The 2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING COUPE- Chrysler has introduced a totally new Sebring Coupe for 2001. This new two-door replaces the previous coupe by the same name. But it rolls on a stiff new platform and is powered by bigger engines than the predecessor. The Sebring label also applies to a new four-door Chrysler sedan. Despite a shared name and similar styling, the sedan should not be confused with the coupe, as they do not share chassis, powertrains, or components. Instead, the Chrysler Sebring coupe shares components with the new Dodge Stratus coupe.

The Sebring coupe is elegant in shape and style, a slick design that clearly harmonizes with the curvy sedans in Chrysler's fleet.

The luxury version, Sebring LXi, starts at $21,475 with a 3.0-liter V6 charged to 200 horsepower. The V6 mates either to the standard five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic ($825) that can be rigged with Chrysler's AutoStick ($165) for no-clutch shift control. Optional safety equipment includes ABS ($565) for Sebring LX, or ABS with Traction Control ($740) on Sebring LXi when equipped with the automatic transmission. The new coupe also delivers more power than the former Sebring through new engines that offer greater displacement as well as strength. The base Sebring LX comes with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that uses a single overhead-camshaft design with four valves per cylinder and sequential multi-point fuel injection. Output reaches 142 horsepower with the automatic transaxle.

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The Sebring coupe is elegant in shape and style: Up front, the broad oval grille inset with an egg-crate pattern and round foglamps comes off the styling chart for the LHS sedan. Above the grille, front corners carry multi-lens headlamps in oval clusters flanking the bulging hood. Rolled side panels flare in rings around wheelwells to draw attention to large wheels, including optional seven-spoke chrome wheels. Following the arching roofline, shapely back pillars slide down into the coupe's rear flanks to form shoulders of the high tail, which bows over bold corner lamps and the thick mass of a monotone bumper.

Interior Features: Up front is a pair of high-back bucket seats clad in cloth fabric or optional leather. The rear bench seats three, with folding seatbacks split 60/40 for access to the trunk. Unlike some sport coupes, the Sebring has a chassis long enough to leave room in the backseat for adult riders. To prove the point, we crawled into the rear seat and found that long legs fit neatly -- even comfortably -- behind the driver's seat. Further, we could extract ourselves easily from that space because the front seat slides forward sufficiently to permit a quick exit. The look and tone of appointments in the Sebring coupe is sporty more than it is luxurious. A dashboard collection of instruments, tucked beneath a bowed cowl, contains round analog gauges including a tachometer. Sculptured pods on either side of the central console define notched cockpit spaces for the driver and front passenger. From the driver's seat you can easily access window and lock switches mounted on the door.

Safety features begin with the rigid structure that wraps around the passenger compartment: Active devices include four-wheel disc brakes with optional ABS; passive measures include three-point seatbelts for all five seat positions and dual-stage frontal airbags. Appointments for the base Sebring LX include gear usually offered on the list of options, such as air conditioning, and power windows, mirrors and door locks. The V6-powered LXi brings a leather-wrapped steering wheel and premium sound system with cassette deck and CD player.

Our Final Thoughts: Chrysler Sebring coupe delivers a spacious passenger compartment behind the sensuous lines of a slick shell. With its powerful V6 and smooth ride characteristics, the Sebring LXi edition contains luxurious appointments yet holds the bottom line to a reasonable price. We recommend this one as a serious contender if you are in the market for a modest priced sport coupe. JH/AutoNetDirect.com

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