The exterior design of the 2015 200 is certainly more attractive than the rather awkward shell of the current model, which in fairness was based on the dud that was the Sebring. Clean surfaces and some sultry curves give the new car a modern look, which is helped along by LED elements in the lights that almost give it an Audi-like resemblance.
Along with the images, there’s also some leaked information regarding the mechanicals. Two engines are said to be available at launch: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder delivering 184 horsepower and 173 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-liter V-6 delivering 295 horsepower and 262 pound-feet. The transmission will be a nine-speed automatic, with gear changes done via a shifting rotary dial which you can see in our previous spy shots post.
An all-wheel-drive system is mentioned, though it’s not clear if this will be standard or available. According to the leaked information, the 200's all-wheel-drive system will send drive through the front wheels only in normal conditions but can divert some to the rear wheels when necessary. This will help improve fuel economy by reducing parasitic loss when all-wheel drive is not needed. The estimated fuel economy is said to be as high as 35 mpg highway.
The final tidbit is the car’s starting price, which is said to be $21,700, inflating to $22,695 once you add Chrysler's usual $995 destination charge. Sales should commence in late summer or early fall.
We’ll have full details soon, as the covers come off the 2015 Chrysler 200 in Detroit on January 13. To stay up to date on all the show's debuts, check back often at our dedicated hub.
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