Chrysler 200C EV Concept
Chrysler has been hit pretty hard by the economic meltdown, and the 2009 Detroit Auto Show gave the company a forum to show that it will be viable for 2009 and beyond. The company focused mostly on electric models during the show, including the fetching Dodge Circuit EV.
Chrysler Vice President and Chairman Jim Press spoke about the bridge loan that the company received from the federal government, and he also talked about the steps the company has taken to restructure. But most observers were interested in the product. Besides the Circuit, Chrysler trotted out an attractive concept and electric versions of three current vehicles.
Dodge Circuit EV Concept
Dodge showed off this handsome sports car at Detroit. The Circuit looks like a standard sports car, but there is one major difference--it’s powered by an electric motor. The motor makes 268 horsepower, and Dodge claims a driving range of 150 to 200 miles between charges of the lithium-ion batteries. Dodge claims a 0-60 mph time of less than five seconds and a quarter-mile time of less than 13 seconds to go along with a top speed of 120 miles per hour. Perhaps more significantly, the Circuit consumes no gasoline and Dodge says it produces zero tailpipe emissions. Owners can recharge the batteries by plugging into a 100-volt household outlet, and plugging into a 220-volt outlet cuts the charging time in half.
Chrysler 200C EV Concept
Chrysler’s other big reveal in Detroit was the attractive 200C EV Concept. Like Chevrolet’s Volt, the 200C is an extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV). This means that the 200C is powered by an electric motor, but a small gasoline engine is used as a generator to recharge the batteries. Chrysler says the 200C can run up to 40 miles without using any gasoline, also like the Volt. The 200C EV should have an overall range of 400 miles.
The 200C has a unique interior that does away with switches and buttons, in favor of a touch-screen design. Not only that, but the 200C offers new connectivity features. Among other things, customers can purchase music, set up social networks similar to Facebook or Twitter, surf the Internet, or use the technology as a type of personal digital assistant to keep their own life organized. It’s hard to say if such a futuristic interior would make it into production anytime soon, but some elements may wind up in Chrysler products in the near future as part of the company’s “uconnect” multimedia suite.
Other Vehicles of Note
Chrysler showed off three other vehicles in Detroit. All three were extended-range electric versions of current products: the Chrysler Town & Country minivan, and the Jeep Patriot and Wrangler Unlimited SUVs. All three offer the same 40-mile electric range and 400 mile overall range of the 200C. Otherwise, there are only minor differences between these vehicles and the current versions. The Patriot EV has a different grille, and the Wrangler Unlimited EV is two-wheel drive only, although Chrysler is working on a four-wheel drive version with in-wheel electric motors located at each wheel.
The Examiner’s Take
Based on the fact that all of its reveals were powered by electric motors, Chrysler showed awareness of the movement to explore alternative “green” powerplants. The Circuit EV is attractive, but it’s hard to see a two-seat roadster being anyone’s daily driver, regardless of engine type. The 200C is striking, and it could be a good answer to Chevy’s Volt. It could also make a wonderful Sebring/Avenger replacement, either with the concept’s extended-range electric powerplant or with a conventional gasoline engine. Still, I would have liked to have seen more products from Chrysler, particularly products we may see soon, like the 2010 Dodge Hornet. Perhaps we’ll see some more at Chicago or New York--auto show season is only halfway through. GM and Ford both used new product to show that they plan on remaining viable, and I wish Chrysler had followed suit.
That doesn’t mean I think Chrysler is dead or dying, and this week’s news of a partnership with Fiat is good news for Chrysler. As noted above, the company may have more surprises in store for an upcoming show. And the 200C EV Concept could be the basis for a new midsize sedan. That said, talk of corporate restructuring won’t get people back in showrooms. Assuming the economy rebounds, consumers are going to want to see product. The Circuit EV and 200C EV concepts are steps in the right direction, but I’m not sure if they are big enough steps.
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