Chrysler: Sebring News
05-05-2005, 09:57 AM
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Chrysler: Sebring News
Ragtops to Riches: Karmann wins lucrative deal to supply tops for next-gen Chrysler Sebring - - ROBERT SHEREFKIN | Automotive News - - Source: Autoweek
Karmann USA Inc. has won the jewel of convertible-top business in the United States: the deal to supply the next-generation Chrysler Sebring.
Industry sources put the value of the current convertible-top program at more than $14 million annually, based on 40,000 units.
The contract is a coup for Karmann, which is part of a vanguard of European suppliers challenging North American suppliers of convertible tops.
The deal also is a big loss for Dura Convertible Systems. Dura, a unit of Collins & Aikman Corp., has supplied convertible tops to Chrysler since the introduction of the Chrysler LeBaron convertible in 1982.
A spokesman for Karmann, of Plymouth, Mich., confirmed the contract but did not give a start date for production.
The replacements for the Sebring and Dodge Stratus will debut as 2007 models next year. It was not clear when the convertible versions would appear.
The Sebring was ranked as the top-selling convertible in the United States for the past three years, according to R.L. Polk & Co., a research firm in Southfield, Mich.
Chrysler produced 50,597 Sebring convertibles when the current model was introduced in 2001. Last year the automaker produced 39,388 Sebring convertibles at its Sterling Heights, Mich., plant. The Sebring convertible continues to be popular; 11,008 were built during the first quarter of this year.
Karmann is no stranger to the United States. It will supply retractable hardtops for the Pontiac G6 convertible scheduled to arrive next year.
Mark Stevens, Karmann USA's vice president of sales and marketing, says the company is completing work on a plant in Michigan that will handle the G6 project and two other programs he did not identify.
Another European supplier, Edscha AG's U.S. subsidiary, Edscha Roof Systems of Pontiac, Mich., makes convertible tops for the Chrysler PT Cruiser. And CTS Car Top Systems N.A. Inc., which is owned by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany, supplies the soft top for the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette. Dura long had been the Corvette's ragtop supplier.
The European competition has put pressure on profit margins.
Dura enjoyed net profit margins of more than 30 percent in the 1990s on the tops it supplied the Corvette and Ford Mustang, says a former Dura official who had access to company financial data.
A Dura spokesman did not return several telephone calls.
Industry sources put the value of the current convertible-top program at more than $14 million annually, based on 40,000 units.
The contract is a coup for Karmann, which is part of a vanguard of European suppliers challenging North American suppliers of convertible tops.
The deal also is a big loss for Dura Convertible Systems. Dura, a unit of Collins & Aikman Corp., has supplied convertible tops to Chrysler since the introduction of the Chrysler LeBaron convertible in 1982.
A spokesman for Karmann, of Plymouth, Mich., confirmed the contract but did not give a start date for production.
The replacements for the Sebring and Dodge Stratus will debut as 2007 models next year. It was not clear when the convertible versions would appear.
The Sebring was ranked as the top-selling convertible in the United States for the past three years, according to R.L. Polk & Co., a research firm in Southfield, Mich.
Chrysler produced 50,597 Sebring convertibles when the current model was introduced in 2001. Last year the automaker produced 39,388 Sebring convertibles at its Sterling Heights, Mich., plant. The Sebring convertible continues to be popular; 11,008 were built during the first quarter of this year.
Karmann is no stranger to the United States. It will supply retractable hardtops for the Pontiac G6 convertible scheduled to arrive next year.
Mark Stevens, Karmann USA's vice president of sales and marketing, says the company is completing work on a plant in Michigan that will handle the G6 project and two other programs he did not identify.
Another European supplier, Edscha AG's U.S. subsidiary, Edscha Roof Systems of Pontiac, Mich., makes convertible tops for the Chrysler PT Cruiser. And CTS Car Top Systems N.A. Inc., which is owned by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany, supplies the soft top for the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette. Dura long had been the Corvette's ragtop supplier.
The European competition has put pressure on profit margins.
Dura enjoyed net profit margins of more than 30 percent in the 1990s on the tops it supplied the Corvette and Ford Mustang, says a former Dura official who had access to company financial data.
A Dura spokesman did not return several telephone calls.
07-26-2005, 11:15 PM
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Originally Posted by stangg172004
that camo hurts my head....
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08-01-2005, 02:12 PM
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Spy Shots: ’07 Chrysler Sebring - - by Brenda Priddy - - Source: The Car Connection
Even under dizzying black-and-white camouflage, we're certain this is the new JS car - the upcoming Chrysler Sebring.
The Sebring had been expected to make its showroom debut sometime during this calendar year, but the program has suffered delays and now it will arrive as a 2007 model. It will ride on a Mitsubishi Lancer-derived platform, but will be powered by Chrysler's own engines and will not be a Lancer clone.
The Sebring will continue to be built at Chrysler's Sterling Heights, Michigan , plant, alongside Dodge's variant, likely a five-door hatchback.
The Sebring had been expected to make its showroom debut sometime during this calendar year, but the program has suffered delays and now it will arrive as a 2007 model. It will ride on a Mitsubishi Lancer-derived platform, but will be powered by Chrysler's own engines and will not be a Lancer clone.
The Sebring will continue to be built at Chrysler's Sterling Heights, Michigan , plant, alongside Dodge's variant, likely a five-door hatchback.
08-01-2005, 03:26 PM
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The interior dash/gauge cluster and door design, even in this rough form, doesn't look to hot. So this car will ride on the Lancer's platform. I wonder if it'll be the same wheelbase, or if it's flexible. Hopefully they were able to strech it to better compete with the competiton.
08-01-2005, 03:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Dan Martin
I don't think I've ever been less excited to see spy photos. 
08-02-2005, 01:24 PM
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Originally Posted by titan
The interior dash/gauge cluster and door design, even in this rough form, doesn't look to hot. So this car will ride on the Lancer's platform. I wonder if it'll be the same wheelbase, or if it's flexible. Hopefully they were able to strech it to better compete with the competiton.
08-02-2005, 02:15 PM
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Originally Posted by BUD001
the inside looks GM-ish.. you sure this is a DC product? Looks like a big Saturn to me.
12-06-2005, 08:42 AM
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’08 Chrysler Sebring Convertible
The new Sebring will ride atop a platform penned by Mitsubishi, but will be powered by Chrysler's own engines and will not be a Lancer clone. The Sebring sedan is expected to arrive in the fall of 2006, and the convertible - shown here - should be at dealerships in the spring of 2007, as an early 2008 model. The ragtop shown on this test mule is a fake: the real vehicle will sport a hardtop convertible roof.
http://www.thecarconnection.com/Enth...178.A9702.html
12-06-2005, 08:51 AM
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Wow. Another family 4 seat coupe with a hardtop convertible? Very cool. The G6 vert won't have long to bask in the light of being the only hardtop vert in the class before the Sebring comes. Question is, will the next Solara follow suite?
12-06-2005, 12:29 PM
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The interior (pic in post #8) still looks cheap and plasticy. Man - when are they going to get the message about their interiors?
02-05-2006, 02:28 PM
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Exclusive: 2007 Chrysler Sebring Revealed - - Source; http://www.edmunds.com/
DETROIT — Chrysler is preparing a full redesign of its midsize Sebring sedan for model-year 2007, with all-new sheet metal and a completely revamped cabin.
The next-generation Sebring, which goes into production this fall, will be built on a new platform and reportedly will share some underbody components with several Mitsubishi vehicles, including the new Outlander and Lancer.
The base Sebring this fall is expected to share the new global four-cylinder engines from the upcoming Jeep Compass and Dodge Caliber, with an optional V6 also available.
Chrysler is dropping the Sebring coupe but will introduce a redesigned Sebring convertible in spring 2007, using many of the same chassis and driveline components from the new Sebring sedan.
The next-generation Sebring, which goes into production this fall, will be built on a new platform and reportedly will share some underbody components with several Mitsubishi vehicles, including the new Outlander and Lancer.
The base Sebring this fall is expected to share the new global four-cylinder engines from the upcoming Jeep Compass and Dodge Caliber, with an optional V6 also available.
Chrysler is dropping the Sebring coupe but will introduce a redesigned Sebring convertible in spring 2007, using many of the same chassis and driveline components from the new Sebring sedan.
02-18-2006, 05:28 PM
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Spy Shots: 2007 Chrysler Sebring - - by Hans Lehmann/Hidden Image - - Source: The Car Connection
Prototypes of the new 2007 Chrysler Sebring have been spotted lately around theDetroit area. These new photos capture the car not only from the outside, but also on the inside.
The new Sebring sedan will be introduced in late 2006 as a 2007 model, and will be equipped with the new four-cylinder engine that will also be used in the Dodge Caliber and the Jeep Compass. The Sebring will also offer an optional V-6 engine. -Antoine Guilbaud/Hidden Image
The new Sebring sedan will be introduced in late 2006 as a 2007 model, and will be equipped with the new four-cylinder engine that will also be used in the Dodge Caliber and the Jeep Compass. The Sebring will also offer an optional V-6 engine. -Antoine Guilbaud/Hidden Image
02-18-2006, 08:18 PM
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Originally Posted by titan
Interesting first shot of the interior. It's very spartan, and that's alot of gray (the Camry has to much gray too). The steering wheel looks cheap.
how is this company linked to the 2nd/3rd most popular luxury company in the USA.
02-18-2006, 09:47 PM
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Hopefully the exterior will look better than the interior. The way the interior looks in the spy shots is barely marginally better than the current gen's interior. My parents have an '04 Sebring sedan and it's just full of not exactly tasteful plastic. Plus it's a dog when it comes to power, even for a V6. I wish D-C would get the hint on their interiors for pete's sake - they're really terrible.
02-18-2006, 11:09 PM
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The sizzle in the Steak
Wow! Chrysler interiors are really looking cheap as of late!!!!
05-25-2006, 09:04 PM
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New 2007 Chrysler Sebring Spy Photos - - copyright by AUTOMEDIA - - Source: http://www.worldcarfans.com/
Prototypes of the new 2007 Chrysler Sebring have been spotted lately around the Detroit area, but these new photos actually show the car testing in Germany – and our spy was lucky to get a shot from the uncovered rear when engineers were working on the car and forgot to close the gate of their workshop. With Chrysler’s attempt to enter the European market, we’re pretty sure to see the car being offered in the Old World not too far from now.
The new Sebring sedan will be introduced in late 2006 as a 2007 model, and will be equipped with the new four-cylinder engine that will also be used in the Dodge Caliber and the Jeep Compass. The Sebring will also offer an optional V-6 engine.
The new Sebring sedan will be introduced in late 2006 as a 2007 model, and will be equipped with the new four-cylinder engine that will also be used in the Dodge Caliber and the Jeep Compass. The Sebring will also offer an optional V-6 engine.
05-25-2006, 09:27 PM
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The side profile has much more character than most of the competition; notibly the Camry and Accord. The size is right, and the rear isn't half bad. The Sebring may have a fighting shot in this cutthroat midsize market. If it's successfully posititoned as the younger brother to the 300, it may be a hit. 
Last edited by titan; 05-25-2006 at 09:30 PM.
05-26-2006, 09:56 AM
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At least for me, a car is about more than just exterior looks. The exterior of these spy shots looks pretty decent from what we can see, however, if it drives like crap (like the current gen), it is going to suck again. IMO, the current gen doesn't look bad from the outside, but the interior blows and the car drives like an absolute boat...no fun whatsoever....it's just blah. So unless there are major changes in the way it drives, it won't be much of an improvement for me. For DCX's sake, I hope they improve a lot more than just the exterior of the Sebring.
05-26-2006, 03:33 PM
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Originally Posted by titan
The side profile has much more character than most of the competition; notibly the Camry and Accord. The size is right, and the rear isn't half bad. The Sebring may have a fighting shot in this cutthroat midsize market. If it's successfully posititoned as the younger brother to the 300, it may be a hit.
I would not go that far but lookwise it does seem much improved over the previous generation.
