Chrysler cars are the industry's style leaders, at least according to Kelly Blue Book. In a press release dated yesterday, Chrysler proudly proclaims they won "Best Exterior Design – Non-Luxury Sedan/Coupe/Hatchback," one category of the 17 different KBB Brand Image Awards handed out at the New York Auto Show. The awards "recognize automakers' outstanding achievements in creating and maintaining brand attributes that capture the attention and enthusiasm of the new-vehicle buying public." The press release didn't say which specific model led to the award, but the Aspen and Town & Country are eliminated by the category. The PT Cruiser has been around since Bob Lutz was a Boy Scout and the 300's long over-due for a re-do. That leaves the Sebring as the style leader that "captured the attention and enthusiasm of the new-vehicle buying public." If the Sebring displays the essence of Chrysler's "brand attributes," that explains everything you need to know about why the company's on life support. Just sayin'.
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Just stick to the “values”, thanks!
Whoa, what kind of crack were they on when they handed that award out?
The public apparently disagrees with them on it (take your pick of the Chrysler line up) being a style leader – the ones I see around here all have the little “e” logo from Enterprise on them.
It looks good enough that the new Accord looks just like it.
MTeator is right about much of the Sebring’s exterior. Other than the hood rakes, it doesn’t stand out as a truly terrible design. However it’s not a very appealing exterior either, and the interior is just downright mediocre.
KBB is an absolute joke when it comes to car valuations. Late model vehicles tend to be ridiculously overpriced and older vehicles are given incredibly low valuations.
Ebay is really the best tool to use. Oother than that the Manheim Market Report (for late model vehicles), Edmunds (for older vehicles), and NADA (traditionally what the banks use), are far better measurements of a given vehicle’s value.
It’s probably the same as being at the top of People’s “Most Beautiful” list. You just get your agent to pay the fee, and poof, you’re the most beautiful person in the world.
I think the Sebring does look good. It doesn’t seem to be that great of a car though.
I present my personal award to Chrysler for a model lineup most resembling the dog’s breakfast.
Nice April’s fool joke!
I for one generally like Chrysler’s styling. They have had some great designs:
– PT Cruiser – worn out it’s welcome, but initially a fantastic departure from the blah
– 300 series – while it too is getting stale, the initial design was stunning
– Crossfire – sure this wasn’t the prototype, but it was a great design
– Ram trucks – when this current design theme first came out it was another home-run
– New Wrangler – this one is really hard to do in that you are locked into using some design elements (round lights, grill) etc that the Jeep loyalists demand, but the design team made the new Wrangler look great and very purposeful
– Viper
– Prowler
Now a lot of these designs were let down by horrid engineering, interior design by Accounting and life-cycles endorsed by the Methuselah Society.
Having said all of that – the Sebring is not one of those designs for me. Every time I look at I think – why would anyone design a car to look like a hatchback when it wasn’t a hatchback?
I keep hoping that some day Honda will just outsource their designing to Chrysler or Audi.
Maybe this is for Dodge?
Dodge has some nicely styled vehicles. Well, nice from afar, anyway.
You should post the whole list of “Brand Image Award” winners. It has quite a few confusing selections, although this is the weirdest one.
I think the Sebring is a basically good looking vehicle. A car full of interesting details that sets it apart from the other guys. Nothing too stunning but you know if I look at enough Porsches and Ferraris even those look a little blah after a while.
I hope for Chrysler that the Sebring is a durable car. If they keep building a fair number of them and people keep buying them they won’t have a sellout but it’ll pay the bills. If it is durable people will start to notice and their rep will go up. Their lack of a reputation for long term durable vehicles is what keeps me from buying a Chrysler.
Are those “awards” handed out in the same manner as these?
http://successfulsoftware.net/2007/08/16/the-software-awards-scam/
Well it does have the most blackout trim ever applied to a C pillar.
I agree with the “on drugs” viewpoint. The only car on the road with more akward styling is the horrific new Accord sedan. And at least Honda had the restraing not to add a half-ton of nonsensical “garbage” styling details to its akward design, like Chrysler did.
If the Sebring equates to “good styling,” then it must only do so for people who “have no taste.”
Unfreakingbelievable!
guyincognito :
Perhaps that can be a separate category next year?
:)
Well like the old saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Personaly I think the car is not truly ugly, but it looks like they tried too hard to make it stand out. I think if they changed a couple of things then it would be a decent looking sedan. IMO the new Accord is a much sexier looking beast than this Sebreng. The main difference is the Accord is selling at full MSRP while the sebreng has numerous “Incentives” to bring the tag down.