Chrysler 200 revealed before Detroit auto show debut

A few days before its reveal at the Detroit auto show, photos of the upcoming 2015 Chrysler 200 have appeared online. This is the midsize sedan's first major restyling since its debut in 2010, and its exterior styling has been toned down somewhat from the first-generation version of the 200, made famous for its 2011 appearance in Chrysler's "Imported from Detroit" Super Bowl spot. That's right, that was the 200 in that ad, not the larger Chrysler 300. So what can you expect to see in the 2015 Chrysler 200 once it arrives in dealerships later this year?

Details are a bit scarce at this point in time, but one major change this car will feature is the availability of a new nine-speed automatic transmission which will be controlled via a rotary knob on the console. The control knob is a bit of an ergonomic departure, but the new trasmission is said to improve highway fuel economy enough for the sedan to achieve 35 mpg. The 200 will also be available with a new all-wheel drive system with an automatic disconnecting rear-axle designed to improve fuel economy when all-wheel drive is not needed, similar to the system used in the 2014 Jeep Cherokee.

Chrysler
A new control knob on the console will control the nine-speed transmission.

Engines on offer will include a 2.4-liter Multiair 2 Tiger Shark inline-four powerplant producing 184-hp and 173 lb-ft of torque, as well as a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 good for 295-hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. Pricing is expected to start at $22,695 for the four-cylinder version of the 200.

The full details of Chrysler's redesigned 200 will be available when the sedan is officially revealed next week at the Detroit auto show.

About Detroit Auto Show

The North American International Auto Show, known to most as the Detroit auto show, continues to serve as a barometer for the entire industry. This year, we'll expect to see the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06, the 2015 Ford Mustang and the BMW M3 and M4. The 2014 Detroit auto show is held at Cobo Hall in Detroit, MI and is open to the public from January 18-26.

By Jay Ramey