Active life styler’s expectations will be exceeded with user-friendly amenities

Tag : Anti-Static Fabric
Due in Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge showrooms from late next month followingits official launch on September 23, the Journey joins the smallCaliber hatch, mid-sized Avenger sedan and mid-sized Nitro SUV asthe fourth Dodge model in Australia.

Blurring the line between people-mover and SUV, the car-basedfront-drive Journey shares its underpinnings with the Chryslergroup’s mid-sized Sebring and Avenger models.

To be available with two engines, two transmissions and twospecification grades, and with a starting price expected to be inthe low-$40,000s, Chrysler expects the Journey to be avolume-selling model for its fledgling Dodge brand in Australia,despite limited supplies from the US.

“The Journey is a whole new ball game for us,” saidChrysler Australia public relations manager Jerry Stamoulis.“As the only diesel-automatic combination of its typeavailable, we have confident sales volume projections.

“We won’t do Kluger numbers and initial sales numberswill be low because we’re vying with other global markets,which are also taking delivery around the same time. But the carhas received a good reception in the US and if we do the salesnumbers we’ll then need to work hard and talk to the factoryabout increased supply.”

Said to combine the practicality of a people-mover, the flexibilityof an SUV and the overall efficiency of a passenger car,Australia’s entry-level Journey will come powered by a139kW/258Nm 2.7-litre petrol V6, similar to the one that powers theDodge Avenger sedan and Chrysler Sebring sedan and cabriolet, matedexclusively to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The petrol V6 will be available in two specification grades: theentry-level SXT, fitted with “YES essentials”stain/odour-resistant anti-static seat fabric, and the leathertrimmed R/T flagship.

Both variants will come with a full complement of safety equipmentas standard, including multi-stage twin front airbags, frontseat-mounted side airbags, three-row side curtain airbags, (ESP)traction/stability control, an anti-rollover function dubbedElectronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) and an anti-lock braking system(ABS).

The more interesting powertrain will be an optional 2.0-litredirect-injection turbo-diesel engine that features four valves percylinder and a variable-geometry turbocharger to produce 103kW and310Nm of torque.

Available only in top-shelf R/T specification, the turbo-dieselwill come only with a new Chrysler-Getrag six-speed double-clutchautomated manual transmission, which makes its debut in theJourney.

The diesel engine option will come at a price premium over thepetrol V6-powered Journey and is expected to deliver outstandingfuel consumption, thanks in part to the new dual-clutch auto, whichis claimed to deliver a fuel economy improvement of up to six percent compared to a conventional automatic, and also promisesseamless and refined shift quality.

A 3.5-litre petrol V6 Journey is also available in the US, completewith all-wheel drive.

“Active life styler’s expectations will be exceededwith so many user-friendly amenities on the all-new DodgeJourney,” said the managing director of Chrysler Australia,Gerry Jenkins.

“This is a unique vehicle that will appeal to a crowd of consumers who want a reasonably priced, fuel efficient vehicle withseven seats today - not tomorrow.”

“Offering Journey to the Australian market was an easydecision - seven seats, curtain airbags, ESP, automatictransmission and Dodge good looks are all standard across therange,” said Mr Jenkins.

The Journey will offer seven seats as standard, under-floor storagecompartment, theatre-style second-row seats that flip and slidewith the push of a lever, a 50/50-split third-row seat withreclining seatbacks and an in-floor storage area behind the rearseats.

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