Chrysler will offer two versions of the 2007/2008 Sebring convertible, according to a published report. The lineup will include the much-rumored folding metal hadtop version, plus a more typical canvas top version, according to Automotive News. Global Insight analyst John Wolkonowicz said because the Sebring is a very high volume car, offering two variants seems appropriate. The Sebring sedan is expected to debut this month. (Oddly, the prototype pictured right is believed to be a hardtop version disguised as softtop.) [photo source]
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06/05, 9:50 AM
posted by:
Tweek
Stop with the sensory overload on LLN!!! Malibu spy pictures, Sebring top options, redesigned Solaras, etc.. It’s just too much excitement for one man to take. AARGH!
06/05, 10:28 AM
posted by:
Im Patrick Too
Looks very like a VW EOS. Love the fake canvas top in the pictures. Are they gonna offer a vinyl top option on the coupe?
06/05, 10:49 AM
posted by:
Ekim
Vinyl tops would be a real good piece of heritage design.
06/05, 10:51 AM
posted by:
Ekim
Why offer both? The money could have been better spent on a quality interior and the soft top version will be lumbered with an ungainly rear end with pointlus shut lines.
06/05, 11:21 AM
posted by:
Mike
so, Ekim, you have seen the final version? The way that you are talking about shut lines means that you have seen this car without the camo, and that you have seen the final spec interior, not a low grade pre-production mule….
wait. you haven’t. Tuck in your skirt, your bias is showing.
06/05, 11:53 AM
posted by:
Ekim
Mike, have you seen all the other hardtop convertibles? VW Eos, Opel Astra Twintop, Peugeot 206 and 307 CC, Renault Megane CC, Nissan Micra CC Mitsubishi COlt, Pontiac G6 etc. They have shutlines down the sides of the rear and a large trunk to accommodate the metal roof. A fat ass that a soft top doesn’t need. Also Peugeot has as poor a reputation for build quality as Chrysler and its roofs don’t work.
As for the interior, it’s a Chrysler, duh!
06/05, 11:54 AM
posted by:
Ekim
Ford Focus CC, Volvo C70, Mercedes-Benz SL, Mercedes-Benz SLK
06/05, 12:05 PM
posted by:
Mike
of all that you mentioned, only the G6 could be possibly considered competition for the Sebring.
As far as your comments about the shut lines…I misunderstood your original comment. You clarified your statement, and I am ready to disagree with you. Chryslers flexible manufacturing can easily provide to eliminate the shut line that would be required for the hardtop… assuming that there would need to be one (which, by the spy photos, is nearly non-existant. clearly a different league than the EOS)
06/05, 12:25 PM
posted by:
CoCoChanel
Mike, the shutline either exists or it doesn’t, it can’t be nearly non-existent. Maybe Chrysler has solved the big butt/shutline issue, but i doubt it.
ALso, why are Americans all “they don’t compete so your arguement is invalid”? In Europe the Eos is cross shopped against Mercede-Benz CLKs, are you suggesting that someone wanting a Sebring convertible isn’t going to compare it to the Eos?
06/05, 12:43 PM
posted by:
Mike
Yes. That is exactly what I am saying. It is like comparing a FIT with a Magnum. They may both have a 2 box shape, doesn’t mean that they will be cross shopped.
Not all convertibles are cross shopped with each other. The size and drivetrain options of the Sebring at its price point mean there are very few who would be cross shopped. Included are the G6 and the Solara, not much else.
06/05, 12:47 PM
posted by:
CoCoChanel
The Fit has a better interior than the Magnum so it is a good thing for the Magnum that they aren’t compared.
06/05, 8:17 PM
posted by:
Steve
Wouldn’t they be able to sell a folding hard top at a lower price if they didn’t have to create architecture that would accomodate both canvas and folding metal tops?
06/06, 9:23 AM
posted by:
Mike
Minimal development costs, one of teh benifits of Flexible manufacturing that DCX is implementing now.
For instance: In just 3 months on the market with advertising for only 1.5 months, the Caliber has sold 36,000 units. The “break even” point for this PLATFORM is 100k units. That means that once DCX hits 100k Caliber+Compass+Patriot+4th+5th+6th+7th, above that they are in the green. The costs to alter the model lines are so miniscule that it does not affect profit margins at all, and production takes less than 24hrs to switch from one model to another (based on the same platform)
The tooling for both hard and soft top are not an issue for DCX’s manufacturing process.