Chrysler May Abandon Sebring Nameplate

Chrysler May Abandon Sebring Nameplate

In an attempt to break away from its pre-bankruptcy form, Chrysler is possibly dropping the Sebring name for its revised midsize sedan, which is due late next year.

Chrysler is planning to significantly revamp its lineup in the near future, and is promising nine significantly upgraded vehicles -- Chrysler calls them "new" -- by the end of this year. The Sebring is one of those cars on the block. Apart from ditching most of the features found on the current car, CEO Sergio Marchionne suggests the new car may even ditch the Sebring nameplate.

“You’ll see a completely different animal,” said Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat and Chrysler Group, speaking about the Sebring replacement scheduled to go on sale in the fourth quarter this year. “Actually, we were having a discussion about what name this animal should have. The jury’s still out.”

While details about the upgraded Sebring are rather scarce, Marchionne says the changes will be significant. The most significant changes will come in the interior, where hard plastics currently abound. The new interior should look more like the new Ram trucks’ interior, with numerous leather appointments.

Chrysler’s significantly refreshed Sebring -- or whatever it will be called -- is due in the fourth quarter this year, along with eight other significantly upgraded Chrysler products. The Sebring refresh comes just over two years before the brand new model based off a Fiat platform debuts in 2013.