The 2011 2011 Chrysler 200 replaces the unloved Sebring and succeeds where it failed by looking like a modern, possibly desirable vehicle. Of course, it's still a Sebring.


Chrysler smartly jettisoned both the name and appearance of the Sebring for this latest generation. The front treatment screams Chrylser 300, while the rear stands on its own. There's a very sexy lip atop the tail, and mixed with the LED taillights, it's a pleasing look in press photos. Below that, however, is where things start to get kinda messy.


The ass end's too high. There's a chrome bar running across the trunk lip that screams "late model Chevy Malibu." Still, overall, it's an improvement in looks.

Functional details are limited to pointing out there's a "new powertrain" lineup consisting of the old 2.4-liter four-banger world engine still available with a miserable four-speed or slightly better six-speed transmission and the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 mated to a six-speed.

It's likely still lipstick on a pig — especially with the old 2.4-liter — but at the very least it's a lot of lipstick applied with a modicum of taste sorely missing in Chrysler's mid-size lineup. [NetCarShow via Chrysler]