There's a new hard-top coupe-convertible in town; the people who don't want to splash out big $ for the Mercedes-Benz or BMW equivalents nor go French with the Renault Megane Coupe-Convertible or the Peugeot 307CC can now look towards the Chrysler Sebring Convertible as an alternative... whether it's viable or not is entirely up to you, of course.
The Sebring Convertible arrives in Singapore to bolster the ranks of Chrysler vehicles here, which currently includes the Voyager (MPV), Sebring (sedan), Crossfire (Merc SLK-based coupe) and Bentley-lookalike 300C (which includes a crazy, tyre-shredding HEMI 6.1L V8 variant!).
Like so many other marques, Chrysler has decided to execute the Sebring Convertible with a retractable hard-top (vinyl and rag-top versions are available in other markets) to give owners a choice between coupe and convertible; at the touch of a button.
the Chrysler bears enough similarity to its sedan counterpart so the family resemblance is unmistakable. the car is a queer mish-mash of high and low-rent specifications, but this becomes understandable when you realise it only costs approximately S$150k to put this on the roads.
18-inch sports alloys mix it up with faux wood trim and nasty plastics to evoke mixed feelings in the owner. the driver rests his bottom in a half-electric seat, while the front passenger settles for full manual-adjustment only. rear occupants enjoy quite a bit of space thanks to the car's generous wheel-base.
The instruments are nicely legible, but feature old-school fonts and kitschy dot-matrix graphics.
Oversized bumpers front and rear mar the car's edgy styling. The Sebring Convertible's profile is brash and bold; predictably american styling.
Under the bonnet too is no minor-league 4-cylinder but a 2.7L V6 that is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The 189bhp and 260Nm on tap is just about acceptable in shuttling the car around, but this is more kerb-crawling cruiser than boulevard bruiser.
The auto box boasts closely spaced slick shifting ratios that make the most of the engine for brisk start-stop acceleration, but there's little satisfaction in working the engine hard, so it's perhaps best to just smile and pose.
The cabin is old-school with an unfortunate antiquated console architecture. Chrysler hasn't really realised that it's not enough to have a convincing exterior package without sprucing up the interior as well, since 'lifestyle' is more than just skin-deep. front seats are snugly comfortable and this must be one of the few truly usable 2+2 coupe-convertibles on the market.
Roof down, there's a fair amount scuttle shake but the suspension is decently sorted to cope with the worst the roads can fling its way.
This is clearly a wallet-friendly alternative to motorists clamouring for the lifestyle cachet of a coupe-convertible. unfortunately, the 2.7L capacity means higher running costs in terms of road tax, fuel consumption and insurance, so it may not be as $$$-friendly as one might imagine, especially since the power levels aren't that impressive begin with. Could this be chrysler's last american hero?
Fast Facts : Chrysler Sebring Convertible
Engine: 2736cc, 24-valves, V6
Maximum power: 189bhp at 5500rpm
Maximum torque: 260Nm at 4000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
LxBxH: 4922 x 1816 x 1485 mm
Wheelbase: 2765mm
Price: approx. S$150,000
Agent: Chrysler Jeep Automotive of Singapore, tel.: +65 6479 3333
