1997 Chrysler Sebring Jxi A homegrown ragtop with Euro-svelte appeal. By Kevin Ransom, New Car Test Drive .com

It's like this: the Chrysler Sebring JX

convertible is not a Sebring LX coupe with its top lopped off. In fact,

the Sebring JX convertible and the Sebring coupe aren't even the same car.

The two share only a nameplate and powertrains.

Some background: The Sebring coupe and Dodge Avenger are derived from

the Mitsubishi Galant sedan platform, while the Sebring JX convertible

is derived from Chrysler's Cirrus/Stratus platform. Indeed, the Sebring

JX convertible shares its front structural components and instrument panel

with the Chrysler Cirrus and Dodge Stratus sedans.

Confused? That's okay. All you need to know is that the Sebring JX ragtop

is the successor to--and a big improvement over--the stalwart LeBaron convertible

that Chrysler retired in 1996.

Despite their unremarkable styling and sleepy road manners, LeBaron

convertibles flew out of Chrysler's showrooms faster than you could say

"bailout"--a testimonial to the resurging popularity of convertibles.

It also didn't hurt that the LeBaron was designed as a convertible--unlike

some of its ragtop competitors, which were essentially guillotined coupes.

Chrysler product planners deduced that if a sluggish puppy like the

LeBaron could incite such enthusiasm, the company could really cash in

with a sleeker, more muscular topless model.

They were right. Like the LeBaron, the '96 Sebring was a true, by-design

ragtop, not a modified coupe--and buyers responded effusively to its elegantly

handsome lines, its one-touch, power-operated top and its competent road

manners.

Wisely, Chrysler didn't feel the need to gild the lily: Other than a

few refinements and new equipment options, the '97 Sebring JX convertible

is largely unchanged from the '96 model. The same is true of its two-door

cousins, the Sebring and Avenger.