Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Chrysler, Dodge
Amidst all the wheeling and dealing going on at Chrysler LLC., the automaker still has a lineup of current cars that needs attending to. The Chrysler Sebring/Dodge Avenger duo have been underperforming in the marketplace since they were introduced in 2006, and in an interview with The Detroit Free Press, Chrysler’s executive vice pres Frank Klegon reveals exactly what’s going to happen to this company’s midsize sedans in the future. Chrysler is readying a mid-cycle fix for the Sebring/Avenger that will include improvements that Klegon calls “cosmetic” and some “more functional things”. Hopefully the quality of the interior materials is addressed, as well as the engine lineup of these vehicles featuring a four- and six-cylinder that don’t match up well with the competition in terms of power or fuel economy.
But Chrysler is also looking beyond the five-year life cycle of the current cars to what comes next. It has formed a special task force dubbed Project D, which has begun work on the next Chrysler D segment platform that will likely spawn sedans, hatchbacks and CUVs and be sold the world over. We have no details yet on the car, which should first arrive around 2011/12 in the form of replacement for the Sebring and Avenger. And as far as we know, Chrysler is not testing on chimpanzees.
[Source: The Detroit Free Press]
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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety just wrapped up its latest battery of batterings and most of the tested contenders in the mid-size segment faired well. The Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring, along with the Infiniti G35, Nissan Altima, Chevrolet Malibu, Saturn Aura, Mitsubishi Galant and Kia Optima all received a grade of “Good” for front and side impacts, with the exception of the Optima, which ranked “Acceptable” during the side impact evaluation. However, problems arose in the rear crash test, where the G35, Altima, Malibu, and Aura were all rated as “Marginal,” while the Avenger/Sebring received an “Average” score and the Optima walked away with a gold star and a “Good” rating. The only vehicle that received a “Poor” rating on any of the tests was the Mitsubishi Galant, which didn’t hold up as well during the rear-impact test.
All the details from the IIHS are available in the press release after the jump.
Continue reading IIHS midsize smack down: Side impact ratings better, rear crashes, not so much
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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Recalls/TSBs, Safety, Chrysler, Dodge
Anyone who’s rolling in a 2007-2008 Chrysler Sebring or Dodge Avenger, take note. Chryslerberus is recalling all 181,000 of those vehicles sold during that time to fix an electrical defect that affects unused connectors on the tire pressure monitoring system. Apparently, corrosion can cause a short, and owners could experience their vehicles failing to start, stalling once underway, or some other affectations of the electrical components, including the cruise control. Formal notices are going to be sent out later this month, and dealers have been instructed to locate the problem and seal the affected circuits. Check your mailboxes, folks.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]
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