DaimlerChrysler's newly Euro-friendly division, Dodge (it's establishing a dealer network there), unveiled the midsize-sedan replacement for the Stratus at the Paris auto show. But while the Avenger (shown as a lightly disguised concept) was once expected to be a two-box wagon/hatchback, the division has instead gone with a regular sedan. That's because Dodge dealers in the U.S. didn't want the division to be pigeonholed as a wagon/hatchback brand.
Unlike the Sebring, which is a hodgepodge of styling cues unrelated to the successful 300, the Avenger has a clear family resemblance to its rear-drive big brother--check that Charger-style C-pillar and rear-quarter haunch.
Dodge unveiled the Avenger with 19-inch wheels and chrome dual exhausts, details that make this a concept. It has a 2.0-liter turbodiesel meant for non-North American markets. Here in the U.S., the Avenger will come with the same engines as the new Sebring: a 235-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6; a 190-horsepower, 2.7-liter V-6; and a 172-horsepower, 2.4-liter four, shared with Jeep Compass and Dodge Caliber.