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Chrysler Sebring replacement to be called...Nassau

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Old 04-30-10, 06:35 AM
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LexFather
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Post Chrysler Sebring replacement to be called...Nassau



Report: Next-gen Chrysler Sebring to be named “Nassau”
04/28/2010, 7:55 PM
By Mark Kleis

Chrysler’s Sebring has struggled to perform at the same levels as its competitors in the market place, and Chrysler has reportedly decided to start with a fresh slate by renaming the sedan. The vehicle set to replace the current Sebring, launching in late 2010, will now be reportedly named Nassau.

According to Free Press, dealers and sources familiar with the automaker’s product plan have confirmed that Chrysler will in fact drop the Sebring nameplate – replacing it with the Nassau name first used on a 2007 Chrysler concept car.




The Chrysler Sebring has recently suffered from a heavy reliance upon fleet and rental fleet sales, with the interior quality falling behind the competition. Chrysler believes that the name does not carry enough brand equity and positive history to warrant retaining the name for their all-new sedan.

“Chrysler bought the Nassau name when they came out with the concept, so it makes sense they would use it,” said Jim Hall, a consultant with 2953 Analytics, a firm that advises automakers on future vehicles, when speaking with Free Press.

The Nassau will be joined by an all-new Dodge Avenger for 2011 – both receiving all-new, competitive interiors. The exteriors of the vehicles will also be substantially different, hoping to give the impression of a truly all-new vehicles to consumers.
 
Old 04-30-10, 07:51 AM
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caddyowner
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I heard a report on Detroit radio that the car will get new sheetmetal, but it is only a mid-run freshening and the running gear will remain the same. AKA, a prettier turd.
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Old 04-30-10, 08:12 AM
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rdgdawg
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Wow, and the Sebring was such a great car... just look at the reliability and craftsmanship, especially at start-up:

Chrysler Sebring replacement to be called...Nassau-blast.jpg
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Old 04-30-10, 08:42 AM
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RXSF
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so are they competing with VW to see who can come up with harder names to pronounce? "Nassau" doesnt roll off the tongue as easily as sebring
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Old 04-30-10, 08:49 AM
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MadMax96
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Originally Posted by caddyowner
I heard a report on Detroit radio that the car will get new sheetmetal, but it is only a mid-run freshening and the running gear will remain the same. AKA, a prettier turd.
HAHA... before even reading your post I was going to post up saying they should just change the name to "Turd" and save everyone the hassle.
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Old 04-30-10, 09:14 AM
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mmarshall
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This could potentially be a very important model for Chrysler, especially if they do a convertible version like with past Sebring models (the article doesn't say).

Sebring convertibles, in the past, have been fairly popular, despite their reputation for Chrysler-poor quality. They offered the chance to get into a mid-sized convertible, with a fairly roomy rear seat by convertible standards, for an affordable price and cost of ownership.....something that a lot of other convertible models couldn't say. Many other ragtops and folding hardtops were either too small, too expensive, were 2-seaters with no rear seat, had a basically unusable rear seat, cost too much to insure, or, in some cases, lacked decent roll-over protection. The Pontiac G6 folding-hardtop model more-or-less competed with the Sebring convertible price-wise and size-wise, but did not have as much rear-seat room, and had a stark, crap interior even worse than the Sebring's.
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Old 04-30-10, 01:14 PM
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SLegacy99
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Nassau won't be a success without the Pentastar engine, which is sounds like it won't get until later if it is coming out in late 2010. The first Pentastars are slated to go into the 2011 Cherokee.
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Old 04-30-10, 01:34 PM
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mmarshall
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Originally Posted by SLegacy99
Nassau won't be a success without the Pentastar engine,
I'm not sure I agree. The last Sebring was quite successful without a lot of power, especially the convertible version. Power is not what sells this class of car.

Originally Posted by RXSF
so are they competing with VW to see who can come up with harder names to pronounce? "Nassau" doesnt roll off the tongue as easily as sebring
Yes, I agree. Chrysler and Dodge have to start coming up with some better names for their cars. Cars named after clouds, like "Cirrus" and "Stratus", IMO, is just pie-in-the-sky (no pun intended) marketing hype. "Nitro" has the ring of a NHRA top-fuel dragster, but the actual vehicle is a rather stark, flimsy, poorly-made, box on wheels. Sebring, though, seemed to be one of the exceptions......it was not a bad name at all, and sounded rather classy. Sure beats "Nassau".
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