Chrysler Sebring

Targeting a niche market, Chryslers Sebring offers a welcome dash of individuality in a sector dominated by familiar faces. Andy Enright assesses its chances

In recent years, the majority of sales in the premium medium Range and executive class saloon sectors have gone to German marques. Chryslers Sebring, the car we look at here, isnt going to change that but it will bring a welcome element of variety to a corner of the market that was becoming rather predictable.

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Mind you, itll have its work cut out in doing so, thats for sure. In the £18,000-£20,000 sector, it must do battle with upper spec versions of cars like the Ford Mondeo, Volkswagen Passat and Honda Accord and entry-level variants of premium contenders like BMWs 3 Series and Audis A4. Still, campaigning on exclusivity, the eternal cop-out thats the worst sort of doublespeak for miserable sales figures, neednt be this cars last refuge: it looks to deserve a whole lot more than that. Prices start from £17,995. So lets take a look at what Chrysler have fronted up with. The Sebring name isnt particularly well known in the UK, just a few of the old Sebring cabriolets having been sold in recent years, but the badge has a little more heritage in the US, where it has adorned Chryslers since 1995.

It refers to the venue in Florida for a renowned 12hr sports car race think of it as a mini US version of Le Mans: theres proof, if ever it were needed, that things arent always bigger in the US. The Chrysler Sebring has found more than a worthy niche down the years, the drop-top versions of the first two generations of Sebring being the biggest selling convertible cars in the world from 2001 to 2005, even outselling the Mazda MX-5 with over 40,000 cars produced per year. Most went to the domestic market in the US but this time round Chrysler have broader ambitions.

"The Sebring is an intriguing car and one removed from the countless bland Euroboxes that populate the market"

This generation Sebring features a chassis shared with Mitsubishi which already underpins the Dodge Caliber and the Mitsubishi Outlander, amongst others. Its a good-looking car although lacking the sort of in-your-face impact of its bigger brother, the 300C. It represents the first time that Chrysler has tried to penetrate this market with a right-hand drive car and is also the first time that Chrysler has fitted a diesel engine in a car in this sector. Although the company might be feeling its way a little, first impressions are good.

The engine line up encompasses three powerplants, starting with a 154bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine with dual variable valve timing good for 36.2mpg. A more powerful option is the 167bhp 2.

4 petrol unit that compensates British buyers for the lack of the V6 petrol engine offered in other markets. Of more relevance to European buyers is that 138bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine shared with the Caliber. This is probably the version to go for.

Not only do you get 45.6mpg combined fuel consumption but theres a level of torque (229 lb ft) that hambles even the 2.4-litre petrol model (162 lb ft). The diesel and the 2.

4-litre petrol both cost £18,995, with the 2.4 offered in automatic form only (the only variant with an auto box). Whichever model you go for, only one plush trim level Limited is being offered. It includes everything from a cutting-edge information, entertainment and communication navigation audio system with a 20Gb hard drive to a heated and cooled front cupholder for keeping hot beverages hot and cool beverages cool.

Air conditioning, air filtering, heated leather-trimmed seats and a long list of safety systems including ESP and side-curtain airbags are all fitted as standard. The cabin of the Sebring isnt going to give Audi any sleepless nights but by previously low US standards, its a decent effort. The clocks are softy lit in blue, while the infotainment system on the centre console will be familiar to anyone who has driven a modern Mercedes. Metallic coloured plastics dominate the centre console while the cowled dials, four-spoke sports steering wheel and two-tone trim on the doors act as small design signatures that lift the fascia above the mundane.

One of the most interesting features is the information, entertainment and communication navigation radio. This navigation radio features a 165mm (6.5 in) Thin Film Transistor (TFT) display with a touch-screen panel that can support 65,000 colours. The system provides a two- or three-dimensional appearance to graphics and animation, as well as multiple font sizes and styles.

The system can follow voice-activated commands, provides real-time traffic updates and incorporates many new features for music, sound, movies and personalized picture displays, including and heres the most interesting part - a 20-gigabyte hard disc drive for storing map data for the navigation system and photos and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port that allows for the transfer of photos onto the hard drive. Youll even be able to view the pictures you just shot on your digital camera in your car. With a long list of safety features and some fascinating technical details, the Sebring deserves to appeal to more people than the gratuitously contrarian. If it breaks up the stranglehold of the mainstream marques, our automotive environment will be a richer place for it.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Chrysler Sebring Range
PRICES: £17,995-£18,995 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 10-15 [est]
CO2 EMISSIONS: 165-220g/km [est]
PERFORMANCE: [2.0CRD] Max Speed 115mph / 0-60mph 8.8s [est]
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0CRD] (combined) 45.6mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags / ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 4842/1808/1498mm