2011 Chrysler 200 Convertible: First Look
- Competes with: Ford Mustang convertible, Volkswagen Eos
- Looks like: Chrysler did as much as it could with the Sebring
- Drivetrain: 2.4-liter four-cylinder or 3.6-liter V-6, six-speed automatic transmission
- Hits dealerships: Spring 2011
Very recently, Chrysler redesigned the Sebring sedan and renamed it the 200. Now one of the most popular convertibles of the past few decades has received the same name change and redesign.
Of course, the Sebring convertible’s popularity waned significantly with its last redesign. One of the main faults we found with the car was its overall structure. It creaked significantly, a sign of some serious issues with its frame and suspension. That’s why we’re glad to read that Chrysler says it has retuned or redesigned “virtually every part of the suspension” in this new model.
The rest of the changes mirror the sedan’s changes, with a new exterior with sharper headlights and a bolder grille, and a rear treatment that looks even classier on the convertible.
There will still be a choice of retractable hardtop or soft-top, making the Sebring one of the only non-luxury convertibles its size with a retractable hardtop. Whichever top you choose, it can be lowered via the key fob.
Engine choices are the same as in the sedan. The base engine is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder, and the optional V-6 is the new 3.6-liter seeing duty in nearly every other new Chrysler product. Chrysler didn’t announce horsepower figures for the convertible, but it’s safe to guess they’d be identical to the sedan’s at 173 hp and 283 hp, respectively.
The interior gets the same overhaul as the sedan, too, but we weren’t as impressed with that makeover as the one given to the larger Chrysler 300 sedan or the Town & Country minivan.
The 200 convertible will be available in three trims: Touring, Limited and S. Equipment and pricing information for the trims has not yet been released. More photos are below.
