Press Kit: 2007 Dodge Nitro Launch

The all-new 2007 Dodge Nitro offers a full range of active and passive safety systems. The Nitro also offers customers in the United States a high level of security technology, featuring Sentry Key^® engine immobilizer, an available security alarm and HomeLink Universal Home Security System Transceiver.

“The Dodge Nitro offers more than 25 safety and security technologies,” said Frank Klegon, Executive Vice President – Product Development. “Among the standard equipment is Chrysler Group’s advanced electronic chassis controls — Electronic Stability Program, Electronic Roll Mitigation, All-speed Traction Control, Brake Assist and Advanced Anti-lock Brakes are all standard equipment.”

This grouping of standard and available features reinforces Chrysler Group’s commitment to safety and security.

Dodge Nitro Safety and Security Features

• Anti-lock Brake System (ABS): Senses and prevents wheel lockup, offering improved steering control under extreme braking and/or slippery conditions; advanced ABS modulates the four brakes individually for optimum control and stopping performance
• Advanced Multi-stage Air Bags: Offering enhanced protection for a wider range of occupants, this system is designed to also identify the size of an occupant — using the Occupant Classification System — based primarily on weight of the front passenger seat
• All-speed Traction Control: Senses drive-wheel slip and applies individual brakes to a slipping wheel(s), and reduces excess engine power until traction is regained
• Auto-reverse Sun Roof: Advanced sensing system that automatically engages and reverses the sun roof (to the open position)
• Auto-reverse Windows: Automatically engages and reverses the window (to the down position)
• BeltAlert: Periodically activates a chime and illuminates an icon in the instrument cluster to remind the driver and front passenger to buckle up
• Brake Assist: In a panic brake condition, the system applies maximum braking power, providing the shortest possible stopping distance
• Brake/Park Interlock: Prevents an automatic transmission or transaxle from being shifted out of Park unless the brake pedal is applied
• Child Seat Anchor System: Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) is designed to ease installation of compatible aftermarket child seats
• Child-protection Rear Door Locks: Disables the rear doors’ inside-release handle via a small lever on the door-shut face
• Constant Force Retractors (CFR): Distributes force or load exerted on a seat belt, and then gradually releases the seat-belt webbing in a controlled manner
• Crumple Zones: Designed to compress during an accident to absorb energy from an impact, decreasing transfer of that energy to the occupants
• Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM): An extension of the Electronic Stability Program (ESP). Uses input from the ESP sensors to anticipate if the vehicle is at risk of entering a potential roll situation, then reacts immediately, applying the brakes individually and modulating throttle position as needed to attempt avoiding the roll situation
• Electronic Stability Program (ESP): Enhances driver control and helps maintain directional stability under all conditions. Provides the greatest benefit in critical driving situations such as turns, and is especially valuable when driving on mixed surface conditions such as snow, ice or gravel. If there’s a discernible difference between what the driver asks through the steering wheel and the vehicle’s path, ESP applies selective braking and throttle input to put the vehicle back onto the driver’s intended path
• Energy-absorbing Steering Column: The manual-adjust steering column utilizes two hydroformed coaxial tubes that can move relative to each other to allow the column to move forward for enhanced energy-absorption during a crash. The power-adjust steering column employs a calibrated bending element that deforms during column stroke for optimal energy management
• Enhanced Accident Response System (EARS): Makes it easier for emergency personnel to see and reach occupants in the event of an accident by turning on the interior lighting and unlocking the doors after air-bag deployment. Also shuts off the flow of fuel to the engine
• Height-adjustable Front Seat Belts: Allows the driver and front passenger to raise and lower the shoulder belt. Encourages seat-belt usage by offering a more comfortable fit
• HomeLink Universal Home Security System Transceiver: Stores three separate transmitter radio-frequency codes to operate garage-door openers, security gates, security lighting or other radio-controlled devices
• Interior Head-impact Protection: Interior pillars above the beltline and instrument panel including areas around windshield and rear window headers, roof and side-rail structures, and shoulder-belt turning loops, specifically designed to limit head-impact force
• Knee Bolsters: The lower instrument panel and the glove-box door are designed to properly position the occupant, enabling the air bags to work effectively
• Occupant Classification System (OCS): Measures the conditions for activation or deactivation of the front passenger-side air bag based upon the weight of the occupant. Occupants are advised to always sit properly in their seats with the seat belt fastened. Children 12 years old and younger should always be seated in a back seat correctly using an infant or child restraint system, or have the seat belt positioned correctly for their age and weight
• Remote Keyless Entry: Locks and unlocks doors, and turns on interior lamps. If the vehicle is equipped with a vehicle-theft security alarm, the remote also arms and disarms that system
• Seat-belt Pretensioners: During a collision, the impact sensors initiate the front seat-belt pretensioners to immediately remove slack, thereby reducing the forward movement of the occupants’ heads and torsos
• Sentry Key Engine Immobilizer: Utilizes an engine key that has an embedded transponder with a preprogrammed security code to discourage vehicle theft. When the key is inserted into the ignition, the controller sends a random number to the transponder and the engine is allowed to start. If an incorrect key is used, the engine will shut off after only a few seconds
• Side Occupant Protection System: Includes side-curtain air bags with roll detection system that deploy in certain rollover situations and side-impact events. Utilizes information from multiple sensors to determine the severity of the impact
• Supplemental Side-curtain Air Bags: Extends protection to all outboard front- and rear-seat passengers. Each side air bag has its own impact sensor in order to autonomously trigger the air bag on the side where the impact occurs
• Tire-pressure Monitoring (TPM): Pressure-sensor modules within the valve stems of all four road wheels send continuous radio-frequency signals to a receiver and the system informs occupants when the pressure is too low
• UConnect^® Hands-free Communication: Uses Bluetooth® technology to provide voice-controlled wireless communication between the occupants’ compatible mobile phones and the vehicle’s on-board receiver. The hands-free option promotes safety, freedom, value and flexibility