What's New for 2012: All Makes
2012 Dodge Avenger: 2012 saw the debut of an all-new model for the Dodge Avenger: the R/T. The R/T gets a 283-horsepower 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and a six-speed automatic transmission. Also on the R/T's fact sheet are an upgraded suspension and distinct visual cues including a body-color grille, black headlamp backgrounds, R/T decals and 18-inch painted aluminum wheels. Inside the R/T gets leather-trimmed bolsters, a leather steering wheel and red stitching.
The car was first shown at the 2011 New York Auto Show and will be on sale in the third quarter of 2011.
Other than the R/T, the Avenger is unchanged from the 2011 model, which saw the new Pentastar engine, suspension changes and an interior/exterior refresh.
2012 Dodge Caliber: Due for a major overhaul by 2013, Dodge Caliber production will stop later this year.
2012 Dodge Challenger: They already added the 6.4-liter, 470-hp 392 Hemi for 2011. What more do you people want? A six-speed manual on the R/T? OK. Done. Paddle shifters for R/T cars with an automatic? Fine. Done. Anything else? No? Good.
2012 Dodge Charger: Three letters sum up the important changes to the 2012 Dodge Charger lineup: SRT. Dodge dumped the massive 6.4-liter 470-horse V8 — hooked to a five-speed automatic — into the big sedan for 2012. The Charger SRT8 also gets two-mode adaptive dampers, big Brembos, well-bolstered seats and big sticky tires on 20s.
The 2012 SXT gets an eight-speed automatic with paddle shifters standard, while the SE can be optioned with the eight-speed automatic for $1,000.
2012 Dodge Durango: There are no major changes to Dodge's seven-passenger crossover, but the V8 Durango gets a six-speed automatic. Captain's chairs are now available for the second row.
2012 Dodge Grand Caravan: If you were waiting for new 16-inch wheels to be standard equipment, 2012 is your year for a new Dodge Grand Caravan. There is also a new American Value package that starts at $20,995 with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, six-speed automatic, A/C, ABS, seven airbags, second-row Super Stow 'n Go, third-row Stow 'n Go, and power windows and door locks.
2012 Dodge Journey: Like the Grand Caravan, the Journey gets an American Value package that drops the price to $18,995. The Journey also gets new trim level names — AVP, SE, SXT, Crew and R/T — replacing the awkward Express, Mainstreet and Lux names from 2011.
2012 Dodge Nitro: The Shock and Detonator models couldn't save the Nitro. It's dead.
2012 Dodge Viper: There is no Viper for 2012. Dodge is currently hard at work on an all-new Viper that will have modern conveniences like cruise control and stability control that other cars have had for decades.
Add A Comment »
tammymccomic1 says:
08:19 AM, 02/13/2012
Great info
urbansophistic says:
11:58 AM, 09/30/2011
I'd say keep the Challenger, the Charger and the Caravan. Other than that, it's just a bunch of over-used plaforms stuffed full of the same coarse gray plastics.
QUESTION: If Chryslers are "Imported from Detroit" where in the hell do they immigrate these lovely Dodge vehicles from? 8 Mile?
lincmk says:
11:34 AM, 09/27/2011
How about making the Grand Caravan R/T 300hp and AWD?
modestlyfrugal says:
06:59 AM, 09/26/2011
carolinaking says:
09:55 PM, 09/21/2011
Where's the MAGNUM SRT8!?!
DODGE MAGNUM HAS BEEN DEAD SINCE 2008.
darkman_xxl says:
03:17 PM, 09/22/2011
@flwind
The Nitro and Caliber are way different cars. The Nitro shares the same platform and some styling with the Jeep Liberty, and is all wheel drive. The Caliber is front wheel drive.
carolinaking says:
09:55 PM, 09/21/2011
Where's the MAGNUM SRT8!?!
f1guy1 says:
03:47 PM, 09/21/2011
If they made the Avenger RWD, they would make a LOT of people happy. RWD is NOT dead, and by trotting out models like the Charger/300, they prove it. If Chrysler can prove the merits of RWD, they can really go places.
Their models lately have been really good. The Avenger I thought was dead a LONG time ago, and now it's competitive more or less.
badreligion says:
11:02 AM, 09/21/2011
From what I have heard, the Avenger R/T has terrible amounts of torque steer. They should have made it RWD or AWD.
flwind says:
10:29 AM, 09/21/2011
Wait a minute, the Nitro and Caliber aren't the same car??
bodyblue says:
08:54 AM, 09/21/2011
"These are bad cars."
HUH? Except for the Caliber every model in the Dodge line is class competitive. If you can show anything different then please feel free to post some evidence of that.