2011 Chrysler 200 Sedan

Finally pumping new products into the pipeline after a few years’ hiatus, Chrysler will be rolling out a refreshed mid-size sedan for 2011. While the mention of a new powertrain, revised interior, and other tweaks perked our ears, what really grabbed our attention was the announcement that the company will drop the Sebring nameplate altogether. What Chrysler got was a cheap, hot mess that needed massive discounts to be moved, mainly to rental fleets. Imagine working the counter at Avis and telling people that they’re stuck with a Sebring. Talk about an easy sell to “upgrade” to a full-size Kia Amanti.





The 200 is still based on the Sebring architecture, but Chrysler claims to have made major changes to the steering, suspension, interior and exterior designs. Chrysler even added a new 3.6-liter “Pentastar” V6 that produces a best-in-class 283 horsepower. And while we still see a heavy dose of Sebring in every 200 we encounter, particularly the profile, the new sedan is at least slightly more handsome than its predecessor. The folks at Chrysler’s marketing arm have taken notice as well, as the 200′s Super Bowl commercial, which featured Eminem trolling the streets of Downtown Detroit, was the most talked-about spot that any Detroit automaker has crafted in years.