Sebring's styling salvo
The Sebring's styling is the first thing that sets it apart from its rivals. The grooved hood (link goes to photo) is its most distinct feature, but the sharp creases that adorn the car are what will make it easiest for Sebring owners to find their car in a parking lot full of Accords. The swoopy roofline looks like it could make back-seat access a problem for taller folks. (I had no problems getting in or out, but then again I'm only 5'6", so I fit into everything. I'll hold my verdict until one of About.com Cars' six-footers has had a chance to try it out.)
Is styling important in a mid-size family car? To be honest, I never really thought so -- but when About.com Cars writer Philip Powell test drove the redesigned 2007 Toyota Camry, he was amazed (as was I) at how many positive comments its styling drew from passers-by. People who are tired of look-alike sedans are going to find a lot to like in the new Sebring.
Integral hard drives and temperature-controlled cupholders
The centerpiece of the Sebring is its Harmon-Kardon entertainment system, which combines (take a deep breath) stereo with SIRIUS satellite radio, GPS-linked navigation system, DVD movie player, voice memo recording system, integral speakerphone for Bluetooth-compatible mobile phones, and an integral 20 GB hard drive to store music and pictures (and a USB port to import media). The hard drive also stores information for the navigation system as well as a GraceNotes database so it can look up album and artist information for your CDs. (GraceNotes is commonly used by computer media players -- it's one way your home computer is able to recognize your music CDs.) The system will even allow front-seat passengers to watch DVDs -- but only when the car is parked.
Other neat features: Stain resistant fabric, optional rear-seat DVD player, and ultra-bright LED interior lights. And, in what could well be the decade's greatest advance in the Cupholder Wars, the Sebring's front cupholders can heat and cool your beverages -- up to a lap-scalding 140 degrees Fahrenheit or down to a near-freezing 35.
Safety shifts into high gear
More and more automakers are installing advanced safety devices as standard equipment, and I'm happy to say that the 2007 Chrysler Sebring follows that trend. Front, side-torso and side-curtain airbags are all standard, as are antilock brakes, a tire-pressure monitoring system and the aforementioned Bluetooth hands-free speakerphone. An electronic stability control system, which helps to keep the driver from losing control in extreme situations, is optional.
The bits that make it go
The 2007 Sebring is the first car based on Chrysler's new front-wheel-drive "D" platform. It offers three engine/transmission options. First is a 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine. This isn't the 2.4 from the old-model Sebring; it's a new member of the "World Engine" family, a smaller version of which powers the Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass. The new engine has variable valve timing and puts out 172 horsepower. A 4-speed automatic is the sole transmission.
Next up is an enhanced version of Chrysler's venerable 2.7 liter V6. It produces 190 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque, the latter available at lower engine speeds than its predecessor, which means the new Sebring will feel quicker off the line. It, too, gets a 4-speed automatic.
Topping the list is a 235 horsepower 3.5 liter V6 featuring a new 6-speed automatic with "Auto Stick" manual control. Chrysler expects this engine to make the Sebring one of the quickest mid-size sedans in North America.
Chrysler also plans to offer a fuel-efficient turbodiesel engine for markets outside North America. Unfortunately there are no immediate plans to sell either the diesel or a hybrid version here in the States.
2007 Chrysler Sebring: A force to be reckoned with
Chrysler's preview of the new 2007 Sebring sedan was a static display only. I didn't get a chance to drive the car and pricing had not yet been announced. But from everything I saw, the Sebring has all the makings of a winner. I think its styling and its equipment list are going to make it a hit with mid-size buyers. It may even be enough to make Honda and Toyota change their battle plans. If temperature-controlled cupholders and integral hard drives start showing up on the Camry and Accord's option lists, we'll know the 2007 Chrysler Sebring has them running scared.
