Dodge Avenger to Race in NASCAR Nextel Cup

[Rambit]

Dodge Avenger to Race in NASCAR Nextel Cup Competition in 2007

• All-new 2008 Dodge Avenger mid-size sedan debuts at the North American International Auto Show
• Avenger to be Dodge "Car of Tomorrow" in NASCAR Nextel Cup Racing
• Dodge Charger to continue racing during 'Car of Tomorrow' phase-in

Auburn Hills, Mich., Jan 9, 2007 - Chrysler Group announced today that the Dodge Avenger will race at select events in NASCAR Nextel Cup competition beginning in 2007, joining the Dodge Charger in the Dodge NASCAR racing lineup.

The Dodge Avenger race car debuted along side the all-new 2008 Dodge Avenger here today at the North American International Auto Show. The Dodge Avenger is a mid-size sedan that combines bold, aggressive Dodge styling with innovative interior features, high-levels of safety and reliability, exhilarating performance and excellent fuel efficiency of 30 miles per gallon (mpg) (32 mpg based on 2007 EPA fuel economy standards).

Dodge drivers Elliott Sadler, of the Dodge Dealers/UAW Evernham Motorsports team, Kurt Busch, of Penske Racing South, and, new to NASCAR, Juan Pablo Montoya of the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates team participated in the announcement.

“With NASCAR Nextel Cup racing two distinct cars for 2007, it makes perfect sense to have the Avenger join the Charger in the Dodge racing family,” said Mike Accavitti, Director – Dodge Motorsports and SRT Product Planning, Chrysler Group. “Dodge is all about delivering bold, capable performance, and that will become even more evident when the Avenger hits NASCAR’s race tracks this year.”

The Dodge Avenger race car is scheduled to make its competition debut at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 25, 2007, as the Dodge entry in NASCAR’s “Car of Tomorrow” implementation.

NASCAR’s Car of Tomorrow is a collaborative effort by the sanctioning body, manufacturers, teams and industry suppliers to develop a safer, less expensive race car using a more common design. The “Car of Tomorrow” design will be phased into NASCAR competition over the next three years, beginning with 16 races in 2007.

During the multi-year phase-in of NASCAR’s Car of Tomorrow, the Dodge Charger will continue to race in NASCAR Nextel Cup competition.





Avenger R/T



Rambit

[JimmyBamSlam]

Looks like the Avenger is going to be offered with the same world engine as the sebring, also a 2.7 flex feul, and a 3.5L v6 with 230-ish bhp. Fwd and AWD.
Is it just me or does this seem like it will compete with the Charger? Why compete with yourself? You have the Sebring, and now the Avenger, as well as the Charger.

[srt8danno]

A “mini-me” Charger is all that is. It probably has a market. I showed the picture to a couple of people at work who own Sebrings and they thought it look hot without being too big or too small. How “Goldie Locks” of them….it’s just right.

[JimmyBamSlam]

Originally Posted by Truth Kid

Do elaborate on your mention of the Avenger competing with the Charger. The charger is obviously larger, offers a more diverse selection of engines from the SRT down to the V6. The avenger to me just looks like a aggressive looking sedan with nothing special about it.

I agree with you on it not looking that special. What I meant was, it has similar styling, being a midsize car, it's still capable of "family work", and unlike the charger, it has the new "in" thing.......fuel efficient options! For the majority of people who would be looking at a new car, when it comes to penny pinching, and the fear of god when it comes to gas prices, I think alot of people would tend to look closer at the avenger than the charger! I still think the Charger is hands down the cooler car, but for the masses, I think the avenger will take the wind out of the Charger's sails.

[DUBSTER]

Seweeeeet!!