When it comes to implementing high-tech innovations inside the passenger cabin, it's usually names like BMW, Mercedes, and Lexus leading the pack, so we were a little surprised to see Chrysler seemingly beat all those luxury manufacturers to the punch with a hot (and cool) new cupholder for the 2007 Sebring. Not only does this dugout look like it does a great job protecting your beverage from tipping, it's actually got both a heating and cooling mechanism that will keep your coffee at a piping hot 140 degrees Fahrenheit or your soda at a chilly 35 degrees. You'll be able to pick up the new cupholder sometime in Q4 of this year for around $20,000 (note: price includes car).
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Splitime @ Jun 23rd 2006 11:59AM
One big downside... you have to own a Chrysler... ouch.
DJ @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:01PM
Within 24 hours, some nanny ninny, probably from MADD, will condemn this feature for promoting ice cold beer consumption while driving. That will be followed immediatley by some trial lawyer type wanting to sue because someone spilled hot cocoa on her lap that she heated in the cupholder.......
scott @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:02PM
wait... I get a CAR TOO!?!
I wonder if it could be used to power a small steam engine, I want to be able to run my tin lizzy from the Crysler's cupholder...
Jonathan Bruck @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:05PM
Downside: If you put an insulated cup in there like the picture, aren't you only heating the outside?
njbrideau @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:08PM
don't forget that Chrysler is actually of Daimler-Chrysler, which has been slowly implementing the good engineering at Mercedes.
MOBILE HOME BOY @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:19PM
How about a microwave oven? Anyone?
ted carstensen @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:19PM
the first time i ever heard of this feature was actually on the cadillac escalade esv "platinum" edition... and uhhh, i know this cause you know... i have a couple of them... still, next our nissans will have 10" screens and 7.1 dolby sound standard.
Christopher O'Donovan @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:20PM
Available now on some Nissan models:
http://nissan.ca/en/vehicles/xtrail/interior.html#CoolStorage
mreeve @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:26PM
This would be perfect for those long nights in the back seat of my car... keep my ice longer.
Nic @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:26PM
Actually I believe that this was already done in the Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum Edition.
jim @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:28PM
I think this is a fantastic idea! I've been wishing someone would put something like this in cars for ages! I drive to Vegas on a regular basis and that is a 4-5 hour drive. Would love this!
I'm hoping Acura and Lexus start putting this in their next models! Not a fan of the Crysler - I'm stuck with those, Ford, GM etc. enough when I rent cars on business.
djsyndrome @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:39PM
"Available now on some Nissan models:
http://nissan.ca/en/vehicles/xtrail/interior.html#CoolStorage"
This is different from the X-Trail unit (and others of it's ilk, such as Saab's refrigerated glovebox) - the cup holders work independently of the climate control system.
Dr Buzzo @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:41PM
Those who talk smack about the Sebring have obviously never owned one. I have a 1997 ragtop. It's the second sebring I owned. (first was totaled in an accident that wasn't my fault). As soon as I got the insurance money, I bought a second Sebring. I didn't really look much at other cars. God it's such an awesome car.
It's basically the only convertible (of reasonable price) which you can use as your only car, especially if you live in the northeast. It has the backseat, steering, miliage necessary to be your ownly car. And the top down makes driving a great experience.
God...I love that car. Maybe I should get a new one ;-)
brian @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:42PM
The Mercedes-Sebring. Who would have thought? Next thing there's going to be automatic sunshade deployment, automatic cruise control, and real wood panels.
Bleh!
Craig @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:57PM
This would be really useful when it gets hot. But wouldn't it be difficult to 'use' while driving, imagine having to brake hard and covering yourself in coffee?
Nick @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:08PM
Actually, Mercedes has had a pretty bad ten years when it comes to engineering and reliability. Oddly, Chrysler's ratings have skyrocketed, and the only Mercedes tech is the Crossfire, which tanked, and the suspension and transmission of the 300/Magnum/Charger.
Victor Sherwood @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:23PM
I like the fact that it works independent of the AC system in the vehicle unlike the other attempts at it. I'd like to say its a great idea that actually uses coils to cool rather than cold or hot air. I own a VW, and I love its frig in the dash, but I only wish it were more effective, and didnt require the engine on to run it, therefore only serving a purpose while driving.
Nick @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:35PM
I wonder if can tell the dif between your stainless steel coffee cup and a plastic bottle of water or can coke.
jim @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:46PM
"This would be really useful when it gets hot. But wouldn't it be difficult to 'use' while driving, imagine having to brake hard and covering yourself in coffee?"
Do you have a problem with the current cupholders in your car? I've never spilled anything that I put in my current cupholders. Are you people that are worried about spilling beverages driving SUVs that roll over a lot? If so, I think you have bigger worries than spilling your beverage.
Synergy @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:09PM
Njbrideau,
Mercedes and quality? Haha. Considering Porsche, Toyota and Hyundai took top three you must have a weird definition of quality.
http://www.thecarconnection.com/Auto_News/Auto_News/Porsche_Toyota_Top_Power_Quality.S175.A10503.html
tiuk @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:19PM
2k1 Sebring here, and it also has the dugout "well" for a cupholder, very handy. It's actually more of a teardrop shape than a circle though, which allows for cups that have handles to sink in. Heating/cooling seems like a logical step, funny nobody thought of it til now.
Buhyina @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:43PM
Those who talk smack about the Sebring have obviously never owned one.
Anyone who thinks a Sebring is that awesome has obviously not driven enough cars.
Because it's a Chrysler, I predict problems and recalls and even fires with this feature.
Menhir @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:50PM
@DJ - well said. There's bound to be some idiot who tries to make money out of a frivolous lawsuit.
So, in light of making this as idiot-proof as possible, does it have like a "smart" mechanism like a cigarette lighter where it would heat up only when something's in the cupholder? If not, it's possible that one would forget to turn off the heating system and touch the cupholder, freak out, and lose control of the car! Exaggeration, yes but hey, people do anything to win a few bucks in a lawsuit
JT @ Jun 23rd 2006 3:02PM
As a former Sebring owner I can say that Chrysler does have a history of throwing in some nice standard features.
Unfortunately this new Sebring looks like ass :(
http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/news/yes-its-the-2007-chrysler-sebring-182565.php
dustin @ Jun 23rd 2006 3:44PM
this story isn't really news at all. everyone knows that chrysler/mercedes/jeep/dodge, etc, are now just one big company: Diamler-Chrysler. chrysler is now trying its hardest to move upscale- into the mercedes department, [because so many people still believe in buying only us-made cars... which is stupid, yes].
CaptCaveman @ Jun 23rd 2006 4:51PM
I'm on my second Sebring convertible also. The first one (1998) seemed nice but had a few annoying problems. It was still pretty fun to drive. It was totaled last year when a Roadmaster t-boned me.
I bought a 2005 Sebring convertible. Almost an exact duplicate of my original but with leather seats. And funny enough, the same problems that the 1998 model had. I'm thinking that I may not keep this car past this summer before moving on to atleast a Solara. But this is the last Chrysler I ever buy. I don't care if they put an entire kitchen in the trunk.
Russ @ Jun 23rd 2006 5:59PM
Oh, this is good...another proprietary electrical complication that will cost $500 to fix in 5 years...
Still, it would be great if these became an option on many cars.
alex @ Jun 23rd 2006 7:19PM
yo, what's the big thing on the cupholder, engadget? how come you never mentioned the available 20 gig touch screen nav system? especially considering you guys have an entry for every new pmp that comes out in korea japan, wherever.
Owen @ Jun 24th 2006 5:03AM
Actually, BMW have a chilled cupholder in the 3 series for the last year, the aircon routes through the cupholder vents.
dan @ Jun 24th 2006 2:48PM
Buy one of these, put it on the front or back car floor.
This not new. Been around for years.
http://www.cooler-store.com/thermoelectric_coolers_2_ctg.htm?gclid=CKX0gZDM34UCFQwNSQodRS8aPA
Dan
George McLachlan @ Jun 24th 2006 7:50PM
Canadian Tire has a hot/cold mug holder that runs on 12 or 120 v and costs all or C$35.
See www.canadiantire.ca and search for item 37-9401-6. It even includes a stainless mug....
John Carter @ Jun 28th 2006 11:50AM
It would be so simple to just mold a small (big enough for six 1/2 liter bottles of water) storage area in the center of the front, in front of the shift lever, that was cooled by the car's regular air conditioning--but it probably would only cost and additional $5.00 or so and the company would feel guilty at charging $100 more for this feature. John C.
rob c @ Jul 20th 2006 10:42AM
Im looking for a garbage disposal in my car. Just drop your trash in and it just burns up and the ashes fall out the bottom. When this comes out remember I thought of it first.
Barry @ Aug 28th 2006 3:30PM
regarding Dan's comment about these things being around before: http://www.cooler-store.com/thermoelectric_coolers_2_ctg.htm?gclid=CKX0gZDM34UCFQwNSQodRS8aPA
I have tried one of the "car refrigerators" shown at that website. They take forever to cool, and that's all they do... just get "cool". Nothing ever gets really cold like it does in your home refrigerator, and it uses LOTS of electrical current. You dare not leave it plugged into your cigarette lighter while you stop for gas. It will drain your battery in that amount of time and then your car won't start.
Los Angeles Orange County Mercedes Benz Lexus Acura San Diego @ Aug 30th 2006 8:29PM
It's nice to see the US coming out with something inovative. True you do ususally see these types of amenities on luxury cars like Mercedes Benz, Lexus or BMW. Now if we can only work on an american hybrid or hydrogen full celled vehicle to try and compete with the Japanese. Perhaps Mercedes Benz or Acura or Lexus or whoever might beat us there.