We have been getting dribs and drabs on the new 2011 Chrysler 200 for a while, but all of a sudden, the teasing has stopped and some proper images have surfaced to reveal a somewhat handsome four-door saloon. Based on the 200C concept first seen at the 2009 Detroit motor show, the new car promises exceptional craftsmanship, style and a spirited drive although it appears to be a refreshed and rebadged Sebring. Hmm...
Chrysler says everything's been revised to help give it a new identity in the cut-throat saloon segment. However, there is no denying that it still looks a tad like its predecessor.
Anyway, exterior upgrades include new front and rear ends, new fenders, a new-look grille featuring the revamped Chrysler badge, new headlights, fog lights, and taillights with LEDs and a centre high-mounted stop light.
Under the bonnet, Chrysler is offering a 2.4-litre four-cylinder mated with either a four- or six-speed automatic. If that isn't big enough for you (it certainly isn't for us), then don't panic, for you can also have the company's lauded 3.6-litre Pentastar (an aluminium dual overhead cam engine) V6 — the same engine which debuted on the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It's rated at 283bhp and comes with a six-speed automatic.
The ride and handling should be better than ever thanks to the use of stiffer body mounts and a new suspension incorporating a rear sway bar.
And it's not just the outside — the interior has also met with the designer's pen.
It promises to be exceptionally quiet inside the cabin, thanks to acoustic laminated glass for the windshield and front door windows. Changes have also been made to the instrument panel which houses new gauges, while redesigned seats with better padding, should make long journeys a breeze.
The heating and cooling vents also sport a new look while quality leather and soft touch materials find their way all over the interior, including the door panels, armrests and dash.
Hands up all those who'd have this over an Accord.
What's in a name?
The 200 could be sold in mainland Europe as a Lancia and as a Chrysler in the UK and Ireland. The Fiat Group is considering the move not so much for retail sales as to help boost fleet sales in key markets such as Germany and the UK. "We are running numbers to see if it could become a profitable business case," said Olivier Francois, CEO of the Chrysler and Lancia brands. A drawback is that no diesel engine will be available on the new 200.
