Out With The Sebring, In With The… Nassau?
Chrysler won’t officially confirm it, but the Detroit Free Press cites Chrysler dealers who say that the tarnished-to-death Sebring nameplate will be replaced with the name “Nassau,” when Chrysler brings out a Fiat-facelifted version of the midsized sedan later this year. The Nassau name first entered Mopar history with the 1955 Windsor Nassau, a a two-door coupe advertised as having “the 100 million dollar look.” After a mere two model years as the Windsor Coupe nameplate, the Nassau name lay dormant for decades before returning as a 2000 styling buck for the Chrysler 300, and again as a midsized sedan/wagon concept in 2007.
Chrysler bought the Nassau name when they came out with the concept, so it makes sense they would use it
But what’s in a name? Although the Freep says the Nassau’s interiors are “completely new,” it only says exterior styling will be “substantially different.” And since the Nassau is merely an update to one of the worst cars in America, will the nameplate die when an all-new, Fiat-developed midsized sedan arrives in 2013? If Chrysler’s history is anything to go on, the name certainly appears to be little more than a placeholder.
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Is it just me or do the "new" chrysler cars look like they have cataracts?
I wonder what the likelihood is that the Sebring/Nassau will end up being another Taurus/Five Hundred/Taurus? In that case, Ford's Mulhaley made the correct call by successfully bringing back the recognizable Taurus nameplate after they'd managed to foul it up with years of neglecting the car. Likewise, 'Sebring' is a good nameplate affixed to what was once an okay car (well, okay for Chrysler, anyway). I don't see renaming another feeble attempt 'Nassau' as doing much of anything to increase sales.