Sebring coming Down Under

The 300C is set to get a little brother. That’s the news from Chrysler with the confirmation that the US brand will import the new Sebring into Australia.

Aimed at the likes of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, the Sebring will go on sale in mid-2007. A four-door sedan (despite its hatch-like looks), it will be the first medium-size right-hand drive car for Chrysler.

According to Chrysler Australia, the Sebring will be sold in both petrol and turbodiesel versions from day one Down Under. The base engine offering will be a 125kw/220Nm 2.4-litre fuel-injected petrol four-cylinder with the turbodiesel option the VW-sourced 2.0-litre 105kW/310Nm unit already seen in stablemate Dodge’s Caliber.

Though Chrysler says the US-market Sebring’s 3.5-litre V6 is not available in the right-hand drive car, a six will be offered but not at launch. Expect the smaller 2.7-litre V6 petrol unit to join the range before the end of 2007.

Chrysler say the Sebring will debut “a host of new technology and features.” Among the highlights are an onboard MP3-compatible and USB-equipped music storage system which also interfaces with the in-car nav, etc. The Sebring will even get a heated/cooled front cupholder! Look our Krispy Kreme…

More conventional safety features will include Electronic Stability Program (ESP), advanced multi-stage front air bags, side-curtain airbags and front-seat-mounted side airbags.

“We’re excited about the Sebring,” Chrysler Australia’s Simon Johnson told CarPoint. “It delivers us an entry into a new segment and we’re hopeful the car will continue the momentum we’ve created with the 300C,” he said.

The Sebring made waves when it was debuted (and because it was debuted!) in right-hand drive form at the London Motor Show earlier this year (for more see

Johnson told CarPoint it was too early to confirm final specification or pricing but suggested the car would be competitive against the other cars in the medium segment.