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2007 Chrysler Sebrings

June 23, 2006 on 1:43 am | In Car News |

After months of grainy spyshots depicting partially-clothed 2007 Chrysler Sebrings, DaimlerChrysler has come good, releasing the first official images of the company’s bread-and-butter sedan. The company will officially roll out the replacement for the aging mid-sizer later this morning at the company’s Chelsea Proving Grounds in Michigan as part of its “What’s New for 2007” media event.

The new Sebring is an interesting pastiche of cues, drawing heavily from the Chrysler Airflite concept of 2003 and with a particularly Crossfire-esque front clip (similar grille form and creased hood like the new Chrysler Aspen and revamped Pacifica). While not everyone is likely to find the design attractive, divisive styling has worked well for the company in the past (most notably, with its LH-platform offerings).

The new Sebring gets improved firepower, as well. In North America, consumers will find one of three drivetrains underhood: the company’s new 2.4-liter ‘World Engine’ four; a 2.7-liter V6, and at the top-end, a 3.5 liter V6 tied to a six-speed Autostick transmission (the lesser engines make do with four-speed automatics). Outside of its domestic market, DaimlerChrysler will fit also fit the Sebring with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel.

Interesting options including a Harmon/Kardon infotainment system (including touch-screen navigation), a 20 gig hard drive-based Music Juke Box, heated/cooled cup holders, rear-seat DVD (rare for a sedan) and Bluetooth should go some way toward enticing buyers.

Naturally, Sebring will need as many unique selling points (USPs) as possible, because the mid-size sedan segment hasn’t exactly gotten any easier to crack since its last redesigned for 2001. Not only have perennial contenders like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord continued to evolve, new competitors like the Ford Fusion and the pending Saturn Aura are clogging the family sedan with competent product.