trailer Tow Prep Package (includes an engine oil cooler and a trailer wiring harness, hitch is extra), Driver Cup Holder Warmer & Cooler, engine block heater, and sunroof... a little under $31,500.