After the introduction of the R/T flavored Challenger, Journey, Durango and Grand Caravan at the Chicago Auto Show this past February, it was only a matter of time before Dodge applied the same sporty treatment to the revised Avenger sedan.
Set to be revealed at the New York International Auto Show this week, the 2012MY Avenger R/T receives a sportier suspension and more aggressive design details inside and out. The drivetrain, however, remains unchanged, with the 283HP 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine linked to a six-speed automatic gearbox. According to Dodge, the R/T returns 19 mpg (12.38 lt/100 km) in the city and 29 mpg (8.11 lt/100 km) on the highway.
What makes the R/T stand out from the rest of the Avenger lineup is the sport suspension. The firm’s engineers increased roll stiffness by 18 percent, and spring rates by 17 percent in the front and more than 12 percent in the rear. In addition, front strut damping rates are increased 15 percent, rear strut damping rates are increased almost 20 percent and the rear stabilizer bar diameter is 2 mm larger, increased from 19 mm to 21 mm. Dodge claims these changes translate into better, performance-oriented handling.
Cosmetically, the Avenger R/T features a body-color grille, blacked-out headlights, 18-inch aluminum wheels and model-specific decals on the front quarter panels. At the rear, the Avenger gets a spoiler and the R/T badge. Inside, the seats are covered in a special cloth material with red stitching and leather-trimmed bolsters, while the steering wheel is wrapped in perforated leather with red stitching. The instrument panel gets a center-mounted tachometer plus SRT-inspired brake and accelerator pedal pads.
The Avenger R/T also gets a Boston Acoustic sound system on top of the 276-watt touchscreen entertainment center fitted with a 30-gigabyte hard drive. The car will be available from the third quarter of 2011.
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