Chrysler conjures up more models

In Chrysler's case the sales success of the 300C sedan has overshadowed the rest of the range.

It is easy to see why when you look at what makes up the Chrysler line-up these days.

The PT Cruiser five-door, Crossfire two-seater and Voyager people mover are essentially niche players and at the end of their lives.

The arrival of the Sebring last May bucked things up, but the mid-size sedan added only 199 sales to Chrysler's 3059 total for last year.

Now Chrysler has expanded the Sebring line-up by delivering two cabrio versions. The four-seater cabrio comes as a Touring model with a fabric soft-top or Limited with a folding metal hardtop.

Both have one-touch automatic controls for the roof on the console or key fob.

The cloth roof takes 27 seconds to raise or lower. The hardtop takes three seconds more to do the same thing and both disappear into the boot, giving the car an uninterrupted silhouette.

Because the car is based on the sedan, it is a roomy four-seater with plenty of space for luggage.

With the roof up there is 356 litres of luggage space and with the roof down the boot holds 193 litres.

Standard equipment includes electronic stability control, dual front and side airbags, 17-inch alloys, automatic climate control, six-speaker CD stereo, cruise control, automatic-dimming rear view mirror, electric driver's seat, alarm, six-speaker CD stereo, tyre-pressure monitoring and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The Limited adds heated and cooled cupholders, 18-inch alloys, leather upholstery, heated front seats, premium Boston Acoustics six-speaker MyGig 20GB stereo and automatic headlight washers.

The Sebring cabrio is the first Chrysler model locally to use the new six-speed automatic mated to the 2.7-litre V6, both of which will make their way into the Sebring sedan.

The cabrio produces 137kW at 5500 revs and 256Nm at 4000 revs.

Like its sibling, the cabrio shares the same Macpherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension, which gains extra cross bracing to add some torsional strength.

The two-door is 80mm longer than the sedan, but 15mm lower thanks to a more steeply raked windscreen.

Extra body strengthening contributes to a stronger body, but also increases body weight by 170kW in the hardtop and 130kg in the soft-top.

Prices stary at $43,990 for the Touring and $51,490 for the Limited, bringing the car's entry price in under the Peugeot 307CC, Renault Megane convertible, Holden Astra Twintop and Ford Focus cabriolet.