Automotive News, Media & Press - Dodge Resurrects Another Nameplate: Meet The 2007 Dodge Avenger

http://www.clubhioctane.com/community/showthread.php?t=918

Just as Dodge resurrected a somewhat obscure nameplate when it unleashed the 2005 Magnum unto the public they are resurrecting the nameplate of the oft forgotten Dodge Avenger. For those who don't know the Avenger was built from 1995-2000 and was intended as a replacement for the Daytona and the Stealth. However the Avenger lacked the punch of the Turbo Daytonas and the Stealth and was a rather bland next to either of these cars. The nameplate was discontinued after 2000 and replaced by the Stratus Coupe.

In any case, Dodge has decided to drop the Stratus nameplate altogether and go with the Avenger moniker for it's new midsizer. Whereas Chrysler did odd things with the new Sebring and turned it into a mish mash of current vehicles (i.e. VW Eos front end, Toyota Corolla rear, Chrysler Crossfire grille and hood) I think the mini Charger look given to the Avenger works much better. This car is built on the same Mitsubishi GS platform as the 2007 Sebring only the platform is stretched in this applications and apparently now dubbed JS. This means that the Avenger will be a FWD vehicle like it's stablemates. However AWD might be a possibility in the near future perhaps for a more powerful model or people who don't get to live in Hawaii like me and have to deal with the snow. GS in case you're wondering underpins a host of vehicles ranging from the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and Patriot, Mitsubishi Outlander, the next Mitsubishi Lancer and Lancer Evolution and if they decide to keep it around an all new PT Cruiser.

I'd expect the Avenger to get the same engines as it's Chrysler counterpart. That means a 172hp 2.4L 4 banger, a 190hp 2.7L flex fuel V6 and a 235hp 3.5L V6, the last one teamed with a 6 speed automatic. I'm curious to see if Dodge will do an SRT variant of the Avenger. Chrysler didn't do an SRT Jeep Liberty but they are doing an SRT Dodge Nitro therefore while there are no plans to do a Sebring SRT perhaps Dodge will do an AWD Avenger with either the 300hp 4 banger from the Caliber SRT-4 or perhaps a high performance V6 of some kind. In any case, as much as I think this is a pretty decent looking midsizer (I happen to like the Charger's bold styling) I do wish it was a rear driver. Can you imagine shoving a 6.1L into this thing?

Marketwise I smell a hit on Dodge's hands. People have more or less gone apeshit over the new Charger with folks blinging them out left and right (even the 3.5L V6 models). With gas prices on the rise and baby Charger looks I forsee people pimping this thing out and applying Charger badges onto the trunk. Disgusting and disgraceful but it will probably mean good sales figures for Dodge and I'm sure they won't mind. A lot of people who bought Chargers (specifically the V6 models) only did it for the image. I'm sure they'd be more than happy to be able to get their hands on Charger styling cues for less money and with better fuel economy.


2007 Dodge Avenger:
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k102/THEMOLE2/7d9ae515.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k102/THEMOLE2/5f8027ef.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k102/THEMOLE2/d813dbde.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k102/THEMOLE2/P1010144.jpg

Looks like a small Charger.

Looks MUCH better than the Sebring. The nose may be a bit too macho for my tastes though.

Looks like shit.

its the same thing as those new ,,,,uuuummm,,,,,Caliber,,,or Jeep Compass. They have those trannies that never shift,,sounds like your in a whind up toy.

Pics no good, and the link requires a login. Please try again :wavey:

Looks like a small Charger.

Ditto. Probably would have been cool as a 2-door also.

Looks like the car version of the Caliber.. I wonder will they SRT it?

I wonder what they could have done if they Srt'd the Stratus I think those are nice looking cars..

Picture's don't work :/

New link to the article.

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/04/spy-shots-2007-dodge-avenger/

Pics are still working for me but in case they aren't here are smaller versions of the ones I posted.

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/09/07_dodge_avenger_02.jpg

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/09/07_dodge_avenger_01.jpg

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/09/07_dodge_avenger_03.jpg

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/09/07_dodge_avenger_04.jpg

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/09/07_dodge_avenger_05.jpg

You just made a car that looks damn near identical to one you already have.


Good job, Dodge. Way to innovate :eyes:

Looks pretty ugly to me.

You just made a car that looks damn near identical to one you already have.


Good job, Dodge. Way to innovate :eyes:

Seems to work for Hummer and Cadillac. It is pretty ugly though, but not AS bad as the new Sebring.

Yeah, that looks kinda ugly. :barf: The proportions are way off! The front looks like it should belong on a different car. Dodge did a nice job on the Charger, IMO, but they screwed this one up. It looks like a great rental car however. :jest:

What is the purpose of this car?!?

The only businesses that are successfull over-saturating the market is Starbucks, McDonalds and gas stations.

If this car doesn't do anything that the Charger and the Magnum doesn't, its stupid.

I don't like it at all. Does Dodge still have ties to mitsubishi? I think a 263 HP 3.8L V6 with a 6-speed manual and either RWD or AWD could make it interesting... so could the 300 HP SRT4 motor in a similar configuration, otherwise NEXT

It's funny: Every new Dodge looks the same, except for the proposed Challenger. Wonder if it'll look like a Charger when the production version comes around. Waste of time again. And Detroit wonders why they are losing money. Why would anyone buy that ugly piece of shit when other cars that are better looking and better quality are available? Quickly, the Mazda 6 Sport comes to mind, the Nissian Altima, Acura TSX. If I needed a small four door car, it wouldn't be the Avenger. Unless they slipped the 6.1L HEMI in it. Then we could talk!!

Hmm, I fail to see why so many people are hating on this car. It's 10x better than the Stratus it's replacing and it looks way better than the current Malibu. Considering that the V6 versions of Chrysler's LX cars are doing well I don't see why a the Avenger with it's baby Charger looks and better mileage shouldn't appeal to folks who are only looking to buy a Charger just for it's design. As for the people bitching about the family resemblance have any of you taken a look at a Cadillac or a Pontiac before? It's not like both marques don't apply similar looking front ends to their vehicles. Pontiac has at least began to somewhat diversify it's looks but that only came about with the debut of the Aussie built GTO, the all new Solstice and the G6. Look at how much a pre decladded Bonneville, previous gen Grand Prix and Grand-Am look alike? Look at how much current 5 point grille Mazdas and Acuras look alike. Look at how much Bimmers in the 90s look alike and no one complained. If you think the Charger is butt ugly then I can understand, but what's with the bitching about similar design themes when it's been done for ages?

As for the people bitching about the family resemblance have any of you taken a look at a Cadillac or a Pontiac before? It's not like both marques don't apply similar looking front ends to their vehicles. Pontiac has at least began to somewhat diversify it's looks but that only came about with the debut of the Aussie built GTO, the all new Solstice and the G6. Look at how much a pre decladded Bonneville, previous gen Grand Prix and Grand-Am look alike? Look at how much current 5 point grille Mazdas and Acuras look alike. Look at how much Bimmers in the 90s look alike and no one complained. If you think the Charger is butt ugly then I can understand, but what's with the bitching about similar design themes when it's been done for ages?

I think that from the b-pillar back, it looks exactly like a 15/16 scale model of a Dodge Charger. All those cars you cited look similar, but I'm not going to confuse them when I see them drive by.

I have 60 of these at work. domestic and international cars.
I like them. they don't look to bad. we finished about 50 sebrings about 2 months ago.
I like the avenger better though

its one thing for designs ot be ...bland... but to make a "mini me" is just retarded.

its one thing for designs ot be ...bland... but to make a "mini me" is just retarded.
LOL, no kidding. To borrow some lines would be fine, to change it a 2 door small car would have been ideal, but this is just stupid. :why:

why dose doge put that fuking truck face on everything they build?