According Chrysler spokesman Jiyan Cadiz, Chrysler will drop the all-wheel-drive option on the 2009 Chrysler Sebring, Dodge Avenger and Dodge Caliber. The option, which was introduced on the models in late 2007, never really caught on.

Cadiz says that the take rate for the all-wheel-drive Avenger was 1.5 percent for 2008 and 0.7 percent for the Sebring. “So obviously the bottom line is people want fuel economy, and the AWD modules are not profitable for us,” Cadiz told WardsAuto.

Of course there are some comments made by BorgWarner Inc. who supplies Chrysler’s all-wheel-drive system. Chris Cook, product business director of BrogWarner, said that he heard Jim Press was ‘puzzled’ as to why the all-wheel-drive option was even being offered on the three models. Cook says that Press comes from Toyota where they don’t offer many all-wheel-drive cars.

Well Cook, all-wheel-drive does degrade fuel-economy of cars and right now the market seems more concerned with fuel-economy than all-wheel-drive.

Source: WardsAuto