Vellum Venom Vignette: Redesigned Chrysler 200?

Sajeev Mehta
by Sajeev Mehta

TTAC commentator halftruth writes/draws:

I got taking a look at the Chrysler 200 recently and while I want to like it, I cant get past the little droop on the bottom of the tail lights. I took a couple of stabs to see what they would look like flat and perhaps they are too VW-ish, but I like them better this way..

What do you think? I did them quickly in paint but I think you get the point…thanks!

After:

After:

Sajeev answers:

Normally I prefer less fussy tail light designs, but not when it comes to very tall and clumsy proportioned sedans. And when you think tall and clumsy sedans, the Chrysler Sebring-200 is one of the worst offenders on the planet. And not in that ironic hipster way like a Scion xD or xB or whatever…nor in that cheap and cheerful way like a penalty box Chevy Aveo or Nissan Versa. The Chrysler 200 is simply a poorly proportioned vehicle. And it needs all the help it can get.

My point is witnessed above, in the abomination that was the Chrysler Sebring. The Chrysler 200 needs those tail light flairs of modest style, it visually thins a plump sedan.

So I will disagree with you, even though I’m kicking myself for doing it! What say you, Best and Brightest???

Sajeev Mehta
Sajeev Mehta

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  • DweezilSFV DweezilSFV on Dec 30, 2012

    Late to the game, but..... The little squib of taillight in the trunk lid is the detail that bugs me.And so many cars are using this styling cliche, especially since Infiniti's M or G or whatever adopted it early last decade. It may have been a rip from Bangle BMWs. It makes no sense, follows no logical line, completes no cohesive design element. The new Camrys are the best examples of this and the worst offenders yet. Thankfully on the 200 there isn't that large an offense. The Sebring had,[in spite of the back up/turn signal busy-ness] at least a coherent tail light shape. They helped balance that big rear end as well. The 200 is a sideways "improvement".

  • Jayzwhiterabbit Jayzwhiterabbit on Jan 20, 2013

    This car and it's Dodge twin, the Avenger, are so oddly-styled that it really had me questioning if Chrysler designers were taking mescaline or something when they came up with them. I mean, really! The shapes of the Sebring/200 and Avenger are just bizarre, and do not translate well to the small size of the cars. Both are just ridiculously over-styled. I can certainly see why Chrysler needed the federal bailout. I cannot imagine anyone viewing these cars as being competitive in any way. I actually have a level of contempt for anyone that has bought the Sebring/200 or Avenger - how could anyone actually pay any hard-earned money on these embarrassments? Bizarre.

  • Golden2husky The biggest hurdle for us would be the lack of a good charging network for road tripping as we are at the point in our lives that we will be traveling quite a bit. I'd rather pay more for longer range so the cheaper models would probably not make the cut. Improve the charging infrastructure and I'm certainly going to give one a try. This is more important that a lowish entry price IMHO.
  • Add Lightness I have nothing against paying more to get quality (think Toyota vs Chryco) but hate all the silly, non-mandated 'stuff' that automakers load onto cars based on what non-gearhead focus groups tell them they need to have in a car. I blame focus groups for automatic everything and double drivetrains (AWD) that really never gets used 98% of the time. The other 2% of the time, one goes looking for a place to need it to rationanalize the purchase.
  • Ger65691276 I would never buy an electric car never in my lifetime I will gas is my way of going electric is not green email
  • GregLocock Not as my primary vehicle no, although like all the rich people who are currently subsidised by poor people, I'd buy one as a runabout for town.
  • Jalop1991 is this anything like a cheap high end German car?
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