The Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger midsize sedans were pretty much dead under Chrysler's former owner, Cerberus Capital Management, but now that Chrysler has a new owner, the sedans have a new lease on life.
Cerberus had originally planned to kill the Sebring and Avenger at the end of 2010 and close the Sterling Heights, Mich., factory where they are built. The factory could still be closed, but the sedans will continue to be produced until the end of 2012.
The Sebring is slated to get an extensive face-lift in 2011, while the Avenger is slated to get a milder refresh, which may bring it to the market sooner than the Sebring. The changes can't come soon enough...
Full Story: AutoWeek
Comments (10)
I do not know why you would kill them, better to have bad entries in a segment then none at all, besides I do not think the Avenger is that bad. I am glad to see the hood stripes gone on the Sebring.
Posted by Jeremy | September 28, 2009 12:58 PM
Posted on September 28, 2009 12:58
Why would you kill these cars when they could have an option to turn them into great cars for their segment. I would love to see the Avenger turn into a sports car sedan to compete with the BMW 3 series etc.. I mean Chrysler has the engiens to do it and turn this car into a really attractive car if they wanted to.
Posted by SteelCity1981 | September 28, 2009 2:33 PM
Posted on September 28, 2009 14:33
My grandfather is 89 years old and entering the later stages of senility. For the past 6 months he's been convinced that he is Winston Churchill.
Even in his current state he would never think or consider that a Chrysler product would be in the same class as a BMW.
Although, I suppose if Chrysler bought BMW drivelines and grafted them into these current platforms, somebody would buy them as a goof.
Hopefully Fiat is currently working on platforms that will let us forget the past 5 years of Chrysler.
Posted by Trooper Bri | September 28, 2009 3:16 PM
Posted on September 28, 2009 15:16
I have driven the Sebring/Avenger for business. I do not think that they are really bad, just exceedingly average in an ultra-competitve segment. Cerberus has listened to complaints and they have updated the interiors and will lose the stakes on the Sebring's hood. The problem lies, in like the past generation of the Taurus that was once a market leader and then lanquished in rental sales. Unfortunately, these twins are following the same path and their resale values have tanked.
Posted by longdxcommuter | September 28, 2009 3:23 PM
Posted on September 28, 2009 15:23
The Avenger is not a bad looking car they just need to fix up the interior and add a little more power under the hood.
Posted by Da Boss | September 28, 2009 3:24 PM
Posted on September 28, 2009 15:24
no body cares lol kill them. they cant compete with anything else on the market so why delay the inevitable?
Posted by Phil | September 28, 2009 8:31 PM
Posted on September 28, 2009 20:31
im not saying they are bad cars.... just VERY average and bland, and dont really offer anything unique.
Posted by Phil | September 28, 2009 8:34 PM
Posted on September 28, 2009 20:34
I sat in these cars at a recent car show, and I was very disappointed in both. The general "chunky" theme of the interior is a big turn-off, as is the ridiculously thick A-pillars that reduce forward visibility. The complaints of the interior added to the NVH problems with the drivetrain make it questionable as to whether this platform is worth saving. Both of these cars are a definite step backward from the previous model.
Posted by WS | September 29, 2009 6:38 AM
Posted on September 29, 2009 06:38
These cars aren't bad. They just need to improve the styling, interior, suspension and powertrain. That's all.
Posted by Clint Torres | September 29, 2009 11:26 AM
Posted on September 29, 2009 11:26
they need to cut their losses and close Chrysler...
Posted by philip | October 3, 2009 10:15 PM
Posted on October 3, 2009 22:15