2001 Chrysler Sebring convertible; Cruising to new heights.(vehicle review)(Brief Article)

We discovered the best features of the new, second-generation Chrysler Sebring convertible during a sunny, four-hour drive in California, from Palm Springs to Borrego Springs and back.

The Sebring may not have sped through the curvy, smooth blacktop like a performance car, but we were pleased to find the handling fun and the steering a bit tighter than we expected. Of course it also provided other sensory pleasures that only a drop-top can provide.

As they did with the company's new minivans, engineers sought to improve the new Sebring convertible throughout, without changing the basics that made it the top-seller in its class.

Propelling us up and down those hilly, squiggly roads was a 2.7-liter V6 that debuted in the '98 Concorde. The all-aluminum powerplant produces 32 more horsepower and 22 more lb-ft of torque than the buzzy 2.5-liter Mitsubishi V6 that it replaces. (``That cast-iron engine was a bit on the weak side and was plain noisy,'' one engineering executive noted.)

The dohc, 24-valver makes 200 horsepower at 5900 rpm and 192 lb-ft of torque at 4300 rpm, yet is nearly 10 percent more fuel efficient than its predecessor, getting 20/28 mpg city/highway (20/29 with the AutoStick). An intake manifold tuning valve provides more mid-range torque.

When we challenged some tight corners, the Sebring let us know how far we could push it-no surprises. The 2001 proved to be a full step up from the predecessor. Overall, it felt solid and quiet for a drop-top.

As we cruised hills and valleys, we enjoyed feeling the temperature change with the altitude, and being able to smell the dry desert and plush, green patches of irrigated agricultural areas.