Press Kit: 2011 Dodge Avenger

The new 2011 Dodge Avenger offers customers the standard safety and security features they expect to give them peace of mind while driving. The 2011 Dodge Avenger performs well in both real world situations as well as third-party testing and offers many safety and technology features not found on other mid-size sedans.

The 2011 Dodge Avenger’s structure contains more than 30 percent high-strength, advanced high-strength, ultra-high-strength and hot-stamped steel, creating a vehicle structure that keeps occupants protected.

The new 2011 Dodge Avenger also features an advanced high-strength steel called “dual-phase steel” in the rear rails, tunnel reinforcement and sill inners. The dual-phase steel allows these components to handle greater loads than conventional steels, which helps them manage impact energy more effectively, while still being relatively easy to stamp and control dimensionally. In addition, in the event of a high-speed front impact, the design of the structure and the properties of the steel combine to protect the occupants by absorbing the impact energy in a controlled manner.

The Dodge Avenger earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick for both the 2009 and 2010 model years. The award recognizes automobiles with electronic stability control (ESC) that perform well in the Institute’s front-impact, side-impact, rear-impact and starting in 2010, roof-strength evaluations.

TECHNOLOGIES KEEP DRIVERS CONNECTED; EYES ON THE ROAD
The new 2011 Dodge Avenger offers customers a ton of high-tech features designed to make their time in the car a fun, safe and enjoyable experience. Intuitive, life-simplifying features help reduce driver distraction, while keeping Dodge Avenger drivers in control and in touch. Avenger’s available voice command lets drivers communicate while keeping their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. They can also operate the available navigation system using advanced voice recognition controls.

The 2011 Dodge Avenger also keeps owners connected to their tunes, with features like SIRIUS Satellite Radio, SIRIUS Travel Link, a touchscreen radio that offers a 30-gigabyte hard drive, an MP3/iPod® auxiliary jack for iPod compatibility, Gracenote music identification and voice-activated controls.

The following features and options are available on the new 2011 Dodge Avenger:
Voice Command
Voice command enables the driver to place and receive calls, handsfree, using a Bluetooth® enabled phone. The Avenger driver can select radio stations, choose satellite radio channels, navigation destinations and record memos. Voice command recognizes English, French and Spanish, and is capable of learning words for inputting addresses.

Uconnect® Media Center
The innovative Uconnect Media Center offers touchscreen and voice command so Avenger drivers can conveniently control multiple media sources and outputs. Owners can create a personalized in-vehicle media experience with iPod integration, auxiliary jack for MP3 player input and SIRIUS Satellite Radio. The Media Center also includes a 30-gigabyte hard drive where music, photos and voice messages can be stored via a USB port interface. In addition to navigation software and mapping, the hard drive holds approximately 6,700 songs. Finally, for the driver who needs efficiency, a voice-memo recorder feature allows convenient reminders up to 3 minutes long.

SIRIUS | XM Satellite Radio
SIRIUS Satellite Radio provides 2011 Dodge Avenger customers with more than 120 channels of the best music, entertainment and information coast-to-coast. SIRIUS Satellite Radio offers more than 60 commercial-free, CD-quality music channels and 60 channels of sports, news, entertainment and children’s programming, 24 hours a day. Regional traffic and weather reports also are included with SIRIUS Satellite Radio. Station selection with the radio is easy, using the same familiar method as choosing an AM or FM station. Consumers are able to scan channels or have pre-set buttons for their favorite channels. They can also search both by music category and channel, which will be displayed on the radio screen.

Uconnect Navigation
Uconnect Navigation combines the features of a global positioning system (GPS), points of interest, SIRIUS Traffic and voice command. Chrysler Group’s Voice Command and touchscreen allow easy operation. If the Avenger is in motion, voice command will recognize three languages and is capable of learning words for inputting addresses. The robust points-of-interest database make it easy to find nearby restaurants, shopping, hospitals or other local destinations. Drivers are able to avoid traffic jams with SIRIUS Traffic. Uconnect Navigation offers customers reliable, seamless use of navigation technology.

Uconnect Phone
Uconnect Phone is an in-vehicle, voice-activated communication system that allows drivers to talk on a Bluetooth® compatible phone with their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. The built-in phone book’s sync feature automatically downloads as many as 1,000 phone book entries from supported phones, which can then be selected by simply saying contact name. The handsfree option promotes safety, freedom, value and flexibility.

SAFETY AND SECURITY FEATURES
The following Safety and Security Features are available on the new 2011 Dodge Avenger sedan:

• Active head restraints: Deploy in the event of a rear collision. Restraints are designed to reduce injuries by minimizing the gap between the head restraint and the passenger’s head
• Advanced air bags: Inflate with a force appropriate to the severity of
the impact. Deployment is controlled by employing unique venting and/or seat position. Meets FMVSS 208 advanced air bag requirements for smaller, out-of-position occupants
• All-speed traction control (included with ESC) senses drive-wheel slip and applies individual brakes to a slipping wheel(s), and can reduce excess engine power until traction is regained
• Anti-lock brake system (ABS): Senses and prevents wheel lockup, offering improved steering control under extreme braking and/or slippery conditions
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror: dims the light to ease headlight reflection in the driver’s eyes
• Auto-reverse Sunroof: advanced sensing system that automatically engages and reverses the sunroof (to the open position)
• Auto-reverse windows: automatically engages and reverses the window (to the down position)
• BeltAlert: Activates a chime and/or illuminates an icon in the instrument cluster to remind the driver and front passenger to buckle up if the Avenger is driven without belted front-seat occupants
• Brake Assist: In an emergency brake situation, the system applies maximum braking power, minimizing the Avenger’s stopping distance
• Brake/Park interlock Prevents an automatic transmission or transaxle from being shifted out of Park until the brake pedal is applied
• Brake-traction control system (BTCS): Helps to keep driving wheels from spinning during acceleration from a stop or during slow speeds by applying individual brakes to the slipping wheel(s)
• Brake Override: When a disagreement exists between the throttle and the brake, the brake signal causes the engine controller to reduce engine power, allowing the driver to stop the car
• Child-protection rear door locks disable the rear doors’ inside-release handle via a small lever on the door-shut face
• Child seat anchor system: LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) is designed to ease installation of compatible aftermarket child seats
• Constant-force retractors (CFR): Regulates the force exerted on the occupant by the seat belt and then gradually releases seat-belt webbing in a controlled manner
• Crumple zones compress during an accident to absorb energy from an impact, decreasing transfer of that energy to the occupants
• Electronic stability control (ESC): Enhances driver control and helps maintain directional stability under all conditions. Provides the benefit in critical driving situations such as turns, and is valuable when driving on mixed surface conditions including snow, ice or gravel. If there is a discernible difference between driver input through the steering wheel and the vehicle’s path, ESC applies selective braking and throttle input to guide the vehicle back on to the driver’s intended path
• Enhanced Accident Response System (EARS): Makes it easier for emergency personnel to see and reach occupants in the event of an accident by turning on the interior lighting and unlocking doors after air bag deployment. Also shuts off flow of fuel to the engine
• Express up/down windows: One-touch powered express up/down window button located on the front driver and passenger-side door
• Front seat-mounted side air bags deploy for enhanced thorax protection during a side impact
• Height-adjustable front seat belts allow the driver and front passenger to raise and lower the shoulder belt. Encourages seat-belt usage by offering a more comfortable fit
• Hill-start Assist (HSA): Assists drivers when starting the Avenger from a stop on a hill by maintaining the level of brake pressure applied for a short period of time after the driver’s foot is removed from the brake pedal. If throttle is not applied within a short period of time after the driver’s foot is removed from the brake pedal, brake pressure will be released
• HomeLink universal home security system transceiver stores three separate transmitter radio-frequency codes to operate garage-door openers, security gates, security lighting or other radio-controlled devices
• Inside emergency trunk release, with a glow-in-the-dark release handle, can be activated in the event of an adult or child being inadvertently trapped inside the Avenger’s trunk
• Knee bolsters: The lower instrument panel and the glove-box door are designed to properly position the occupant during impact, enabling air bags to work effectively
• Navigation system: Voice-activated navigation system available with real-time traffic to provide precise guidance to destination through the use of global positioning system (GPS) satellite technology
• Remote Keyless Entry: Locks and unlocks doors and turns on interior lamps. If the Avenger is equipped with a security alarm, the remote also arms and disarms that system
• Remote start: Conveniently starts the engine and activates key comfort settings based on ambient conditions by using the key fob while maintaining vehicle security
• Seat-belt pretensioners: During a collision, impact sensors initiate front sea-belt pretensioners to remove slack in the seat belt system, thereby reducing the forward movement of the occupant’s head and torso
• Sentry Key® engine immobilizer: Utilizes an engine key that has an embedded transponder with a preprogrammed security code to discourage vehicle theft. When the key is inserted into the ignition, the controller sends a random number to the transponder and the engine is allowed to start. If an incorrect key is used, the engine will shut off after a few seconds
• Standard side-curtain air bags: Extend protection to all outboard front- and rear-seat passengers. Each side air bag has its own impact sensor that autonomously triggers the air bag on the side where an impact occurs. This type of air bag is housed in the headliner just above side windows
• Standard seat-mounted air bags: Provide enhanced protection to the driver and front outboard passenger in certain impacts. Each side air bag has its own impact sensor that autonomously triggers the air bag on the side where an impact occurs. Standard side air bags are housed within the outboard side of each front seat
• Side guard door beams in front and rear doors provide occupant protection during a side impact
• Structural safety cage protects occupants by managing and controlling energy in the event of an impact
• Three-point seat belts: Front outboard seating positions and all rear seating positions have lap and shoulder belts
• Tilt-and-telescoping steering column: Allows steering column to tilt and move toward or away from the driver to achieve a safe and comfortable distance from the advanced multi-stage front driver air bag, if deployed
• Tire-pressure monitoring (TPM): Informs driver when tire pressure is too low. Pressure-sensor modules within the valve stems of all four road wheels send continuous radio-frequency signals to a receiver and the system
• Uconnect Phone: In-vehicle, voice-activated communication system that allows customers to talk on their Bluetooth® compatible phone with their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. The built-in phone book sync feature automatically downloads as many as 1,000 phone book entries from supported phones, which can then be selected by simply saying contact name