Autoblog West Coast Editor Michael Harley discusses the 2015 Chrysler 200 with Chrysler 200 Product Chief Andy Love at the 2014 NAIAS in Detroit, Mich.
Transcript[ENGINE ROARING, TIRES SCREECHING]
- Hi, I'm Mike Harley, West Coast editor for Autoblog. I'm here at the 2014 North American International Auto Show with the all-new 2015 Chrysler 200. Now, whoa, you say. Don't let that 200 nomenclature throw you off because the automaker's completely redesigned the sedan for the 2015 model year. In fact, it's safe to say it's nothing like its predecessor.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
- And this car does share the name of the 200 that it replaces, but it is completely new from the ground up. It's an all-new exterior. We started, you know-- from a platform standpoint, it's based on the Alpha Romeo Julieta. The front end's got a new design. We have some optional lighting features. We have an optional LED DRL, HID headlights, and, also new, we have LED fog lights. We've done little things too. We've moved some of the turn signal indicators out of the headlights into the wheel wells so you don't have that orange and yellow look in the headlights, so it's a very monochromatic look. Moving to the side of the car, we have these optional 19-inch wheels here. You can get them either in the polished form here or in the hyper black on the S model. And on the back of the car, we also have standard our smooth LED tail lights. And then if you opt up to the V6, you get standard dual integrated exhaust.
We have a standard 9-speed transmission on every vehicle. It's our only transmission on the car. From an engine standpoint, we have our 2.4 MultiAir two engine that puts out 184 horse, up to 35 miles per gallon. That's standard on every trim. And then we have the optional [INAUDIBLE] V6, puts out best in class 295 horsepower, and you can [INAUDIBLE] that to our new all-wheel drive system, both on the C and the S models for a great combination of 295 horse and an all-wheel drive system.
Our interior really all starts with our 9-speed and the e-shift. We have a full e-shift which completely opens up the center console, giving us the most storage available in the class and allows us to really wrap around the driver. Everything is at your fingertips. We have the best in class 8.4-inch touch screen and everything has redundant controls. You can control it through the touch screen or through all the redundant controls just below it.
Our [? 200S ?] model is the sporty model and it does come with such things like sports suspension, sports seats, paddle shifters, dual exhaust standard. And then our [? 200C ?] is the luxury, the premium vehicle. It has all the creature comforts, the ventilated heated/cooled seats, the real wood interior to appeal to a different demographic.
- I'll be the first to admit that the previous generation 200 wasn't exactly the pick of the litter and that's probably being a little generous. But now the 2015 model has been completely redesigned and we've had a chance to crawl around on the showroom floor, it's left us impressed. And we're going to hold off final judgment until after we have a chance to get behind the wheel. I'm Mike Harley for Autoblog.
[MUSIC PLAYING, ENGINE ROARING, TIRES SCREECHING]
The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander adds another three-row SUV to its line-up that fits between the smaller Highlander and the larger truck-based Sequoia. It features styling closely related to the RAV4, with a wide stance and crisp lines. Three powertrains are available including a non-hybrid turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder, a hybrid …
The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 is a big, lovable luxury beast. Under the hood, it’s packing a biturbocharged 4.0-liter V8 making 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, propelling this three-row SUV from 0-60 miles per hour in a swift 4.1 seconds. But it’s not all about speed. With an …
The winner of Autoblog’s 2023 Technology of the Year competition is Mercedes-Benz’s Dolby Atmos audio system. It defeated a number of impressive other new technologies like BMW’s Theater Screen, Ford’s Remote Rev and more. Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio has been present in theaters and home theater setups for quite some …
The 2023 Lotus Emira is finally here! Arriving now in limited quantities after multiple supply-chain delays, this V6-powered First Edition gets 400 horsepower out of its supercharged Toyota engine, which is mated to an old-fashioned, six-speed manual transmission. The engine's mounted in the middle -- right where you want it …
The 2024 Honda Ridgeline is getting the TrailSport treatment along with a number of key interior updates for the entire lineup. The big news is obviously the new Ridgeline Trailsport, which adapts many of the same elements of the all-new Pilot TrailSport and the recently revealed updated Passport TrailSport. That …
The Maserati MC20 represents a rebirth of the Maserati brand. It’s the Italian marque’s supercar and represents a true flagship product that will get folks excited about every other new Maserati on its way. Everything about the two-door coupe, from how it looks, to how it drives, passes the supercar …
For 2024, the Honda Passport picks up some improvements for the off-road focused TrailSport trim, as well as a style-focused Black Edition. The TrailSport's upgrades include all-terrain tires on 18-inch wheels as well as retuned shocks, springs and anti-roll bars for better off-pavement performance. The Black Edition is the new …
The 2024 Honda Prologue will be Honda's first widely-available electric car available in the U.S. While it is based on the Chevy Blazer EV, it has a number of unique qualities, starting with its unique exterior and interior styling that are much cleaner and more reserved than the Chevy. Honda …
The 2024 Acura Integra Type S is the Acura branded variant of the Honda Civic Type R. It gets the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and six-speed manual transmission with 320 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. It does have a number of differences, though. The design is different with a …
The F150 is a significant refresh for 2024 and features a new tailgate, bed dividers and an updated design. The tailgate can now swing out -- Ford joins the tailgate wars with Ram and GM -- and the headlights give the F150 a fresh look. The Tremor and Raptor are …
Ford brought three trims of its refreshed 2024 F-150 to the Detroit Auto Show, including the Tremor, Raptor R and Platinum. The Tremor shows off Ford’s fancy, new Pro Access Tailgate and a new modular bumper with a Ford Performance winch kit on it. Meanwhile, the Raptor R showcases Ford’s …
The 2025 Ford Mustang GTD is the most extreme Mustang and also one of the most extreme road cars ever made. Its body is largely made out of carbon fiber, and it's rocking a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 under its hood that is promised to make over 800 horsepower. Ford created …
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 4Matic SUV is a very pleasant luxury EV to pop around in, and while it isn’t particularly sporty to drive, it sure is a relaxing space to spend time in. The EQE SUV is a similar size and class as the gas-powered GLE, though its …
