Chrysler Sebring

The Chrysler Sebring is a line of mid-size automobiles sold by the Chrysler Corporation. There have been three entirely different vehicles with this name:
 * Chrysler Sebring coupe (1995-2005)
 * Chrysler Sebring convertible (1996-present)
 * Chrysler Sebring sedan (2001-present)

Convertible versions of the first two generations of Sebring are the most popular convertible automobile in the world from 2001 through 2005, with nearly 40,000 produced per year. The soft tops have been engineered and completed by Dura Convertible Systems for the first two generations, though the third generation Sebring will use a Karmann top.

1995-2000
The 1995 through 2000 Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger coupes were the successors to the Chrysler LeBaron Coupe and Dodge Daytona, respectively. They were built by Diamond Star Motors, a joint venture between Chrysler Corporation and Mitsubishi Motors, on a stretched Mitsubishi Galant platform. The name Avenger was originally used on the Hillman Avenger, produced by Rootes Group while that company was owned by Chrysler Corporation; while the name Sebring was originally used on a model of the Plymouth Satellite.

The cars had a 103 in (2.62 m) wheelbase and used either a 2.0, 2.4 L I4 or a Mitsubishi-designed 2.5 L V6.

The 4-cylinder was coupled to either a five-speed manual transmission, shared with the Eclipse and Talon, or a 4-speed automatic. The V6 was only available with the Chrysler A604 automatic transmission, and cannot be swapped out easily due to a lack of transmissions that can fit around the front axle. For those who wish to modify their cars, the easiest way to change the original transmissions in this car, for an entirely different one, is an entire drivetrain swap. Because many parts are shared with its Diamond Star Motors counterparts, some aftermarket parts will interchange.

There is evidence that there was a planned all-wheel drive version of the Sebring, partially due to the fact that there is room for a driveshaft to the rear wheels, and there have been a couple successful 4G63 and all-wheel drive system swaps from the second generation Eclipse GSX.

The differences between the Sebring coupe and the Avenger included the front fascia, rear bumper, taillights, rear window. The Sebring also had the reverse lights built into the rear bumper, unlike the Avenger. Sebring's interior differed from Avenger's by offering a more "upscale" look, with wood trim. Viewed as the more "luxury-oriented" of the two Coupes, Sebring's suspension system was tuned to offer slightly more comfort than Avenger.

The Dodge Avenger was discontinued in 2000. A Dodge Avenger concept vehicle was built three years later, and the Avenger name returned in 2007 as a 4-door sedan, again as a fraternal twin to the Sebring.

2001-2006
The current Chrysler Sebring is actually the name of two different cars. The coupe was the next generation model (also sold as the Dodge Stratus Coupe). The sedan and convertible were Chrysler JA platform successors to the Chrysler Cirrus as well as the Plymouth Breeze. The Sebring coupe was discontinued after 2005. The Sebring is still sold as the Chrysler Cirrus in Mexico. 2001 saw the introduction of the 4 door sedan Sebring. Also for 2001, Coupes could be had with an available higher output V6 3.0L engine, along with the choice of automatic (A604/41TE with shift pattern adaptation that had the capability to "learn" a driver's habits), a driver interactive auto-stick (an automatic with manual-type shift mode), and manual transmissions. Both manual and automatic could be had on all models, but auto-stick was reserved only for V6 models. In Mexico, Sebrings could be had with a DOHC 2.4L turbo 4 cylinder.

2007
The Sebring was replaced with a new model based on the Mitsubishi GS platform for 2007. Much like before, Chrysler offered three variations of the car: a 4 door sedan, a metal-topped coupé convertible version (unlike before, these "hardtop" models were all hardtop convertibles), along with a traditional cloth-top convertible. The Dodge Avenger replaced the outgoing Stratus nameplate this year also.

The new Sebring borrowed many styling cues from the 2003 Chrysler Airflite concept. It also has several Chrysler-signature styling cues, several of which come from the Chrysler Crossfire. The Avenger has a similar shape to the new Sebring, with styling cues from the Dodge Charger.

Chrysler offers three engines for the 2007 Sebring, a 2.4 L Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA) I4, a 2.7 L EER V6, a 2.0L I4 turbo CRD (GEMA produced, for export models only), and a 3.5 L EGJ V6.

Recent Changes

 * For 2010, the Sebring receives some styling changes aimed at making the car look less awkward such as the deletion of the car's ribbed hood and much more cleaner, albeit bland, visage. New owner Fiat also announced that the Sebring will continue production until 2012 despite previous owner Cerberus' resolve to end the slow-seller by 2010. Also, 2011 will see a more extensive facelift, according to them.

Licensed production in Russia
The Chrysler Sebring, along with the Dodge Stratus, will be built in Russia from late 2007 or early 2008 on, and will be sold under a Russian brand. The license and production facilities for these cars were sold in April 2006 to Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska, who owns the GAZ company in Nizhny Novgorod, which builds the Volga automobile. This agreement cost about US$151 million (€ 124 million). It is planned to build up to 65,000 cars of both models annually.

Reliability

 * RECALL ALERT: On Oct. 3, 2007, Chrysler LLC announced a recall for MY 2007-2008 Dodge Avenger as part of a massive 72,333 Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring recall pertaining to potentially unseating front door latch cable which could cause the latch to stick in the unlatched position or the lock function to become inoperative.


 * RECALL ALERT: On Nov. 20, 2007, Chrysler announced a massive recall entailing 102,042 MY 2007-2008 Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebrings equipped with the 2.4 liter engine. The problem stems from engine coolant that may be drawn into the left radiator cooling fan motor connector which can cause an electrical short circuit resulting in an engine compartment fire. Chrysler dealers will inspect the connector for contamination or damage, install a wiring harness overlay, and replace the fan motor.

Awards

 * 2003 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study 2nd winner (Sports car)

Design quirks and oddities

 * The Sebring is named after an American racing circuit in Florida.
 * A Sebring convertible appeared in a movie Rat Race.

Criticisms
"Almost certainly the worst car in the entire world. All it did was convert petrol into noise". - Top Gear

"Early into my second encounter with the Sebring (involving a three-car comparo for Wheels October '07), realisation dawned that the first-drive impression (Wheels July '07) hadn't been my perceptive call of the year. The Sebring launch consisted mainly of of fairly flat, straight and smooth highways south of Perth, WA. Reality bit home when we re-visited the Sebring more thouroughly, in NSW. These coarse, rough and generally demanding roads revealed a different car, altogether unpleasantly harsher and noisier. While the Sebring's creature-feature goodies may be nice, the shallow refinement betrays a car out of its depth at levels where others a demonstrably more accomplished." - Wheels Magazine