Sebring hits Melbourne

CHRYSLER hopes a smaller front-drive brother for the 300C sedan will prove even more popular than the big, bold and super-successful brand flagship – and the redesigned Sebring sedan’s first Australian showing on Friday was its first public test.

Due on sale here in June following a successful launch in the US and Europe, the all-new mid-size sedan will target premium medium notchbacks like Honda’s Accord Euro, Subaru’s Liberty and the Mazda6, leaving its sister model, the Dodge Avenger sedan, to fight for customers of Toyota’s top-selling Camry, Hyundai’s Sonata and the Kia Magentis.

As such, Sebring will be priced between $35,000 and $45,000 while Avenger will carry a starting price of around $30,000 when it arrives here two months later in August.

Like Avenger, the Sebring sedan is expected to spawn convertible and wagon body styles, and will be available with three engines: the Caliber RT’s 124kW/220Nm 2.4-litre four, a 140kW/259Nm 2.7-litre V6 and a 103kW/310Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel.

Read more:

Meet Chrysler’s Sebring, 300C’s smaller sibling

Sebring due in June