Chrysler ’s mid-size sedan offerings – the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger — have been largely overlooked by the marketplace, but Chrysler is working on a plan that could make the sedan twins more competitive.
The new plan would see Chrysler dropping the range-topping models of both sedans – the Sebring Limited and Avenger R/T – and adding more content to mid-level cars. Under the changes, the 2009 Sebring Touring and Avenger SXT would come standard with dual exhaust, 18 inch wheels, heated seats and leather. More importantly, both models would come equipped with a fuel-efficient four-cylinder, rather than Chrysler’s thirsty 3.5L V6.
“Given where fuel prices are at, I’m not sure that people are following the old progression that the higher the trim-level, the bigger the engine,” Mike Wall, automotive analyst with CSM Worldwide, told The Detroit News. “( Chrysler ) needs to hit what the customer wants, and that may be a 4-cylinder engine with leather seats and a navigation system.”
Automakers such as Toyota have been offering top-level mid-size models with four-cylinder engines for years.
The changes would see the Avenger SXT’s base price jump 9.9 percent to $21,750, while the Sebring Touring’s price would rise 3.4 percent to $21,670 – an interesting pricing strategy since Chrysler is supposed to be up-scale from Dodge .
So far on the year, Sebring sales are down 30 percent while the Avenger has seen a modest increase of 2 percent. Sales of vehicles such as the Chevrolet Malibu , Honda Accord and Ford Fusion are all up at least 10 percent.
The plan – which is reportedly dubbed ‘Fight Back’ – also outlines a plan to improve the interior of the recently launched Dodge Journey crossover.
