The Dodge Dealers 200 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series is the first NASCAR stock car race in Canadian soil and Dodge Avenger driver Mark Dilley aimed to win it to complement his feat of winning the last CASCAR race last September. While he has prepared well for the race, he fell short and only finished second after Don Thomson Jr. Nevertheless, his performance was good enough to make him a strong contender for the series’ championship early in the season. On September 12 last year, NASCAR completed the purchase of CASCAR and announced that the Canadian Tire Series will take over the previous racing activities in Canada.

Early in the race, Dilley seems to be in control and at one time even led the race. An incident with Kerry Micks though saw Dilley pushed at the back of the field. “It was pretty crazy, that’s for sure,” says Dilley about the whole race. “One of the things I feel badly about was getting into Kerry. That was my fault. I just drove it in way too hard. Then we got sent to the back and we had some different issues. I was spun around and that may have been a bit of a payback, but I kind of deserved it and I’ve got no problem with that.”

After Dilley was pushed at the back of the field, his team worked on the steering system of his car with it’s Dodge body parts to enable him to get back to the race. The improvements took three stops which finally gave him the chance to get back to the front of the field. “We came in and could only take two right-side tires during our first stop because of when the caution happened and how far back we were. Then when we did make the stop for the two left-side tires, the set just didn’t match up. We came in after that and made an adjustment and then the car was good at the end.”

During the later stages of the race, Dilley made his move and with 15 laps remaining, he managed to get to the fifth spot. After a yellow flag flew, Dilley found himself on the third spot. With five laps remaining, he managed to overtake Peter Gibbons. Eventually, he caught up with the race winner Thomson during the last lap. Going on a tight race to the finish, Dilley was not able to take the win but he finished only 0.126 seconds behind Thomson.

Commuters are traveling distances to make a living. Statistics say over 10 million consumers drive more than 60 minutes each way to work and research shows that commuting can take a toll on a consumer’s health. This is the reason why commuting poses to be a daily grind on individuals.

In recognition of the National Stress Awareness Day on April 17, Dodge, a division of the Chrysler Group, is going great lengths to aid commuters to lessen the daily stress grind. In this regard, the automaker is inviting annoyed commuters to write an essay about why they believe they have the most stressful daily drive and are most deserving of a new car.

Participants can register and submit their entries online. During registration, participants will be asked to submit a 250-word essay answering the following questions: “What makes your commute so stressful?” and “How would owning a 2008 Dodge Avenger relieve your stress?” Participants must be 18 years or older, and a holder of a valid driver’s license at the time of entry.

The lucky writer will be flown out to Los Angeles, a territory famed for the worst commute situations. There, the winner will take part in Dodge’s “Avenge Your Commute” special event scheduled Monday which falls on April 16. In the said event, the winner will also take home an all-new 2008 Dodge Avenger.

The new Avenger from the automaker offers more catchy Dodge body parts accented by new features like the Chill Zone(TM), a MyGIG Multimedia Infotainment Radio and a heated/cooled cupholder. The features are designed to alleviate the drive feel of car occupants at the same time reduce the stress of commuting. The automaker teams up with internationally renowned life coach, Dr. Martha Beck, to supply tips on improving some of the stress that goes along with battling bumper-to-bumper traffic.

“Let’s face it; not every commute is going to be a fast ride,” said Beck, a best-selling author and columnist for O, The Oprah Magazine. “Accepting that fact from the word ‘go’ is probably the most important thing we can do to keep our commuter-stress levels low. Then, when we’re on the road dealing with slowdowns and pile-ups, we can use all kinds of strategies to get even more relaxed.”

Beck added, “Ultimately, even bumper-to-bumper gridlocks can become opportunities to get back in touch with ourselves and turn a potentially stressful situation into a positive experience. With a little conscious attention, the commute we’ve come to dread can become a genuinely enjoyable part of our lives.”

“Commuters are spending a lot of time in their cars each day and we believe it is important for them to be comfortable and confident that their car will get them to their destination safely,” said Tom Loveless, the Director at Dodge Brand Marketing and Global Communications. “The Dodge Avenger offers a perfect blend of reliability, innovative technologies and bold styling, which sets it apart from the other mid-size vehicles on the road. By awarding one lucky commuter with a new Avenger, we hope to help him or her jumpstart their commute, and make the ride more pleasurable and less stressful.”

STARTECH GmbH, a German auto tuning company exclusively for Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep models adds up a new item on their product lineup of tuned up models.

STARTECH has created the STARSTER, a new concept model based on the Dodge Avenger mid size sedan that aims to “bridge the gap between classic old-school and modern designs”, according to the German auto tuner. The car will made its world premiere at the 2007 International Motor Show (Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung, IAA) in Frankfurt, Germany. The new STARECH STARSTER comes with a wide range of exclusive features from the German tuner starting from the front grilles up to the tail lamps, and in the interiors.

Outside, STARTECH gave the STARSTER a pearlescent ivory exterior color highlighted by matte-orange contrasts and decals on hood and rear. This represents the aggressive appearance of 1970s model of American muscle cars, according to STARTECH. Other exclusive exterior features of the STARTECH STARSTER include sporty STARSTER front apron, large air dams, stylized bumper horns, new STARTECH headlamp design with LED technology and distinctive Dodge crosshairs, and muscle car hood scoop. In addition, the STARTECH STARSTER is also equipped with striking front and rear fender flares to match the car’s wheels and tires. Complementing the fender flares include STARTECH’s polished Monostar IV five-spoke wheels measuring 9J x 22 covered with 245/30 R 22 tires in the front, and 10.5J x 22 wheels with size 295/25 R 22 tires in the rear. The rear portion of the STARTECH STARSTER comes with a redesigned styling and includes features like acrylic trunk lid molding, innovative taillight unit with LED lights, and stainless-steel sport exhaust system with integrated tail pipes.

The STARTECH STARSTER also comes with comfortable and elegant interior components to match the concept car’s sleek exterior. Interior color trims are matched with the exterior color scheme like the leather seats with sports upholstery. Even the floor of the STARTECH STARSTER is made of leather and features waffle-pattern stitching.

Now on the technical side, the STARTECH STARSTER offers a powerful 2.4-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine under its hood. This top of the line power unit is capable of pumping out 335 hp (340 PS / 250 kW) at 6,400 rpm and pulls out 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) amount of peak torque at 3,600 rpm. The engine also features variable valve timing (VVT) and coupled with a five-speed manual transmission, powering the front wheels. With this powertrain package, the STARTECH STARSTER can sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 5.6 seconds and can reach an electronically limited top speed of 165 mph (265 kph).

Other exclusive technical feats include locking differential, height-adjustable coil-over sport suspension, selectable damper settings, and STARTECH high-performance brake system. STARTECH probably retains the Dodge altezza lights and other Dodge components. Anyway, STARTECH will announce the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of this model soon.

Starting this summer, British car enthusiasts will have the chance to ride new vehicles from DaimlerChrysler AG’s Chrysler Group division. Straight from the company’s headquarters in Michigan, Chrysler Group will bring the new Dodge Nitro SUV and Dodge Avenger sedan to roll out in dealer showrooms all over the United Kingdom. Chrysler Group also released the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for the two vehicles.

According to Peter Lambert, Managing Director of Chrysler Group UK:

“People want to drive a car that helps them to stand out from the crowd and still manages to offer great value for money. Our new Dodge vehicles deliver bold and aggressive styling together with masses of standard kit that make them both incredibly good value.”

First off is the all-new 4-door Dodge Nitro sport utility vehicle (SUV). The vehicle retains its boxy and aggressive body styling with 20-inch and chrome-clad aluminum wheels and performance tires. Compared to the VW Touareg mid size SUV with trapezoidal VW grille, the new Nitro features Dodge’s signature crosshair grille on its front fascia that marks its identity.

“In a world of mostly bland competitors, the Dodge Nitro has the design, engineering and performance to inspire drivers and shake up the mid-size SUV market”, says Peter Lambert. “The Nitro boasts excellent overall performance and competitive fuel economy, as well as a comprehensive range of safety, security and convenience features including the new ‘Load ‘N Go’ rear floor cargo system.” he added

Available in three model trims, UK customers will have a choice of two power plants for the new Dodge Nitro: an all-new 2.8-litre 4-cylinder diesel engine and a 3.7-litre petrol engine.

The all-new 2.8-litre common-rail turbo diesel engine delivers 174 hp and produces 339 lb.-ft or peak torque, mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic gearbox. Meanwhile, the more powerful 3.7-litre SOHC V6 petrol engine pumps out 203 hp and produces 232 lb.-ft. amount of pulling force torque output. The engine is combined with a standard automatic transmission powering the vehicle’s 4×4 drivetrain configuration.

The new Dodge Nitro will roll out in the UK market with the following MSRP: 2.8 CRD SE (MT) - £18,990 ($37,368 USD); 2.8 CRD SXT (MT) - £22,490 ($44,255 USD); 2.8 CRD SXT (AT) £23,490 ($46,223 USD); 3.7 SXT (AT) - £23,490 ($46,223 USD).

Meanwhile, the Dodge Avenger sedan comes in two model trim levels – Avenger SE and Avenger SXT. Both models are available with either a petrol or a turbo diesel engine with 2.0 liter of displacement. The 2.0-liter petrol engine is capable of delivering 154 hp and produces 140 lb.-ft. amount of torque, coupled with a 5-speed automatic gearbox. Base MSRP for Dodge Avenger SE with 2.0-liter petrol engine is at 14,995 British pounds ($29,500 USD).

For fuel efficient customers, the 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine is available with power output of 38 hp and 229 lb.-ft. amount of torque, mated to a six-speed manual transmission. MSRP for the Dodge Avenger SE with this type of engine starts at 15,995 ($31,475).

When we talk about Dodge Avenger, it identifies three cars. First is The Dodge Avenger which is a 2-door coupe produced from 1995 to 2000 and was discontinued for production after the 2000 model. Second is the Dodge Avenger Concept which was unveiled during the 2003 North American International Auto Show. Third is the newly released 2008 Dodge Avenger which is an athletically designed 4 door sedan that became the successor to the Dodge Stratus.

“The 2008 Avenger is a 4-door, 5 passenger family sedan, available in 4 trims, ranging from the SE to the R/T AWD. The SE is equipped with a standard 2.4-liter, I4, 173-horsepower engine that achieves 21-mpg in the city and 30-mpg on the highway. A 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard. The R/T AWD is equipped with a standard 3.5-liter, V6, 235-horsepower engine that achieves 15-mpg in the city and 24-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard.”

The Avenger looks quite good in real view than in photos. It is stronger and more muscular as it is also clean from top to bottom. The overall exterior car parts are the nose, with its cross-hair grille, large headlamps and vertical lines stamped into the hood, makes the Avanger look very sporty and muscular. It has a distinctive design that’s far more unique than other boring styled sedans of the same class.

In its interior it offers a Chill Zone which is a storage box that keeps items stay cool by an extra air conditioning vents. It can cool as many as 12 cans of beverages. “Standard features on the SE include air conditioning, power door locks and windows, power trunk lid release, cloth low-back bucket seats, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, an MP3-capable CD player with four speakers, keyless entry, cruise control, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, illuminated entry and a split-folding rear seat.” The Avenger has the potential to be “one of the most entertaining cars in the category. It has a MyGIG(TM) Multimedia Infotainment, an audio, navigation and entertainment system that allows the user to download music and photos to a 20-gigabyte hard drive.

According to usnews.rankingsandreviews.com, “In government crash tests, the 2008 Avenger earned five out of a possible five stars in driver and front passenger protection in frontal impact crashes.”

Its safety features include four-wheel ABS, stability control, six airbags, tire pressure monitoring and a security system.

This year’s season of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, specifically the first ever NASCAR Car of Tomorrow (COT) race will be the stage for the racing debut of Chrysler Group’s all-new 2008 Dodge Avenger. After several test drives for the 2008 Dodge Avenger, the team is now heading in the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee to put the car on its first racing appearance next week, followed by 15 other racing events of the NASCAR Car of Tomorrow.

Mike Accavitti, Director of Dodge Motorsports and SRT Marketing, Chrysler Group said:

“Dodge is ready for the challenge at Bristol, and we think the Dodge Avenger is the car to beat. We believe that the Avenger can bring Dodge a championship in the future, and we can’t wait to start that campaign this weekend.”

“And, for the first Dodge driver to win a COT race, we will donate an all-new Dodge Avenger to the charity of his choice,” he added.

The 2008 Dodge Avenger is equipped with a Word Engine that offers an improved fuel efficiency and low exhaust emissions without affecting the car’s powerful performance. The 2008 Dodge Avenger also comes with quality interior parts like those VW GTI parts found on the VW GTI model.

The drivers of major Dodge teams are excited on the racing debut of the new 2008 Dodge Avenger. They are pleased to join the 2008 Dodge Avenger at the NASCAR Car of Tomorrow racing events. Here is what they said.

David Stremme, driver of the No. 40 Coors Light Dodge:

“You can test it all you want, but we’re not going to know what we’re really dealing with until we race it. Some of the guys have been complaining about it, but I’m anxious to race it. Anything can and usually does happen at Bristol, so it should be a very interesting race for the competitors and a very entertaining one for the fans.”

No. 2 Miller Lite Crew Chief Roy McCauley:

“With the Avenger there’s a large window of opportunity, and the people that do their homework the most will exploit that window of opportunity initially. The garage area is full of the smartest racers in the world, and they will catch up. Everybody will catch up, but I think a couple of cars will be dominant initially because they’ve done their homework ahead of time.”

Elliott Sadler, driver of the No. 19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge and former Bristol winner:

“I think we’re all excited about getting the Avenger on the racetrack for the first time and to carry it to Bristol of all places, we’re definitely going to test its durability and how it holds up under pressure. Bristol is an action-packed race, and it’s always a tough race. Being the first COT race in the history of NASCAR makes it even more exciting.”

“Everybody will bring their best stuff. You want to get started on the right foot. The Avenger is a great tool. We feel like Dodge has done a great job giving us everything to work with correctly. Hopefully, we can put it all into motion and have a good weekend.” he added

Kasey Kahne, driver of the No. 9 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge:

“That will be the first bigger track we have with the Avenger. It’s going to be an eye-opening weekend. It’s going to be tough to make that car work there. It’s going to be much different than what it’s been in the past, but I’m looking forward to the challenge. I think Darlington is going to be a bigger change in the way cars run than Bristol. I think Bristol will be similar to what it’s been in the past with the COT, and Martinsville will be similar. Darlington will be a big change, and that’s when all 43 drivers and teams will figure out the cars are a lot different than what we’ve been racing.”

Lastly, Kurt Busch, driver of the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Avenger who won last year’s Food City 500 commented:

“I just always get a spring in my step when we come back to Bristol. I enjoy this place like no other. At this place, 500 laps is without a doubt the hottest ticket in NASCAR. We’re definitely excited about the Dodge Avenger and what it can do for our team. Having the first COT race at Bristol will be just like jumping into a full tank of sharks and swimming around with them. It’ll probably come down to survival.”

It is not a bird. It is not a plane. But this four-wheeled stuff does have a superhero name: The Avenger.

Remember the movie The Incredibles? In the Justice League, Superman there was Clark Kent, Batman is Bruce Wayne, Wonder Woman is Princess Diana, Flash is Barry Allen… and the list goes on and on. What about Avenger?

The Avenger is not a part of the Justice League. It does not even have notable powers. However, it boasts abilities that are beyond compare. This is the reason why auto enthusiasts are saying that the Avenger is Dodge’s new super hero. So what is it avenging?

The Avenger sedan, officially unveiled at the Paris Motor Show as a concept car, returns to showrooms as a 2008 model that is set to replace the troubled Stratus. The sedan shares the same DaimlerChrysler/Mitsubishi Motors dubbed as GS with its sibling Chrysler Sebring. The car will also replace the Charger as the automaker’s car in this year’s NASCAR.

The Dodge Avenger’s base engine in the SE trim level is the 2.4 L naturally-aspirated “world engine.” The engine is produced through the joint venture between DaimlerChrysler, Hyundai, and Mitsubishi. Other engines include the 2.7 L V6 in the SXT and a 3.5 L V6 in the R/T trim level.

The automaker intends to sell the Avenger worldwide. It will also be delivered to Canada since its predecessor was never sold in the territory. Aside from the 2.4 L “World Engine” and the V6s, the Dodge Avenger is also offered with the 2.0 L naturally-aspirated “World Engine”, as well as a 2.0 L turbocharged common-rail diesel made by Volkswagen.

Basically, the Dodge Avenger is unleashed not just to avenge the sales of its predecessor, the Stratus, but to alleviate the standing of the automaker in general. The outgoing Stratus is likened to the Green Hornet. Though the Stratus is attractive than the latter, the Avenger is much gorgeous emphasized by its bold crosshair grille and muscular shoulders in the distinctive Dodge bumper.

A working professional in mid-30s and earning around $60,000, could be easily charmed by the Avenger. Dodge has formulated a domino campaign to boost awareness and to tickle the desires of auto enthusiasts. Moreover, if one is exposed to the television, internet and video games, he would probably crave for an Avenger.

Dodge intends to expand its customer base hence the company is reaching out to the young generation of drivers. But the goal is not just to attract them to purchase but turn them into Dodge aficionados fastened by loyalty and confidence. Scion, Toyota Motor Corporation’s luxury division, has expertly wowed the generation Y. That kind of auto success is Dodge’s goal with the Avenger.

The Avenger R/T is aimed at improving sales of the ailing Chrysler Group. Moreover, it is serving a good solid effort to realize the goal. Enthusiasts say it is definitely better than the Stratus that it replaces. Avenger may not save the humanity but Dodge dealerships are delighted to know that the car is on their side.

The Avenger is not quite as fast as The Flash however owners say it is darn quick. The 3.5 liter V-6 engine generates 235 horsepower and 232 lb.-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission which can be shifted manually to keep the engine rev up properly.

Dodge’s pool of engineers stiffened up the suspension on the R/T to enhance the car’s reflexes. The car is also equipped with cool amenities and accessories like the heated and cooled cup holder, standard Chill Zone above the glove box. The Avenger with fabric seats features the YES Essentials. According to the designer, the material will not be stained by coffee, lipstick, red wine and motor oil.