Unfulfilled Promise: Chrysler’s 2009 200C EV Concept

The range extended power train was developed by a vendor. The people running the show in Auburn Hills at the time were mainly trying to strip and flip the company. The 200 Concept toured the auto show circuit in 2009 along with other ENVI concepts. The following year the Chevrolet Volt would enter product and be on sale that December as a 2011 model. GM's Voltec power train technology was better than what the ENVI vehicles had, in my opinion. This made the ENVI range extending system obsolete and the dismal performance of the BMW i3 range extender confirms this.

Also, in my opinion, the Chrysler 200 we finally received was trying to be a four door pony car and not a proper sedan. There was no room for batteries and the only hybrid that did show up for the Chrysler brand under the FCA tenure is the Pacifica minivan. (The Aspen hybrid was built under a different management regime.) Before we criticize FCA leadership too harshly for the Chrysler 200 design which did eventually go into production, remember that the previous management from that leveraged buyout firm were planning a rebadged Nissan Altima, CVT and all.

About the other ENVI concepts, we haven't received a Wrangler EV yet, but we do have Jeep Wranglers and Grand Cherokees with the 4Xe plugin hybrid system. We did receive a plugin hybrid minivan. The Lotus based Dodge Circuit EV sports car toured with the Chrysler 200 concept at that time. The previous year there was a Dodge ZEO concept on tour. If one squints their eyes hard enough, then the Dodge Hornet PHEV is what the ZEO concept eventually became. Allegedly the Circuit project was well under way until Sergio and Co killed it. It's not like the Italians lack for coach builders and needed to rely on Lotus. In another thread the Lancia Ypsilon is being savaged, and is basically being a better Dodge Circuit. Since the Lancia is based on a Chinese Made Platform, we won't see a badge engineered Dodge version available stateside.

Speaking of other threads, I wrote previously in a different thread how disappointed I was that there never was a follow up to the Jeep Patriot Re-EV concept. The particular concept has the size and proportions which many potential customers want. The Patriot concept is basic, straight forward, and wasn't trying to be science fiction. So many of today's EV interiors with these door to door laminate touchscreens have no buttons, but do use plenty of hierarchal menus for spending hours just trying to turn off the radio. I have deal with this stuff on a daily basis and hate it.

Could there be smaller range extender in addition to that the massive Pentastar V6 setup in the Ramcharger? Well in another thread there is coverage of the 1.0 liter Turbo Flex three cylinder going into the Ram 700 for Lain America. A naturally aspirated vision of the same motor is also used in other Stellantis vehicles. There are also other 3 cylinder engine designs in the Stellantis universe. The upcoming Wagoneer EV with range extender will be mammoth and anything but entry level. Jeep can't afford to abandon the middle class buyers.

Getting back to the Chrysler 200C EV concept, it remains a path not taken. The Toyota and Lexus brands are going hog wild with hybrids and plugin hybrids, across a wide range of market slots and price ranges. Would a largish electrified sedan be successful in today's SUV obsessed market? We can examine Toyota Crown sales and find out.

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