What's good is Dodge's tough, masculine image. People think of the Ram brand and immediately imagine a large, brazen crosshair grille. Muscular fender flares are followed closely by the roar of a big, V8 engine, the word HEMI comes to mind. Dodge speaks to the machismo in all of us, its all-new Viper and wickedly quick Ram SRT-10 pickup giving Mopar faithful relevant bragging rights.
With all that's good what has Dodge been missing out on. Here in Canada it's been all too obvious, cars. The only one offered prior to this year was the previously mentioned Viper, its $125,600 starting price a little out of range of the average Canadian's family budget. Now the attractively priced, fully featured SX 2.0 (a.k.a. Neon) is here to stir the economy pot, but come on Dodge is that it?
If Zetsche, and head of design Trevor Creed have anything to do with it, and they do, we can expect a lot more excitement from Dodge in the next few years. The Avenger concept, a muscular yet refined looking crossover, points the Ram brand in an altogether new direction.
By looks alone it fits within the new Dodge family perfectly. Its bold crosshair grille appears slightly more sophisticated but still imposing enough to ward off left lane slow pokes. Its hood rises at center, hinting at a potent powerplant hiding beneath. Bulging fender flares wrap around massive 20-inch diameter wheels on purposeful 265/55R20 front and 295/50/R20 rear tires. Industrial-style roof strakes stretch from windshield to rear hatch glass, a distinct and aerodynamically functional feature. The tail is dramatically abbreviated, with only a complex taillight design and circular chrome exhaust tips breaking its rather abrupt ending.