Gas prices are up, which has led to increased interest in midsizers, more specifically, the midsize offerings from Chrysler's competition. The Sebring has taken a 30 percent sales whack this year, mostly due to reduced fleet sales. The Avenger's year has been a little brighter, posting a two-percent gain. Contrast that with everyone else; Malibu, Fusion, and Accord are up ten percent or more this year; and therein lies Chrysler's problem. Ditching Chrysler's outmoded V6 for the four-cylinder powertrain will deliver more competitive fuel economy, if you can stand the NVH increase.
Top heavy with trucks and taking fire over the Avenger and Sebring's interior quality and efficiency, Chrysler's seriously looking at re-jiggering the sedan twins, killing the top R/T and Limited trim levels and sliding some of the good stuff down to the SXT and Touring trim levels. The 3.5-liter V6 will be left out as standard equipment, though, as it doesn't post great fuel economy. The goodies that normally accompany the six, like heated leather power seats, dual exhausts, and 18 inch wheels, will end up as standard gear on the Sebring Touring and Avenger SXT. The prices of those models get bumped - 9.9 percent for the Dodge, now starting at $21,750, and 3.4 percent for the Sebring, offered for $21,670. What's up with the Avenger costing more than the Sebring? We don't know. The Journey is also being considered for this initiative, rumored to be called the "Fight Back" plan, and suppliers had until yesterday to give Chrysler a yes or no on feasibility.
[Source: Detroit News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Alex @ Jul 18th 2008 11:36AM
dual exhausts on 4 bangers make me lol.
P.V. @ Jul 18th 2008 11:39AM
The Acura TSX and RDX have it. I think the 1st-gen Mazda 6 4-cylinder had it (not sure though).
The Fiat 500 Abarth has it!
ageasaywhat @ Jul 18th 2008 12:20PM
Few of them are "true" dual exhausts anyway. Like on the Accord, it's a single until just past the rear wheels where it splits. Dualies are mostly there for styling. Like the Altima 4 cyl. has them too.
Dual exhaust makes you go faster ;-) (not!)
Yar @ Jul 18th 2008 11:48AM
Doesn't the Solstice/Sky have duals, and the new STI and Evo?
Kimura @ Jul 18th 2008 12:00PM
The Neon SRT4 had dual exhuast as well.
azzo45 @ Jul 18th 2008 12:02PM
Yar... You are comparing the more expensive & (& much cooler, performance oriented) WRX & Evo to the bland & non performing Chrysler twins???
Why?
Vintage @ Jul 18th 2008 12:05PM
Useless spoilers (almost everything) make me LOL. Fake fender vents (Focus, Buick) make me LOL. Fake hood scoops (Toyota 4 runner) make me LOL.
Lots of things on newer cars are stupid.
adrenalnjunky @ Jul 18th 2008 5:47PM
cars that didn't have fully retractable side windows make me LOL
P.V. @ Jul 18th 2008 11:37AM
That IS really weird. I thought Chrysler was the premium brand?
So will dual exhaust be standard on four-bangers or what? I'm confused!
azzo45 @ Jul 18th 2008 12:09PM
The Aztek was a 2001-2003 model... OH YEAH those were safety death traps! They more than met the safety regs of the day (& would pass today)
My point is styling. The Sebring is butt-nasty & I bet 60% of it sales were fleet. The other 40% are the ultra cheap lease & 0% financing deals in the local papers.
Azteks & Yugos were obvious styling bombs... The Sebring is worse... it came after the Aztec & should have been a fresh lesson to anyone in the industry.
azzo45 @ Jul 18th 2008 11:39AM
I'd rather drive an old Yugo or Pontiac Aztec than drive these rolling Chrysler (& Dodge) abortions!
Fire the current Chrysler Design VP... or any new model will be just as bad.
Frank @ Jul 18th 2008 11:47AM
They are not competitive to be sure. But I will take your comment about the Yugo and Aztek as sarcasm. Just on saftey features alone they are miles aheaqd of those cars.
I agree with you that the VP of Design, Trevor Creed needs to go, like yesterday! We went from Tom Gale to this!?! I would say put Ralph Giles (300 designor) in his place, but he did the current Caravan and TC minivans. Blech!
azzo45 @ Jul 18th 2008 12:14PM
Ralph Gilles is one of three Design VPs under Creed. I'm sure they will make him the man.
Remember though, Ralph lead the designers working on the 300. Just like the current Ram truck. He had Viper & Jeep Interiors... but he also headed up the current minivans & they took a big step backwards IMO
Better than Creed though
Duders @ Jul 18th 2008 12:17PM
It's not even the fact that the styling is bad. The vehicles are just poorly constructed and built with materials that don't last. I had to drive a Chrysler 300C the other day with 20k miles on it, and the thing felt like it had been through hell and back. I can only imagine what it would feel like with 40k, 60k, and god forbid 100k miles on it. The thing was a straight POS. Chrysler really has no hope left.
Torrent @ Jul 18th 2008 12:20PM
ditto. If I had to get a caliber or a tata nano, I'd get the tata.
Reader @ Jul 18th 2008 4:30PM
Didn't you mean abomination?
azzo45 @ Jul 18th 2008 8:11PM
No, I meant abortion, thanks! I like your word also.
Tagg @ Jul 18th 2008 11:41AM
While they are at it why not nix the mid-level and entry level models as well? These are easily the worst cars in the mid-size segment and it will only get worse as the new Mazda 6 arrives, a new Ford Fusion, and a new Camry all arrive in over the next couple years.
Frank @ Jul 18th 2008 1:00PM
Well, since the combined sales of these cars approach 150-200k a year I would say that is not wise. They have nothing to replace them with (yet) and if you shut down the factory you have to pay the employees 95% of their pay with benefits for doing nothing.
I agree they are bad in their class. I hope for them they got a new interior and other refinements on the way. It won't shoot them to the head of the class but at least they won't be dead last.
Tagg @ Jul 18th 2008 2:04PM
From what Automotive News has reported these cars are pretty much stuck in ther current condition for the next 2-4 years. By then nearly every car in its class will have had major if not total revisions made to their product. So even if Chrysler can make the car better it will take alot to keep up. They don't need a home run to catch up they need a grand slam to tie the game and they only have one out left.
The comment about axing them was in jest because I understand they really can't from a business standpoint. Too much has been invested and they are stuck with it until the development and marketing costs are paid for because Chrysler doesn't have the cash to say "whoops! Lets just build a new one!". They need to weather the storm until they can at least break even and then try again.
Its too bad their new minivans are selling slow because they show Chrysler can get things right. They look good, have great features and are drive well which is hard to say about the rest of the Chrysler/Dodge lineup.