Chrysler Sebring Convertible ModelsThe new Chrysler Sebring Convertible is available in three trim levels: LX, LXi and Limited. All come with the same double overhead-cam 2.7-liter V6 engine and four-speed automatic transmission. Sebring Convertible LX comes with a high level of standard equipment, including a vinyl convertible top, premium cloth-covered seats, a floor console with cupholders and armrest, air conditioning, power windows, power door locks, and 15-inch steel wheels. To that, the Sebring LXi adds a cloth-coated top, leather seats and leather-wrapped steering wheel, a CD player with six Infinity speakers, plus 16-inch cast-aluminum wheels. Sebring Limited increases the luxury gear with premium leather on the seats, instruments with bright white faces and electroluminescent lighting, an in-dash CD changer for four discs, and a driver-interactive AutoStick shifter for the four-speed automatic transaxle. Active safety equipment includes bigger four-wheel disc brakes. Optional is a sophisticated anti-lock braking system Chrysler calls ABS Plus designed to better balance braking forces at each wheel; this helps improve stability when braking and turning at the same time by counteracting yawing or swerving. ABS Plus comes with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), which distributes braking forces front to rear for better stopping performance. Driving the Chrysler Sebring ConvertibleThe streamlined styling of the Sebring positions this new convertible as a prime choice for cruising down the boulevards. Yet behind this slick skin are the ingredients of a sporty car charged with power and rigged with tight and precise mechanical elements that make it fun to drive over a curvy course. We cruised the broad boulevards of Palm Springs in a Sebring LXi with the top down, basking in the warm California sun as the compact disc player spun a tune. It wasn't until we headed out of town, climbing high into the Santa Rosa Mountains on the switchbacks of snaky route 74, that the Sebring revealed its dual personality as both boulevard cruiser and sporty performer. Step on the pedal to leap around traffic and it pounces like a cat catching prey. The V6 engine, displacing 2.7 liters out of an aluminum block fitted with dual overhead cams and multi-valve technology, produces 200 horsepower spread over a broad torque band. It can charge off the line at a stoplight, but still have enough guts at speed to surge ahead of other cars in a quick lane change. Despite the muscle, it earns respectable fuel economy and operates on 87-octane regular unleaded gasoline. The electronically controlled four-speed automatic shifts quietly and efficiently. To enrich performance, Chrysler adds to Sebring's Limited edition the AutoStick for shift-it-yourself control like a manual stick. Although the AutoStick is fun to play if you're in a sporty mood, for everyday use in urban traffic the standard automatic employed on LX and LXi editions may be more practical. Sebring's steering mechanism, with power assistance linked to a crisp rack-and-pinion device, reveals a nice neutral feel. The suspension, fully independent in short- and long-arm arrangement up front and a multi-link rear rig with stabilizer bar fore and aft, fashions smooth ride sensations. It excels in a set of curves by maintaining an impressively flat stance, even when pressed through a hard-cut corner. The super-stiff body, fortified by lateral braces to compensate for the convertible's lack of a unifying roof structure, plays a key role in achieving Sebring's taut ride traits. All three trim choices use the same suspension components, but wheels and tires differ. The LX has 15-inch wheels, but the wheels for LXi and Limited bump up an inch larger and carry Michelin all-season tires. The larger tires feel more aggressive when turning, and ultimately improve Sebring's agility. |