Our Chicago Auto Show correspondent and father of stratusphere.net discovered a brand new concept car, the Dodge Rampage, on the show floor. It appears to be a new pickup truck, though it’s clearly “just a concept” with over-the-top interior details and such. We have been told that it is not based on an existing carline but is unique, and is probably a “what-if” study more than a prototype or shape of definite things to come. See photos at http://www.allpar.com/cars/concepts/dodge/rampage.html.

We expect that Dodge will release much more information about the Rampage when it is officially announced. For the moment, stratuscaster’s spy shots provide a clear look at what’s comign next.

By now, you know about it, I hope. (If not, see http://www.allpar.com/cars/dodge/caliber-srt4.html ).

This is good.

Well, some will be disappointed by the fact that you can probably still beat one, in theory at least, with the Dodge Neon SRT-4. On the other hand, most people will be too busy drooling over the 300 horsepower rating on the World Engine, which we were told last year takes to turbocharging like a duck takes to water. 300 horses from a production four-cylinder - who would have thought it ten years ago? (Sure, the 1991 Spirit R/T had 224 horsepower from 2.2 liters, but it was a bit finicky.) Back then, V8s were just over 200 horsepower… now, we have the Hemi doing 340 in standard form.

What I think is good is the way Chrysler is learning from their mistakes.

In the recent past, the powerful versions of cars were brought out after the models had time to slow down in sales. It took years and years to get a Neon with a turbo. The Dodge Spirit R/T was brought out when the Spirit had already been around; ditto the Shelby CSX and Sundance/Shadow. And there never even was a Reliant turbo, though if there had been, it would have been a killer with that light body.

The Caliber made a little splash, but most of the world still has no idea what it is (by the way, thanks, naming-department guys, for the lame name. If it had been called Rebel, it might have gotten more print!) The Challenger and Camaro fighting it out for headline space didn’t help; the Caliber and Aspen sort of whispered their entry to the world under the massive shouts of the muscle cars. But the SRT-4’s competition for headline space is much less impressive; the Chicago show was a good choice. More to the point, it will give the ordinary Caliber a reputation for brute-force acceleration the Neon never had, even after the SRT-4.

People make up their minds about a car’s personality early, then reject anything that doesn’t fit. The Escort GT barely registers when people think of the slow-as-a-dog, not-climbing-that-hill Ford Escorts (albeit not the Mazdas that replaced them). The Spirit R/T never gave the Spirit a sporty halo, and the first-year Volare pretty much killed the name. So having people associate “Caliber” with “300 horsepower!” is a big deal indeed.

Good job, Chrysler Marketing. At this rate, you might just last a while… despite the recent trend of “reorg of the month.”