Maybe Dodge officials think midsize sedans are boring, too. Or, maybe they think the 2008 Avenger sedan doesn't have the chops to roll up to a crowd unaccompanied. Whatever the case, an Avenger in NASCAR drag upstaged the normal Avenger at the last press major conference of the '07 Detroit show. Especially when ex-F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya emerged from the winged NASCAR beauty. As part of his quest to become one of the "good old boys," he'll be driving an Avenger when the Nextel Cup competition begins this spring.
"It's a well-balanced car and I'm confident it will do better than everything else in the field," Montoya said.
We're not so confident about the regular '08 Avenger's prospects in the midsize sedan segment, though we do expect to like it more than the '07 Sebring, mainly because of the top-of-the-line Avenger R/T. This smoked-headlight, chrome-grilled, chrome-wheeled car has a standard 235-hp 3.5-liter V6 and a six-speed automatic transmission -- good for a 7.7-second 0-60 time. And compared to a Sebring Limited (with the optional 3.5L), the R/T has stickier tires (215/55R18 Bridgestone Potenzas), higher spring rates and firmer shock valving, said Larry Lyons, vice president of DaimlerChrysler's Front Wheel Drive Product Team.
There's also the all-wheel-drive advantage: Dodge is offering it as an option on the Avenger R/T. It's not currently available on the Sebring, although we'd be surprised if Chrysler didn't add it for '08. Look for the Avenger to show up at dealerships in late February to early March. --Erin Riches
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Not excited. It's a Charger with a Caliber nose.
This is the worst translation to a racecar body... it doesn't have the slightest resemblance to the shape of the consumer's 2008 Avenger.
OH my God!!! What did they do to the kick up in the beltine? It looks like a small sedan taped to a large one. Althought the exterior is an atrocity in everything from details to proportions, the interior appears half decent, minus crappy plastics.
Looks like the bastard-child of a K-car family reunion.
Hmmm, well I was hoping for something better than this from Dodge. I don't like the rear side windows the way they curve up and the huge plastic molding on the rear side window. Still, the Avenger is better looking than the new Sebring and I really like the interior. I'll wait to see one up close in person, maybe the look will grow on me.
Okay, first of all billt9 the racecar body must meet certain body specifications to even race in Nascar plus the company changed the body as needed for better areodynamics. Also, thats the COT(Car Of Tomorrow) version which will race a limited schedule this 07 season.
Nissan VQ35: 306hp. Toyota 2GR-FSE: 306hp. Honda J35: 290hp. VW VR6 3.6l: 280hp. Ford Cyclone 3.5l V6: 265hp, expected to be tuned to ~300hp. GM LY7 3.6l V6: 300hp.
Looks like the Dodge boys are a bit late to the V6 party. Maybe someone can stuff a Hemi in there.
Dodge needs to drop that new front end of theirs, the Caliper really needs help from the current Aztec designer crew. And what's with Dodge's lust with puffy flared fender curves? Not to mention big thick US tires, when will US automakers realize people (some at least) like low profiles? Mazda, BWM, VW, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Honda, Toyota and Hyundai all offer a less airy tire.
This is a sad replica of the charger....the rear end looks exactly like the old design. And they tried too hard on the rear quarter windows and now it just looks useless with limited visibility. Overall, a large disappointment and they need to get rid of that wing right now.
I don't really like this car, but the fronts OK, and so is the interior.
You cant take styling from a large RWD car and adapt it to a smaller FWD car and expect it to be proportioned. Chrylser (I thought) was on a roll in the styling department but it seems as if its not consistent across the lineup.
The 300/Charger/Magnum, Pacifica, Crossfire, and Viper are pretty good. But the new Sebring, that thing above, and the Dakota are HIDEOUS.
LP
I agree it could be better but at least it a some style. I love the engineering of Honda/ Acura but name a car they still make that has any style.
At least it's not bland.
IId rather be bland than just all out ugly! I will say that Honda has been a bit overly conservative with thier styling but they exhibit that mechanical brilliance. Honda styling isnt bad its just plain vanilla. To answer your question, Id say the TL has style. Its not that "hey look at me Chrylser 300" kind of style but it is a good looking car.
That thing above looks as if its trying to be something its not, the Charger. The powertrains dont look to promising either especially the "weak" V6 in a field of most 250+ V6's.
One thing I dont get about Chrylsers lineup is that their designs arent consistent. They have the good/exspensive looking 300/Charger/Magnum, Crossfire, and the decently styled Pacifica but when they got to the Sebring/Avenger sedan it just didnt work. It has to exude that same kind of image that the 300/Charger has just in a smaller package, and this certainly aint it. Id gladly take a Aura or Malibu over this without question.
LP
Look kids its the illegimate child of the stratus and the charger nice work screwing this up dodge
Aura XR is quicker too. 6.5 sec to 60mph. New Avenger 7.7 to 60, that's pretty poor for this segment. If I was going to patronize a DaimlerChrysler auto it'll probably be an EVO X.