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Jalopnik’s got photos, both interior and exterior, as well as briefing documents on the Chrysler 200. Power comes from the 2.4L 4-cylinder or the 3.6L Pentastar V6. Yes, it has the 9-speed, a rotary shift dial, and a trick all-wheel drive system that can disconnect the rear axle when not in use.
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“a trick all-wheel drive system that can disconnect the rear axle when not in use.”
Chrysler, you have finally really impressed me.
Sounds like it’s just tech developed for the Cherokee applied to the 200. No need for a “locker” in the rear or low range on a 200 though…
Licensed from American Axle. Just like it is on the Cherokee.
I’m still impressed I’m not an AWD fan but it would be nice in POLAR VORTEX conditions. I’m the type of driver who would leave it off most of the year (for fuel savings) and only enable it for winter driving.
My ’12 Lancer SE commuter car has a disconnect: 2WD / 4WD/ Lock.
The Chrysler 300 AWD uses a RWD main, but activates the FWD when it passes 60mph or is in inclement weather. This isn’t surprising.
That said: this is a very sleek looking car. Just might sell like a Hyundai Sonata if the price is right. Too bad the entire segment looks alike and there is no talk of an SRT version.
I’m not crazy about the rotary shift knob. Why not just use the same shifter they have in the 300 with 8-speed???
To your knowledge is that feature user configurable?
It’s an automatic feature, but it can be switched on and off manually.
Hmmmm *strokes an imaginary whispy beard*
Actually the AWD on the 2nd generation (current) has nothing to do with speed. The AWD will only engage under certain conditions.
1) If your wipers are on for an extended period of time, AWD system will engage. It probably assumes you are driving in some sort of wet weather.
2) If outside temperature is lower than 37 degrees F. I’m not 100 % percent on the number but it is somewhere around there.
3) If you loose traction or it detects any slip.
4) If you enter sport mode or autostick mode
It works very well in wet and snowy conditions. Here’s a vid showing how it is
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=niP_xz789kQ&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DniP_xz789kQ
It’s also great for awesome launches! With the V8 and AWD running in cold weather, I see 22-24 highway MPG with NYC style driving.
The Encore has something like this. AWD from every start, then rear wheels disengage as speeds increase.
If the lighter, more aerodynamic, generally 2WD sedan edition justifies the 3.6 motor then why on earth did Chrysler spend the money to de-bore a worse edition to go in the Cherokee?
The problem with the Pentastar in the outgoing 200 is that some buyers (people I know) complained about the torque steer. The engine was wayyyy too powerful for the car. It always needed AWD. My guess is that Chrysler made the engine less powerful to increase boasts about fuel efficiency and make a FWD version that wasn’t too hard on handling.
It’s true, I hadn’t experienced that much torque steer in a car since the manual transmission V6 Tempo.
Try an 09′ Buick Lacrosse. Like wrestling wild bulls.
After being confounded by my 2.4l PT wagon’s tendency to light-off the tires in first gear– for 5 years I tried to feather-foot more and more– I finally found answers in a passage on Allpar about the cloud cars. Those cars were not offered in 2.4l/5MT specification because the engine’s high torque made them near-undriveable.
Mopar = torque. That 3.6 is a monster in the 200– I bet it looks fantastic running away from a plume of tire smoke.
Don’t forget Sergio wants the Cherokee to be a “world” car, and the rest of the world pays through the nose for fuel. Besides, the Pentastar is a modular engine, so smaller displacement options are built in. Don’t be surprised to see an even smaller Pentastar V6 for various applications instead of the 2.4.
There is a 3.0L version of the Pentastar available in export markets where displacement is taxed.
As someone said on Jalopnik, please, Chrysler, don’t call it “200”. Too much baggage with that name.
How about LeBaron, Sebring, or Cirrus? Well let’s just start fresh then.
Volare?
Aries.
The Aries was a common used first car where I grew up. In my mind, I can still see them in maroon, silver, old lady hair blue, and white creeping around the high school parking lot.
I’d be okay with Concorde, but I had one and liked it. I still think the LH cars were cool.
Saratoga.
Ahem – Fury IV
Cordoba!
You don’t want to upset the Plymouth faithful do you?
Sapporo
Don’t forget the problems translating perfectly normal English words into various languages. That may be why the number/letter system predominates.
Chrysler can always combine the 200 with city names in various countries, like the Barcelona-200 in Spain, or the Moose Jaw-200 in Canada.
Polara, ’cause COLD
Duster. Or 200. It’s looks, pentastar x 9, and AWD can fix the associations with the name. The first Barracuda’s were pretty useless, but who among us wouldn’t give a fingertip for a numbers matching HEMI ‘CUDA?
Hopefully the AWD option isn’t limited to just the V6 and/or just the highest trim level. Outside of Subaru, there aren’t many options for AWD cars that are reasonably fuel efficient and affordable.
@PrincipalDan: Make the 200 a Satellite and call the base 300 a Newport.
Saratoga (old base 200), Newport (V6 loaded), New Yorker (base 300), Imperial (Hemi loaded). Keep SRT-8 for the high performance versions.
I like the cut of your jib sir.
Plus Imperial SRT8 just sounds awesome.
You left out the New Yorker Fifth Avenue Custom Brougham.
There’s also the Windsor, if the British Royal Family doesn’t complain.
Funny thing is, the New Yorker Brougham and New Yorker Fifth Avenue didn’t exist at the same time…the NY Brougham disappeared after 1978, while the Fifth Avenue debuted in 1979.
It’s some kind of alternate universe where the R-body was successful and Chrysler jumped on the Brougham train with GM!
This breakthrough new Chrysler is basically the Alfa Romeo Guilia that wasn’t right down to the featuring of all wheel drive. Expect the 200 to be trimmed and optioned very much like the Cherokee in terms of interior quality and technology. Also expect any torque steer issues to be dampened and bet the ranch that the Pentastar AWD version will GLH! How about an optional Varvatos leather package or a Chrysler 200 AWD “Lancia edition” as the top sport sedan version to go after Audi?
One last expectation is that the punditocracy will find false reasons to spin doctor a negative narrative about this car to protect their JapanInc masters. Maybe it’s time to bring Eminem off the bench for another Super Bowl appearance.
+1
I know there aren’t many fans here, but I was one of the first around my neck of the woods to buy the 200 about three years ago. I had no problems with it and enjoyed the ride very much. I love the V6, lots of power. However, this one looks much better and the specs seem far superior. I was thinking to get the Cherokee later this year, but the 200 will certainly get my consideration too. Sure looks like a winner and, I agree, deserves another prime spot with Eminem at the Super Bowl.
ok…i will bite.
um…doesn’t JapanInc bring us us the Mazda6 with almost 40 miles per gallon?
And just wait for the diesel.
they talk about this getting 35…but I will bet, like all Chrysler products, it will be only with the 4 cylinder and piss poor with the V6…not to mention AWD.
Chrysler MPG is years behind everybody else.
Definitely looks like an improvement. But I have my doubts that it will be enough to woo buyers out of their Accords and Camrys, and there is a lot of competition; this could be a tough slog.
Backseat worries?
Last time I had backseat worries I was in an Oldsmobile it was 1997 and I was still in college.
*rimshot*
I hope that you weren’t sitting back there by yourself…
@Pch101, No but that was my first mistake. The second was marrying her.
What were you worried about?
16 years old… a friends dads Olds loaned to me to drive my girl home… A persistant stain on green velour… lots of yelling… and when his dad saw it he thought his son did it and poured him a beer. Backseat worries indead.
It’s hard to tell from the photos whether that’s an issue.
The car is pretty attractive, although I do hope that the photo depicting the rotary shift knob isn’t accurate.
Given its Alfa roots I hope the Auburn Hill folks took into account American tastes vs Europeans not only in rear seat room but also headroom, ease of touching dash controls and where to rest your arms/elbow. I noticed immediately when I first drove my old Volvo the fact I wasn’t able to rest my left elbow on the door vs most of the other cars I have driven recently.
That’s the rub, isn’t it? American tastes run to larger cars than the rest of the world, with larger engines that burn more fuel. Sergio seems to be looking at every new Chrysler model being salable globally, and that could mean building cars a bit too small for American preferences, or at least underpowered. He must think Jeep and Ram will keep the money flowing into Fiat, but Dodge and Chrysler cars are part of the profit equation too.
Not everyone is as closed minded or boring as the TRDyotabot and Hondaborg appliance crowd, it’s a big market. The AWD Pentastar versions might be the most exciting cars in this actually very humdrum class. An Audi Quattro for the masses.
You wouldn’t know openmindedness if it clubbed you in the head.
The fanboy talk makes you sound like a 14 year old kid. It’s cliche and not at all impressive.
Pretty car but underneath probably just another Chrysler POS.
You’re forgetting all the Fiat POS baked in, too.
“The fanboy talk makes you sound like a 14 year old kid. It’s cliche and not at all impressive.”
No kidding. If I were Chrysler I’d consider paying Bill to stay off the comment boards just to protect brand image. He’s doing the company no favors.
“An Audi quattro for the masses.”
Nope, that was the 1990 Eagle Talon TSi AWD. I bought one and thought it much nicer than the ’86 Audi quattro a guy was trying to sell me for $5K more.
What this new Chrysler might be is a better Subaru Legacy – the interior looks far better, and the V6 with ZF 9 speed would make mincemeat of the clattery DI boxer and CVT. If they make it handle decently and ride well, and don’t make design mistakes as well as actually assemble it nicely from decent parts, then it could do well. All the ifs are based on my current perceptions of Chrysler products, and my friendship with the warranty coordinator of the local Chrysler dealership. He drives a new Sonata from the same megadealer group, and that tells me a lot, unfortunately, before he tells me war stories. He did get his daughter a Fiat 500 based on his experience – let that sink in too.
Still, we can but hope.
@wmba it’s funny you say that. I have been looking at one as a backup to the plan to keep what I’m running.
If we start calling out fanboys; we will be very busy.
True, but there are only a handful with Platinum Frequent Hyperbolic Flyer status.
I think we should run with your idea and assign “mileage” to over the top fanboy comments… eg: PFHF earned this comment: 100.
You guys may be onto something. Earn 25,000 points, and get a free one-way ticket into the side of a mountain…
If we’re calling out fanbois, we might as well go ahead and call out long winded pseudo intellectuals, correspondence school constitutional scholars, and bar stool economists that frequent this site.
It’s a comment section. It takes all types. Folks need to get over it.
IIRC, the only midsized sedans currently offering AWD at all are the Fusion and the Legacy. Even on full-sized (non-luxury) cars, AWD is only offered on the 300, Charger, Taurus and LaCrosse. So it would be nice to see Chrysler garner more sales in AWD-loving regions.
For midsize, the Regal is in there, too, offering AWD on both Turbo and GS trims.
Otherwise, there’s entry-level models from Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Volvo, Lexus. And the Impreza/WRX and Lancer/EVO.
I keep thinking Chrysler is going to try to market it as more of entry-level near-luxury car, similar to the Buick Regal, Audi A4, or Volvo S60, rather than as a mid-size in the Camry/Fusion class.
My Acura TL has AWD. It’s the reason I bought it, the only car I could get with AWD and a 6MT, other than Audi A4. Sadly, I don’t think they’re going to offer a manual in the new TLX.
i like it for being blandly attractive rather than blandly ugly (Camry/Malibu). i also really appreciate that the hood actually meets the grill instead of having a hideous gash (see current BMW’s/Malibu etc)
I like it better then the first pics, the AWD makes it even more attractive, but hey, it’s Chrysler, it could be years before we actually see one
I imagine your friendly neighborhood rent-a-car joint could help you out.
Hey! Its the latest face-lift for the new Jetta!
THE ARRIVAL OF THIS NEW 200 ENDS THE ERA OF BAD AMERICAN CARS.
Let the stages of grief begin for those invested in that meme and let the critical onus now shift to the complacency of JapanInc carppliance manufacturers and the Mazda deathwatch.
So the Dart is bad?
PFHF earned this comment: 500
Ha
This looks so vanilla. Replace the Chrysler badge with Subaru one, and no one will notice.
Is there a new Dodge Avenger coming out as a companion to this one?
Bill – Mazda deathwatch? Hopefully not for you since Mazda is engineering Alfa’s new sportscar (alongside with the MX-5).
Bill and others have said the Avenger is going RWD for the next generation. Other sources, like Reuters, has been reporting that Chrysler may just kill off the Avenger. It seems that whatever happens, the Avenger won’t be on this new platform.
The name 200/Sebrig carries a bad rep, too bad they didn’t just call it the new Avenger or something else. Either way it looks very nice from current photos and should be a beast with the Pentastar and AWD combo!
I’m not a fan of rotary dials, call me old school. I see the 14 Durango also uses the rotary now…
Also why a 9 speed, I know the Cherokee uses it as well. 6-8 are usually plenty. They should have used the 8speed ZF found on the current 300/Charger/Durango/GC…
The 8 speed transmission is of a completely different design, meant for longitudinal RWD/AWD setups, where the 200 is transverse FWD/AWD. The 9 speed unit doesn’t share any parts with the 8 speed and was designed to be very compact. As to why they used a 9 speed, well there are performance advantages in acceleration and fuel efficiency, but mostly because 9>6 and more is better. Just ask any car magazine.
I’m confused too… 9 speeds? All its going to do all day is SHIFT. Is this a diesel truck? Why so many gears? Constant up-shifts to save fuel? At some point switching over to a CVT starts making more sense. Have we reached peaked gear?
The head of ZF said 9 speeds is the practical limit. Any more, and the weight penalty comes into play. But that was before this FWD compact 9-speed. The gear wars may not be over yet.
You must not be familiar with how high gear count automatics work. The transmission won’t be hitting every gear sequentially, rather it will choose the correct gear based on driving conditions. The transmission can skip gears and shift to whichever gear it wants to.
It’s more about having a larger ratio spread (fuel economy) without sacrificing acceleration.
Something is wrong with their pricing structure:
Chrysler 200 – destination charge $995 from Sterling Heights, Michigan
Mazda6 – delivered from Japan – $795
I do not mind paying surcharges etc, I reject being treated like an idiot.
Delivery charges don’t really relect the actual shipping costs per se. The other major midsize vehicles have a delivery charge in the $800-$900 range and are assembled in the US as well.
It looks pretty nice to me. I’m doubting the 35 MPG claim but I would hope Chrysler is being honest with that after what’s happened with their competition and inflated fuel economy numbers.
But overall it looks pretty attractive, hopefully it does well and keeps the Michiganders busy building them.
Actually looks pretty good – and I don’t usually think midsizers look good (especially from Domestic makes)