The Chrysler 200 was the company’s mid-size saloon from model years 2011 to 2017, sold across two generations and, in the first, also as a two-door convertible. The name came from the 200C concept of 2009; the first production car was a thoroughly reworked Chrysler Sebring, while the second generation was new from the ground up.
Chrysler 200 at a glance
| Production | model years 2011–2017 |
|---|---|
| Generations | two |
| Body styles | four-door sedan; two-door convertible (first generation) |
| Built at | Sterling Heights Assembly, Michigan |
| First-generation engines | 2.4 L four, 173 hp; 3.6 L Pentastar V6, 283 hp |
| First-generation base | re-engineered third-generation Chrysler Sebring |
| Second-generation platform | CUSW, derived from the Fiat Compact platform |
| Second-generation trims | LX, Limited, S, C |
| European version | Lancia Flavia convertible, 2012–2014 |
| Name origin | Chrysler 200C concept of 2009 |
History of the Chrysler 200
From the 200C concept
The 200 nameplate first appeared on the 200C, a prototype shown at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and based on the Chrysler 300. That concept was engineered to accept petrol, hybrid or fully electric powertrains, and it lent its name to the production saloon that followed.
First generation (2011)
The first production 200 was a restyled, rebadged and re-engineered version of the third-generation Chrysler Sebring. The JS platform of Mitsubishi origin was retained, but the cosmetic and powertrain changes were extensive: the 2.4-litre four-cylinder carried over with four- or six-speed automatic transmissions, and Chrysler’s new 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 arrived with 283 hp and a six-speed automatic, also in flex-fuel form. Body mounts were stiffened, suspension geometry revised for a softer ride, a new rear anti-roll bar fitted and the equipment level raised with LED lighting, thicker seat cushions and measures to cut noise, vibration and harshness. The car was built at Sterling Heights Assembly in Michigan and reached dealers in December 2010; a two-door convertible joined the range in early 2011 with the same engine choices.
Changes and the Lancia Flavia
The 2013 model year brought revised suspension for the convertible, matching the saloon, and the S trim was split into S Interior and S Exterior appearance options, with the 200 S Special Edition built with Carhartt and replaced the following year by the 200 Super S, a two-stage Mopar package that added a chin spoiler, mesh grilles, side sills, a cold-air intake, a cat-back exhaust and coil-over suspension. In Europe between 2012 and 2014 the convertible was rebranded as the Lancia Flavia and sold only in left-hand-drive markets. Production of the first generation ended in 2014.
Second generation (2015)
The second-generation 200 debuted at the 2014 North American International Auto Show and went on sale as an early 2015 model. It used the long-wheelbase CUSW version of the Fiat Compact platform and was offered in LX, Limited, S and C trims, aimed squarely at the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Ford Fusion and their rivals. Production ended in 2017.
Design and features
- Pentastar V6: the 3.6-litre engine gave the first-generation car 283 hp, a large step over the Sebring.
- Convertible body: offered only in the first generation, with a soft top and a retractable hardtop.
- Higher equipment: LED lighting, quieter cabin and better materials than the Sebring it replaced.
- New platform for 2015: the second generation moved to the Fiat-derived CUSW architecture.
- Mopar editions: the 200 S Special Edition and Super S brought suspension and styling upgrades.
Chrysler 200 versions
- 200 LX, Touring and Limited: the volume saloon trims of the first generation.
- 200 Convertible: soft-top and retractable-hardtop versions from 2011.
- 200 S / Super S: sporty appearance and Mopar performance packages from 2013–2014.
- Lancia Flavia: the European-market convertible, 2012–2014.
- Second-generation LX, Limited, S and C: the 2015 range on the new platform.
The 200 replaced the Chrysler Sebring and sat below the rear-wheel-drive Chrysler 300 in the range. The 200C concept that gave the car its name is described on the 200C page, and more cars are in the Chrysler collection.
Video: 2015 Chrysler 200 0-60 mph first drive review
Video by The Fast Lane Car on YouTube.
Sources
- Chrysler 200, English Wikipedia: generations, engines, trims, production
- Chrysler 200, Wikimedia Commons: photographs
