Stayin' Alive? Chrysler Sebring/Dodge Avenger reportedly off death row until 2012
2010 Chrysler Sebring - Click above for high-res image gallery
Great news, midsize sedan buyers! The Italian/American brain trust at the helm of the Pentastar has decided to keep the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger around for another two models years. Previously, past owners Cerberus had signaled its intentions to cull the slow selling duo after the 2010 model year, but according to reports, Fiat says that there weren't really any solid plans to replace the twins and it's not really feasible to pull out of the segment entirely until its own Italian-bred successors are ready.
Perhaps the automaker's new owners can find a way to make the platform a bit more competitive for its final two years in production. Next year's Sebring will see a few minor updates that should at least improve the ugly duckling's appearance, not the least of which is the deletion of the car's awkward ribbed hood. Current projections indicate that a more extensive freshening is in the works for 2011 for the Sebring and possibly a wee bit earlier for the Dodge Avenger, which isn't in quite so dire need of a facelift.
Gallery: 2010 Chrysler Sebring
[Source: AutoWeek]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
mk15 1:33PM (9/28/2009)
I would understand if they culled the Sebring. But the Avenger looks decent, and sells fairly well in other markets like Mexico.
Reply
Bob-omb 2:40PM (9/28/2009)
"Looks decent" isn't even remotely enough to help a car this outdated and cheap.
Jim 3:45PM (9/28/2009)
""Looks decent" isn't even remotely enough to help a car this outdated and cheap. "
How is a car that was completely new in 2007 "outdated?"
Dr. Greenthumb 4:22PM (9/28/2009)
As much as the Sebring was way overdone (stupid ribbed hood, and way too busy rear end), the Avenger was "under done". It reeks of CHEAP, looks unfinished and hurriedly slapped together.
Thankfully, the Sebring's interior has been cleaned up, and the idiotic hood design was tossed.
All Avengers should be corralled and fed that silicate stuff that are fed to the C4C clunkers.
Jimbo 7:44PM (9/28/2009)
Jim: Outdated as in completely uncompetitive crap compared to every other car in the class. Even though they came out in 2007, they weren't even competitive with the previous generation Camry and Accord, let alone the current generation that went on sale at about the same time.
the4thheat 8:53PM (9/28/2009)
@Jim
Maybe you should ask Chrysler that.
akboss302 1:33PM (9/28/2009)
Slogan for the Sebring: "Well, I guess its better than walking..."
Reply
Egon 1:56PM (9/28/2009)
How about: "The 2010 Sebring: Now with 10% less suck"
Ray 4:32PM (9/28/2009)
Or "2010 Sebring, better looking than a Crosstour."
JDM Life 6:22PM (9/28/2009)
How about: "Hey....you get what you pay for. The all new Sebring"
James 1:39PM (9/29/2009)
The 2010 Chrysler Sebring: Drive = Love (For What It's Worth)
cdwrx 3:32PM (9/29/2009)
The 2010 Sebring: We're sorry.
Kumar 1:35PM (9/28/2009)
Car rental companies everywhere are rejoicing. ;)
Too bad there was never a wagon version of this. The awkward sedan proportions look like they just might have worked with a wagon instead of a trunk on the back of that thing.
Reply
Silly Pickle 1:48PM (9/28/2009)
Couldn't have been any worse than the Crosstour...on the other hand, it may have been much better looking and would have sold...nah...who am I kidding. It's still ugly. They need to bring out the 200C. Now THERE'S something I would look at.
Jim 1:55PM (9/28/2009)
The problem is that it was supposed to be inspired by the Airflite concept:
http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/conceptcarindividual/1301
but they failed miserably.
Had it stayed closer to the concept's styling (but without that frickin' retarded windshield frame) it might have done better. They totally nerfed the transition from the C-pillar to the rear quarters on the Sebring; it's like it's a smooth arc, then *bam* sharp crease.
geo.stewart 2:13PM (9/28/2009)
Jim,
I think the airflite is one of their few busts in concepts. they would do better to mimic the nassau, a similar concept in purpose but much more beautifully executed in ext and int design
ehisforadam 2:40PM (9/28/2009)
Well...modeling a car after a concept that comes out the same year doesn't typically happen. Usually there's a concept then a production vehicle.
Judy Zik 4:15PM (9/28/2009)
The reality is they can't afford to just sit on their hands and build nothing for two years while the development work is done to get the Fiatsylers into production. So do you pay to keep a plant at idle or continue production? The answer is pretty obvious.
These vehicles will live on as bargain basement fleet bait. Hopefully they will sell enough to cover the costs of running the plant. Maybe with a few tweaks thrown in to entice the odd retail buyer.
Jared 1:37PM (9/28/2009)
Well, that's one way that Sergio is going to move Chrysler upmarket, above Cadillac.
Reply
Jared 1:37PM (9/28/2009)
Or not.