Dodge: What's New for 2011
What's New for Every 2011 Dodge Car and Crossover.
2011 Dodge Avenger: Unlike its Chrysler-brand brother, the Avenger gets to keep its name for the 2011 model year. Otherwise the Chrysler 200 and Avenger get essentially the same changes. That begins with a new V6 — the 3.6-liter Pentastar that makes an impressive 283 horsepower. It's bolted to a six-speed automatic. The base motor is a 173-hp version of the existing 2.4-liter four-cylinder. It's saddled with a four-speed automatic until a six-speed dual-clutch transmission comes to the Avenger later in the model year. Like the Chrysler Sebring/200, the Avenger has had its suspension retuned for a lower ride height and more responsive handling. The outside has been upgraded to a decent facsimile of a not-cheap midsize automobile. The interior has been redesigned with better-quality materials, and an NVH-battling package of acoustic laminated windshield and sound-deadening material should quell the nerves of its drivers.
2011 Dodge Caliber: Dodge's hunchbacked hatchback got its new interior for the 2010 model year. For 2011 Dodge has packaged the Caliber in five "lifestyle models." They are called Express, Mainstreet, Uptown, Heat, Sweetness and Rush. (One of the preceding is not an actual Caliber model.) Six new colors are offered for 2011, including something called Mango Tango Pearl Coat. Eighteen-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels are available on Uptown models. Dodge has also seen fit to retune the steering for a more direct and precise feel.
2011 Dodge Challenger: Dodge's eleven-tenths-scale pony/muscle car now has a decent entry-level offering in the Challenger SE. That's due in large part to the additional 55 hp brought by the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. At 305 hp and with more weight to pull around, the SE isn't exactly going to beat up on Mustang or Camaro V6s, but with the standard five-speed automatic, it should be a reasonably good performing base car. Helping in that regard are a retuned suspension, wider tires and a redesigned brake booster. The Challenger R/T also has had its suspension reworked, which is offered in standard "Performance-tuned" or the sportier "Super Track Pak" version. The big news, though, on the performance side is the availability of the Challenger SRT8 392. Yes, that's 392 as in, 392 cubic inches or in the modern idiom, 6.4 liters. It's the new SRT version of the Hemi and it makes an impressive 470 hp and 470 pound-feet of torque. A limited number (1,492) of Inaugural Editions will be built with exclusive interior and exterior appointments (like, you know, badges and color and stripes and such).
2011 Dodge Charger: For 2011, Dodge has applied some vintage Charger styling cues to its big ol' four-door sedan. That includes full-width taillamp treatment, a rising contour line along the flank and a longer-appearing, sculpted hood. All told, the Charger still doesn't look like its late '60s namesake, but it does look longer and less chunky. The model-year 2011 should be called "The Year of the Pentastar"; such is the spread of Chrysler LLC's 3.6-liter DOHC V6. The Charger inherits this motor to replace the wheezy old V6. It, like the inevitable 5.7-liter Hemi V8, is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The Charger's oft-criticized interior gets a thorough update with soft-touch materials. Dodge has also retuned the suspension as part of a recalibrating project that has touched most of the lineup.
2011 Dodge Durango: This 2011 Dodge Durango has nothing at all to do with the old Dodge Durango. Nope, nothing. Dodge insists that, like the old body-on-frame, solid-rear-axle Durango, this new crossover should be called an SUV. OK, sure. It's based on the new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is itself based on Mercedes-Benz architecture. This handsome unibody CUV is available with Chrysler's new 3.6-liter V6 with which the 4,800-pound three-row hauler returns 16/23 mpg and an estimated 0-60 mph run in the low 9-second range. A Hemi is, of course, available and it should return 14/20 (in 2WD form), chop a significant chunk of time off acceleration runs and provide class-leading towing capabilities. Like the new Grand Cherokee, the Durango will eventually be fitted with eight-speed transmissions. But for now both engine options are bolted to five-speed automatics.
2011 Dodge Grand Caravan: The Dodge Grand Caravan desperately needed a new, significantly less crappy interior and, like many Chrysler LLC products for 2011, a new interior is exactly what the Grand Caravan gets. Like the Town & Country sister vehicle, the Grand Caravan gets a single new impressive 3.6-liter V6 to replace its three mediocre V6s. All models come with a six-speed automatic transmission. Dodge also says that for 2011, the Caravan comes with a retuned suspension. By this we presume the company means that the Caravan finally comes with a suspension at all. And while we think Dodge has done as fine a job as possible turning the Caravan into something good-looking, we think it might be overstating it a bit when it says it has "sleek, athletic styling." But it certainly appears to be better equipped to compete with the guiding lights of the minivan market, the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.
2011 Dodge Journey: Like many a Chrysler LLC vehicle, the 2011 Journey crossover thingy is getting a roughly 3,600cc injection of not-sucky V6. This would be the same all-new Pentastar V6 that debuted in the new Jeep Grand Cherokee. It makes 283 hp and it's bolted to a six-speed automatic transmission. The Journey is still available with the 2.4-liter four-cylinder as its base motor. Dodge says it has given the Journey's chassis an overhaul that includes new shocks, springs, tires, rear suspension geometry and more. The aim was to improve the Journey's steering and handling. The Journey also gets a new, nicer interior and has undergone a very mild face-lift, which includes Dodge's new split-crosshair grille.
2011 Dodge Nitro: This Dodge-y version of the Jeep Liberty comes with standard 20-inch wheels on all models for 2011. "Shock" and "Detonator" models also come with hood/fender racing stripes. There are four new colors for 2011. They are: Blackberry, Bright White, Redline and Toxic Orange. 2011 also brings a new package to Nitro, the Nitro Heat 4.0 model. This comes standard with the 4.0-liter V6 (also optional in years past), a five-speed automatic, an upgraded stereo and UConnect phone system.
Dodge Viper SRT10: R.I.P., for now anyway.
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