Chrysler introduced the 2007 Sebring and hoped to dominate the mid-size sedan market on both sides of the Atlantic and in Asia, but the world financial crisis shattered the American carmaker's dreams.
Inspired by the former Vaillant designed by no other than Virgil Exner and with shapes carried over from the 2003 Chrysler Airflite concept car, the 2007 Sebring was built on top of a new front-wheel-drive platform shared with the Dodge Avenger. In the U.S., the Sebring managed to sell less than 250,00 units in five years, forcing Chrysler to pull the plug on this model.
Sharing its styling with the Chrysler Crossfire sports car, the Sebring featured a front fascia with a quad headlamp design and a chromed grille. The multi-channeled hood accent lines and the in-your-face Chrysler wide-style badge stood proud in front of the vehicle. On the profile, the ascending sculptured lines on the door panels also resembled the sporty coupe of the carmaker, while at the back, the wide taillights that crossed the rear quarter panels onto the trunk lid looked less provocative than the rest of the car.
The interior was crafted with great care but with low-quality materials for the lower trim level. Even the top-spec grade, named Limited, wasn't something special. But the infotainment system was great for those times, sporting a 6.5" touch-screen, a 20Gb hard drive for music and photos, and USB connectivity.
Under the hood, the Sebring sported a 2.4-liter gasoline engine that was available worldwide paired as standard to a five-speed manual. The U.S. customers also got access to a 2.7- and a 3.5-liter V6, while the Europeans could opt for a VW-sourced 2.0-liter TDI engine.
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