The Nitro is actually an interesting sneak peek at the next Jeep Liberty SUV, especially the R/T model. It's a spry and sporty Nitro, with its 4.0-liter V6 engine making 260 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft. of torque mated to a smooth five-speed automatic transmission. That's the model we drove, with what Chrysler execs say is a sport-tuned suspension different than the rest of the Nitro models in that the sway bar, springs, shocks and bushings have been upgraded, as well as the fact that it's the only Nitro with 20-inch wheels. Aside from sport tuning, it's a pretty typical live-axle setup in the rear and independent front tied to a rack-and-pinion steering setup that proved adept at tight turns.