By Rick Popely
Cars.com National April 23, 2001Vehicle Overview
Chrysler’s Sebring coupe is redesigned for 2001, and though it resembles the new Sebring sedan and convertible, it is not from the same family. Chrysler did the exterior styling and interior design for the coupe, but the front-drive platform is the one used for the Mitsubishi Galant. The Japanese company will provide engines and other major mechanical components.
Mitsubishi builds the Sebring coupe at its Illinois plant, and Chrysler builds the sedan and convertible from a different design. Dodge offers versions of the coupe and sedan as the Stratus but does not get the convertible.
Chrysler and Mitsubishi have been sharing vehicles and engines for nearly 30 years, and DaimlerChrysler now owns a controlling interest in the Japanese company, guaranteeing more collaboration in the future.
Exterior
All three Sebring body styles wear similar styling and an egg-crate grille featured on Chrysler vehicles, but the two-door coupe shares none of the sheet metal used for the sedan and convertible. It also bears no resemblance to the Galant sedan, from which it is derived.
The Sebring’s overall length is 190 inches, which is in the midsize range, but a wheelbase of 103.7 inches puts it in compact-car territory.
Interior
The rear seat has more room than most coupes, and the front passenger seat slides forward when the backrest is tipped to allow easier entry and exit. Trunk space is listed at 16.3 cubic feet, and the rear seatback is split 60/40 and folds for additional room.
Air conditioning, power windows and locks, and a six-speaker sound system are standard. An Infinity seven-speaker system with cassette and CD players is optional.
Under the Hood
Mitsubishi supplies the engines and transmissions for the Sebring coupe, and they are borrowed from the Galant. The base engine is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 142 horsepower, and the optional engine is a 3.0-liter V-6 with 200 hp.
Both engines are available with a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission. With the V-6, the automatic can be equipped with AutoStick, which allows manual gear changes by tipping the shift lever.
Antilock brakes and traction control are optional.
cars.com From the cars.com 2001 Buying Guide |
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