Any visitor to a warm climate in the United States is bound to see an abundance of Chrysler Sebring Convertibles

in the local mix of vehicles, since the 4-seater has been one of the most popular ragtop choices on the U.S. market for many years.

With the next-generation Sebring, Chrysler seeks to increase that popularity in less favorable climes with the

addition of an optional power retractable hardtop, to deliver a sedan-like driving experience in adverse weather conditions while maintaining all the attributes of a convertible for sunny days.

We drove the new 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible on the Pacific Coast Highway and along twisty canyon roads north of Malibu, California, to experience top-down driving fun but also to test the stiffer platform on which the 2008 Sebring rides. The new version is two and a half times stiffer in torsional rigidity and one and a half times stiffer in bending than the model it replaces.

Offered in three trim levels, the first Sebring we drove was the top-of-the-line Limited, powered by a 258-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 mated to a new 6-speed automatic transmission

with AutoStick manual shift mode. Fuel economy is rated at 16 mpg city and 26 mpg highway based on the new 2008 EPA standards.

The Sebring Limited Convertible with the power retractable hardtop and V6 engine was fun to drive in the dappled light of the California canyons. Sure it’s no sports car, but the 6-speed automatic and the robust 3.5-liter V6 work well together, delivering strong power when needed.

The Sebring Convertible is all about a fun, open-top touring car with enough room and storage for more than two occupants. The AutoStick manual shift feature allows the driver to choose the correct gear and hold it when circumstances require. The smooth transmission delivers quick upshifts or downshifts whether in fully automatic or manual mode.

Chrysler added extra reinforcements in the rear bulkhead and in the sill areas to stiffen the chassis, including adhesive-bonded high-strength steel tubes in each sill and two sets of braces bolted to the underbody. The result is a virtually shake-free ride—an accomplishment, given the extra stress and torsion placed upon a chassis long enough to accommodate the bigger passenger cabin—and one without a fixed roof or pillars to provide stiffness.

We didn’t drive the base Sebring Convertible powered by a 173-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder World Engine with a 4-speed automatic. However, based on the driving experience of the Touring with the 2.7-liter V6, we recommend choosing the V6 version. The 2.4-liter is rated at 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway based on the 2008 EPA standards, and has a 15 percent power increase over the 4-cylinder offered in the previous model.

Available on all three versions—Limited, Touring and Base—the steel body-color power retractable hardtop is fully automated. There are no latches to release manually, and it stows completely under a hard tonneau cover in a total time of only 30 seconds.

The 2008 Sebring Convertible joins the redesigned 2007 Sebring Sedan and carries the overall design and style of the Sedan, which includes a number of elements from other Chrysler products. The Convertible is actually nearly the same as the sedan from the A-pillars (the sloping sides of the windshield) forward.

Inside, the new design carries over the wing-shaped theme from the grille, with a wing shape to the upper dash pad, emphasized by the standard two-tone interior. Materials contribute an upscale look and feel with soft-touch surfaces and gloss finishes, including a pebble grain texture for the dash cover.

A three-bezel instrument cluster provides information to the driver, with a large speedometer and information display in the center flanked by two smaller pods housing the tachometer and other gauges. The center stack incorporates an analog clock, climate control functions and the entertainment system, including the optional MyGIG multimedia navigation audio, entertainment and communication system.

The addition of the power-retractable hardtop option for the 2008 Sebring Convertible is sure to make it a better all-weather vehicle and create additional interest for this popular model. Improvements such as the standard hard tonneau cover, fully automatic top operation, styling updates and interior refinement combine to make the Sebring a strong consideration in the four-seat convertible segment.