Avenger Concept Shows Muscle for Midsize Segment

Though the North American portion of DaimlerChrysler has been participating in the European market for decades, selling Neons, Vipers, PT Cruisers, a variety of Jeeps and the occasional Sebring, over the past year the automakers American brands have been pushing even harder to increase market presence and share. The reality is that while Chrysler Group is a three-pronged brand name in North America (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep), the middle child was never sold across the Atlantic. Even the famed Viper was given a Chrysler badge. Starting in model year 2006, Chrysler group eagerly launched the brand into Europe with the Caliber, experiencing great success. It will be followed up shortly with the new Nitro SUV, and the production version of this, the new Dodge Avenger.

Aside from being Dodges latest concept creation, the vehicle behind the new bodywork is indeed the brother to Chryslers recently introduced Sebring midsize (D-Segment) family sedan. Although both cars ride on the same, exceptionally rigid FF-JS platform, with the same front and rear suspension systems and powertrains, the Avenger has such a unique look, and such a different customer base that introducing it was justified. Dodge hopes to stir things up in the D-Segment category in Europe, given that non-premium four-door sedan products rarely sell well. With bold styling (as opposed to refined and classy with the Sebring) the Avenger more than stands a chance.

Unlike its predecessor, the Dodge Stratus, theres much more than separates the Chrysler and Dodge than merely a new nose and tail. The Avengers sharp bodywork is just brimming with styling cues from the ultimate four-door muscle car, the Dodge Charger. The large, angular headlamps and the in-your-face crosshair grille from the LX-chassis Dodge sedan are present, although theyre much more European-looking. Around the side, the rear fenders are also similar with tall athletic looking quarter panels. From the back, however, the latest Avenger mimics the look of its predecessor, the Dodge Stratus, with similarly shaped tail lights mounted on a concave trunk. Large, 19-inch mock-SRT wheels, red-coloured brake calipers, a rear deck spoiler and dummy diffuser add to the sporting image of the concept.

DaimlerChryslers Senior Vice President of Design, Trevor Creed says, "This Avenger concept is another expression of where the Dodge brand is headed . . . Avenger brings Dodge brand American muscle car heritage into the global mid-size car segment. It does for the global D-segment what Caliber has done in the global C-segment - it offers a unique alternative to the competition."

With such a strong resemblance to the Charger that even includes dual chrome-plated exhaust tips, the Avenger is sure to have some sort of fire-breathing HEMI V8 under the hood, or at the very least a high-output V6, right? Well, not quite. In order to appeal to the European markets where the car is being debuted, Dodge chose to utilize a 138 horsepower 2.0-liter CRD turbodiesel engine with 229 lb-ft of torque. This Volkswagen-designed diesel is the same motor thats currently featured in the European-market Caliber, as well as the new Sebring. To maintain the performance aspect of the car, a six-speed manual gearbox was fitted.

No doubt, the same four- and six-cylinder gasoline-powered engines being offered in the North American-bound Sebring will also arrive in U.S.-spec Avengers, so it should live up to its go-fast image.