[Quiet Lunatic]

Racers pitch new DaimlerChrysler models


DETROIT Former Formula One and Indy Racing League star Juan Pablo Montoya took the stage Tuesday at the North American International Auto Show for the unveiling of the new Dodge Avenger mid-size sedan.

Montoya, who is making the jump from the F1 circuit to NASCAR, will be behind the wheel of the racing version of the Avenger. "It's a completely different challenge," he said of Nextel Cup racing.

Montoya was one of three Dodge drivers on hand as Chrysler Group showed off the Avenger, a revamped Magnum wagon and a souped-up version of the Viper sports car with 600 horsepower.

Elliott Sadler drove out on the stage in a new Magnum, while Kurt Busch took the wheel of the new Viper.
With an 8.4-liter V-10 engine, Chrysler said the new Viper can go from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than four seconds.

"Time for me to trade up," Busch said

Link: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8MHTVBO1.htm

 

[Quiet Lunatic]

Chrysler's PR on Racing Avenger

Dodge Avenger to Race in NASCAR Nextel Cup Competition in 2007
Auburn Hills, Mich., Tue, Jan 9, 2007 - Chrysler Group announced today that the Dodge Avenger will race at select events in NASCAR Nextel Cup competition beginning in 2007, joining the Dodge Charger in the Dodge NASCAR racing lineup.

The Dodge Avenger race car debuted along side the all-new 2008 Dodge Avenger here today at the North American International Auto Show. The Dodge Avenger is a mid-size sedan that combines bold, aggressive Dodge styling with innovative interior features, high-levels of safety and reliability, exhilarating performance and excellent fuel efficiency of 30 miles per gallon (mpg) (32 mpg based on 2007 EPA fuel economy standards).

Dodge drivers Elliott Sadler, of the Dodge Dealers/UAW Evernham Motorsports team, Kurt Busch, of Penske Racing South, and, new to NASCAR, Juan Pablo Montoya of the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates team participated in the announcement.

“With NASCAR Nextel Cup racing two distinct cars for 2007, it makes perfect sense to have the Avenger join the Charger in the Dodge racing family,” said Mike Accavitti, Director – Dodge Motorsports and SRT Product Planning, Chrysler Group. “Dodge is all about delivering bold, capable performance, and that will become even more evident when the Avenger hits NASCAR’s race tracks this year.”

The Dodge Avenger race car is scheduled to make its competition debut at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 25, 2007, as the Dodge entry in NASCAR’s “Car of Tomorrow” implementation.


NASCAR’s Car of Tomorrow is a collaborative effort by the sanctioning body, manufacturers, teams and industry suppliers to develop a safer, less expensive race car using a more common design. The “Car of Tomorrow” design will be phased into NASCAR competition over the next three years, beginning with 16 races in 2007.

During the multi-year phase-in of NASCAR’s Car of Tomorrow, the Dodge Charger will continue to race in NASCAR Nextel Cup competition.

LINK: http://cgcomm.daimlerchrysler.com/documents.do?method=display&docType=pressrelease&docId=6505