- The performance-oriented 2012 Dodge Avenger R/T made its world debut Monday in advance of the 2011 New York Auto Show.
- The 2012 Dodge Avenger R/T will arrive in showrooms in the third quarter of 2011.
- Pricing has not been announced, but Dodge told Inside Line the 2012 Avenger R/T will slot in above the Dodge Avenger Heat model.
NEW YORK — The performance-oriented 2012 Dodge Avenger R/T, which had been missing from the Avenger lineup in the 2011 model year, made its world debut Monday in advance of the 2011 New York Auto Show.
"This is different from the 2010 Avenger R/T in that it has performance differences," said Kathy Graham, a Dodge spokesperson, in a phone conversation with Inside Line on Saturday. "Before, the R/T was just a model, but the 2012 R/T has different suspension tuning and some design cues."
Pricing has not been announced, but Graham said the 2012 Avenger R/T will slot in above the Dodge Avenger Heat model, which starts at $24,495, including a $750 destination charge, for the 2011 model.
The 2012 Dodge Avenger R/T gets the uplevel 283-horsepower 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Dodge says it is rated at 19 mpg in city driving and 29 mpg on the highway.
The 2012 Avenger R/T gets a tauter suspension. Dodge said in a statement it increased roll stiffness by 18 percent and spring rates by 17 percent in the front and more than 12 percent in the rear.
Exterior cues include a unique body-color grille with the Dodge badge, black headlamp background, an R/T decal on the front quarter panel and rear, a rear spoiler and 18-inch painted aluminum wheels.
The cabin gets leather-trimmed bolsters, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and seats with red stitching. A center-mounted tachometer rounds out the package. The Avenger R/T also gets a Boston Acoustics sound system.
Inside Line says: The Dodge Avenger R/T is back, but will it be enough of a hot rod for enthusiasts? — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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lt1boy says:
01:02 AM, 04/20/2011
The headlights look like they're both pointing out to the sides. And my god, look at the size of that underbite.
It looks mentally challenged.
bengal3200 says:
07:51 AM, 04/19/2011
Here! This should be the R/T!
"Mopar, Magneti Marelli Show Rally-Ready Avenger"
bengal3200 says:
06:58 AM, 04/19/2011
Smilez: I totally agree with your comments to HwySpeeder. Plus, if you put 380hp HEMI into that Avenger you'll be buying new front tires every 3 months. Oh, and don't even get me started on the torque steer problems! And he wants all that for $26K? Killin me!
smilez says:
08:05 PM, 04/18/2011
hwyspeeder -
Did you even read the article, let alone pay attention to anything that's been happening at Chrysler? Google up PENTASTAR for me.
Actually, what era are you arguing? They haven't made the IS 300 since I think '05.
The IS 250 STARTS at 32.6k.
Pricing for this is expected at 26k.
Disagree with the looks, but at least try to get some facts going.
hwyspeeder says:
07:00 PM, 04/18/2011
Lol wow I didn't even know they built these cars anymore. I rented
a 4 cylinder Avenger and it was just average, and apparently the
R/T model had a detuned 3.5 liter putting out 235HP. Considering
the 3.5 in the Chargers with 250HP was sluggish already and the
Avenger wasn't the lightest car in the world, I could only imagine
it was worse. If Dodge put in the 2nd gen 5.7 putting out 379HP with
a HD auto or 6 speed manual, and some body SRT body work for mid 20s,
(a budget 4 door M3 or IS-F on par with the EVO/STI price segment) they'd
fill the entry level muscle car gap between the Mustang GT and the $40,000
v8 Challengers. I say mid 20s because this car is $29k and for $27K you can
buy a Audi A3 or Lexus IS300/A4 for $32k, which people will take a look at
when there putting options on a compact mid-sized. I know the car is FWD,
but GM has been putting V8s in FWDs for years. Why bother? Dodge is placing
an emphasis on performance with the Avenger R/T trim level, and they previously
put money into the turbo Shadow programs in the 90s.
s4m3s5 says:
02:12 PM, 04/18/2011
Cheesy.
edie_marlowe says:
02:01 PM, 04/18/2011
MI Dealers, listen up! Get one of these.....Now!
a1c_scg says:
01:14 PM, 04/18/2011
How is this better looking than the Jetta?? I mean, the Jetta is really plain and all, but it's not ugly. This, on the other hand, this they tried to make it look good, and just failed miserably. This car needs way more than just a mid-cycle refresh. It needs to be replaced. By a competitive offering, not an also-ran.
thedream21479 says:
12:59 PM, 04/18/2011
Better looking than a new Jetta....wait, that's not saying much....
rayzor says:
12:47 PM, 04/18/2011
The front just doesn't work for me as an R/T...Not aggressive enough. The rear end is okay...Needs work!