Chrysler Considering Axing Dodge Avenger To Focus On 200

[AutoGuide.com]

Rumors are brewing that Chrysler may be considering dropping their Dodge Avenger within three years in order to focus on the better-selling Chrysler 200 sedan which is built on the same platform as the Avenger.

Head of the Dodge brand, Reid Bigland, recently said ""Chrysler Group will likely consolidate around one midsize car in the future." It's almost a no-brainer move, with Chrysler being able to lower marketing and development costs by focusing on a single model. It also removes the risk of cannibalization of one model's sales.

US sales of the Avenger rose 26-percent last year to 64,023 but 200 sales reached 87,033. Unfortunately both models' sales still lag behind the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu.

More: Chrysler Considering Axing Dodge Avenger To Focus On 200 on Autoguide.com

[O'Leg]

It would be very stupid. Remove Dodge Avenger from the market, and you add 64,023 to Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu. Because:

1. Chrysler is not Dodge.

2. Chrysler 200 had and still has bad press.

3. Because nobody likes experiments.

Would I be the head of the Dodge brand, I will distinguish low and high end brands:

1. Remove Chrysler 200 LX/Touring from the market.

2. Increase price of the rest trims by 20%.

3. Give (for additional price) to Dodge Avenger all perks Chrysler 200 now has.

But unfortunately I am not Reid Bigland :-(

[Dadillac]

2. Chrysler 200 had and still has bad press.

1. Remove Chrysler 200 LX/Touring from the market.

(

So where's all this "bad press"? I just came back from NAIAS in Detroit, and all they seemed to have were positive comments on the 200, which had a fairly large dominance in the Chrysler display. (There were five 200's being displayed!)
I heard a lot of positive comments on this car based on the styling and price point.
Also, the V6 Pentastar "cutaway" engine was displayed, along with the awards it has claimed for 2011 & 2012.

[VIP200]

Increase 20% on all 200 base prices now why would you do that.

The avenger needs to be restyled the car looks ugly and it needs to be re worked like the Dodge Dart name is also being revived and the car looks pretty decent.

[Steeler]

2. Increase price of the rest trims by 20%.

This doesn't make sense. Why would you raise the price of a car 20%, when you're having trouble selling the ones you have for sale now at the current price?

I just bought a 4cyl limited, with a sticker of $24,870. Got a 2k rebate, dealer discount, paid $20,695.

The beauty of these 200s is that you get a lot of car for the money.


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[Chrysler_200]

That guy needs to take some marketing classes... lets sell a produce with little faith raise the price! and chop off the base model.. glad that your not reid....