- A stripped-down, souped-up Dodge Avenger rally car is the first project of new partners Mopar and Magneti Marelli.
- The car, unveiled Wednesday, will go on display next week at the 2011 New York Auto Show.
- The two companies are the well-known parts brands of Chrysler and Fiat.
CENTER LINE, Michigan — Chrysler's Mopar and Fiat's Magneti Marelli on Wednesday unveiled the first collaboration of their new partnership — a tricked-out 2011 Dodge Avenger Heat rally car.
The silver-and-black car will go on public display next week at the 2011 New York Auto Show.
The four-door sedan features extensive modification to prime it for rally competition, including a stripped-down interior fitted with a full roll cage, race seats for driver and navigator, competition harnesses and an array of high-performance parts from Mopar, Magneti Marelli and aftermarket racing parts suppliers such as OMP.
The Chrysler Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 has been upgraded in output from 283 to 300 horsepower, thanks to a custom exhaust system and cold-air intake. Transmission is a six-speed automatic with shift paddles integrated into the competition steering wheel.
The suspension has been lowered by 1.5 inches through use of special components and 18-inch alloy racing wheels, all carrying the Magneti Marelli brand.
Ditto for the braking system, which includes a hand-operated control that allows the driver to use the rear brakes as needed to help negotiate tight corners.
Mopar, Chrysler's parts and service entity, and Magneti Marelli each have a long and storied history, with one prominent in North America since 1929 and the other a leading international brand established in 1919.
Unveiling of the Avenger had been foreshadowed earlier in the week via a cryptic announcement about a "race-inspired" project car.
Inside Line says: Is there a spark of life left in the Avenger? Chrysler apparently thinks the old girl will rally. — David Green, Correspondent.
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bengal3200 says:
04:04 PM, 05/20/2011
This should be the Avenger R/T... or maybe even the SRT6??
mklrivowner says:
06:48 AM, 04/19/2011
I meant clutch in the sense of a clutch peddle. But you are correct that there is a difference, although I'm not sure of how that would translate to driver experience. I'd think a paddle-shifted Auto would have a slower shift time, with a noticible lag in power transition, just taking what I know of the difference between autos and manuals.
And what's up with the "paddle-shift" anyways. I'd love to see someone have an electronic-controlled "stick" shift, like the "Auto-stick" except for manual. I think That would be a lot more engaging than the paddle shift.
a1c_scg says:
02:01 PM, 04/15/2011
goaterguy-
Precisely why I could care less about both of those brands' new offerings. I'd rather have a GT3 RS over a 458 or Aventador anyday. Hell, even a 6-sp Carrera S. They both make cars that are bought by posers. Ferrari in particular, is just a shell of it's former self.
mklrivowner-
Incorrect. Rally cars and F1 cars use autmated manuals. There is still a clutch, it is just electronically controlled. It doesn't specify that's what this uses. It just says an auto w/ paddle-shifters. And there's a big difference.
mklrivowner says:
11:05 AM, 04/15/2011
An auto is how MOST rally cars come. No clutch to press, just paddles and the computer handles the rest. F1 does it too.
It doesn't do ANYTHING for the look of the car. It's looks like a half finished fast and frustrated wannabe. How big is this thing going to be compared to other Rally cars anyway?!
goaterguy says:
11:38 AM, 04/14/2011
a1c_scg says:
Auto?? Haha, lame...
I don't know in what planet or time you live but even Ferrari doesn't offer a manual on most of it cars. The new Lamborghini doesn't offer a manual transmision either.
This car is going to be a great testbed for the reliability of the new Pentastar.
lostboyz says:
09:26 AM, 04/14/2011
the fact they are messing around with a rally car is a good thing, and glad they are going to wait to run one until a better starting point comes out. The more manufacturers involved the better.
a1c_scg says:
09:05 AM, 04/14/2011
Auto?? Haha, lame...