2015 Chrysler 200 Preview

2015 Chrysler 200 Preview
![Chrysler has Built Our Car](http://buyersguide.carsoup.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/14-Chrysler-200-Front.jpg)Deafeningly Good Looks and Smart too!
When this beauty debuted at the January 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the noise was practically deafening. Noise from the roaring crowd that is, before they had even heard the engine. As the new 2015 [Chrysler 200](http://www.carsoup.com/research-vehicles/Chrysler/200) was unveiled its design was considered amongst the best the combined Fiat and Chrysler entity had ever presented. Praise continues to pour in focusing on the advanced technology available on the new mid-sized sedan. The biggest praise came in for the interior design. According to J. T. Delcamp, product specialist for the Chrysler 200, he said that “the interior is basically where it’s at. And, I think you will find in this car that everything is at arm’s length reach. Very easy to use; very intuitive.”

The decibel was raised even higher when it was also announced that the powerful Pentastar V6 engine and all-wheel drive would become a standard part of the package. So far, the cheering hasn’t stopped from the media and enthusiasts alike.

As a result of the positive press, an extraordinary 10,000 units were booked by dealers across the country in one day. In comparison, a typical mid-sized sedan would sell three times that amount in a single month. The mood at Chrysler is ambitious. Therefore, the team at CarSoup.com was curious as to what makes the new Chrysler 200 buzzworthy?

To find out, we went to an event hosted by the Midwest Automotive Media Association held at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin to drive the 2015 Chrysler 200. What our team can tell you is the new 200 is a very distinctive product with fine driving dynamics and performance. It certainly has the goods to match up against its competitors – namely the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Ford Fusion and Mazda6.

14-Chrysler-200-Interior

In discovering the 200, our team found that it is the little things that matters in this car. For example, the 200’s automatic transmission uses a rotary dial E-Shift for the gear selector instead of a shifter. For businesspeople and busy parents, a shifter becomes an inconvenience, since they often have something they need to get to – such as water bottles, smart phones, and purses. The new shifter knob makes sense, since it frees up space on the console for storage for all those essential things you need to get to. How did Chrysler do it? Delcamp explains that normally, “the mechanical linkage below the shifter is about a shoebox size of stuff. [The rotary E-Shifter mechanism] is basically about a fist size.” The compact mechanism allows for more storage to open up underneath the console.

How is the Chrysler 200 to drive? So far, our team really loves it! It simply drives superbly! The Pentastar V6 is all business with a roar to match it. The handling is near-flat, the ride smooth, the steering action and brakes are on point. It is roomy up front, with comfortable seats, great ergonomics and technology inside. This could possibly be the best sedan Chrysler – and Fiat – has produced so far.

Pricing starts at $22,695 for the base LX, ranging up to an all-wheel drive V6-powered 200C for $36,365. Initial deliveries are happening right now, starting with the C and the S models, followed by the projected popular model– the four-cylinder powered Limited sedan.

**CarSoup.com will be doing a full review of the 2015 Chrysler 200 later this summer. In the meantime, if you are interested in owning one, check out CarSoup.com for what is available in your area. **

Photos © Chrysler Group LLC


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