Chrysler 200 wagon rendered... should it be built?

Chrysler has no plans (at least, none that we're aware of) that involve bringing a 200 wagon to market. If those plans change, we think the automaker should look towards Theophilus Chin for inspiration. We've seen Chin's renderings before, and his take on the 200 wagon suggests that the family hauler would also be a pretty decent looker, particularly as it forgoes the sedan's awkward greenhouse in favor of a more traditional form.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/03/c...-built-w-poll/

 

Sure. Make a craptastic wagon to compliment the craptastic sedan for the world's most craptastic automaker.

 

For Chrysler, no.

They need to establish mainstream cars. The 300 is a good/great large sedan. The 200 is a lackluster midsize overshadowed by almost all other brands. The Town and Country is underwhelming.

They need a basic but desirable crossover, compact, and coupe. What we got is the Fiat 500.

Wagons, convertibles, and large SUVs are not profitable. This should be the last thing on Chrysler's To-Do list...

 

wow, I didnt even know there was a 200

 

It replaces the old Chrysler Cirrus, which was built for years.

I think the main reason why Dodge and Chrysler have been hesitant to do wagon versions of their sedans is the huge success of the Dodge/Chrysler minivans. In sales, these minivans have not only dominated but defined the segment since Day One, back in the fall of 1983. The Sienna and Odyssey, of course, have been more reliable and better-built, but neither of those two would even exist if it hadn't been for the original Chrysler minivans.

 

Chrysler needs to take a look back at its own history. Sure, the Omni/Horizon was a pretty miserable car from the perspective of years, but in its day it was a pretty good product - a 1.33:1 upscale from the VW Rabbit on which it was clearly based. It was really the first US compact (with the possible exception of the Corvair) that was designed from the ground up to be a small car. Prior to its introduction in 1978, American compacts were scaled-down full and mid-sized cars. Without computer modeling no one understood how to shed weight from the design without compromising safety and durability.

By scaling up a German platform (and sharing some engine parts) Chrysler learned to build smaller cars that could be built and sold in quantity at a profit. Hopefully, they can adopt some of Fiat's design experience to a new generation of economical, family vehicles. If they could produce a good quality mid-size car that produces good mileage, offers safety and reliability, they could return to profitability - if they could make it look good, they could have a world-beater.

 

^^
... so a 1.5:1 or maybe 1.75:1 Fiat 500? What's Italian for 875?

 

While somewhat of an advancement for the time by offering good space-efficiency and FWD winter traction (which were lacking in many sub-compacts), mechanically it was a true POS......I owned one myself, and so did my late mother. Even the UAW, whose own workers built the car, admitted in public that it was an embarassment.....as did some of the corporate people who designed it.

 

Needs RWD. Think CTS and CTS-V. Also a AWD option would be a good idea too.

 

I really like the looks of a well done wagon, but like most of the U.S, car buying public wouldn't buy one for a variety of reasons. Big difference between liking and buying.

 

Kill.

With.

Fire.

 

Looks like a Saturn!!!!!

 

You mean Sebring. Cirrus died in 2000.

 

HAHAHAHAHA. Ummmm, well said.

 

Why should this car be RWD?

Enthusiasts need to stop thinking the car world revolves around them. There are cars for enthusiasts and there are cars that aren't. This car is one of the latter.

The Chrysler 200 has no performance aspirations whatsoever. It's a bland mainstream family car whose focus should be on payload capacity, economy (low costs) and interior space (and a FWD setup will aid it in that regard - increasing rear legroom). FWD also keeps the price down. Someone looking at a Chrysler 200 cares about value and a car that gets them from A to B. They don't care about the steering or engine response or what the 0-60 and 1/4 mile times are or if they'll get beaten at the light by a Honda Civic DX - it's irrelevant to them. Enthusiasts, at least the kind we know, don't buy these cars.

Even if the 200 were produced as a RWD car, that wouldn't be enough to appeal to enthusiasts who'd probably demand more powerful engine options and different transmission varieties etc.

Let Chrysler produce this car for its intended target market.



I think this car should be produced. More variety and options for the customers are never a bad thing.