2013 Chrysler 200 Lx on 2040-cars

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Automakers want to stop the EPA's fuel economy rules change, and why that's a shortsighted move

With a Trump Administration looming, the EPA moved quickly after the election to propose finalizing future fuel economy rules last week. The auto industry doesn't like that (surprise), and has started making moves to stop the EPA. Ford CEO Mark Fields said he wanted to lobby Trump to lower the standards, and now the Auto Alliance, a manufacturer group, is saying it will join the fight against cleaner cars. The Alliance represents 12 automakers: BMW, Fiat Chrysler, Ford, GM, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Toyota, VW, and Volvo. Gloria Bergquist, a spokesperson for the Alliance, told Automotive News that the "EPA's sudden and controversial move to propose auto regulations eight months early - even after Congress warned agencies about taking such steps while political appointees were packing their bags - calls out for congressional action to pause this rulemaking until a thoughtful policy review can occur." The EPA was going to consider public comments through April 2017, but then said it would move the deadline to the end of December. That means that it can finalize the rules before President Obama leaves office. The director of public affairs for the Consumer Federation of America, Jack Gillis, said on a conference call with reporters last week when the EPA originally announced its decision that it is unlikely that President Trump will be able to roll back these changes. Gillis also said on the same call that any attempt by the automakers to prevent these changes would be history repeating itself. "These are the same companies that fought airbags, and now promoting the fact that every car has multiple airbags," he said. "These are the same companies that fought the crash-test program, and now are promoting the crash-test ratings published by the government. So, it's clear that they're misperceiving the needs of the American consumer." There are more reasons the Allliance's pushback is flawed. Carol Lee Rawn, the transportation program director for Ceres, said on that call that the automotive industry is a global one, and many automakers are moving to global platforms to help them meet strict fuel economy rules around the world.

2015 Chrysler 200 looks to put Pentastar's cars back on track [w/videos]

It's fair to say that Chrysler Corporation has been on a major perception upswing with its new products, but that rise has largely been centered around its trucks and utility vehicles - the car side has been somewhat left out. The outgoing 200 (previously skinned as the Sebring) never garnered any laurels, the Dart has suffered a rather cool reception both critically and in terms of sales, the second-gen 300 is a nice car yet it hasn't sold as well as its predecessor, and even the mighty SRT Viper has had its V10 bark muted by the less costly and multi-talented Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. Resurgent Chrysler could use a hit car, and the 2015 200 may just be it.
It looks great here under the lights at the Detroit Auto Show.
For one thing, it looks great here under the lights at the Detroit Auto Show. Eschewing today's oversized headlamp and grille trend, the sleek 200 (with a coefficient of drag of just .27) displays a 'four-door coupe' sensibility with a sense of style that the old 200 with its gawky greenhouse and forced details never did. The new 200's exterior may look a bit like a greatest hits compendium of other high-style cars (see also: Audi A7, Tesla Model S, etc.), but it doesn't come off as a pastiche, it's all well-integrated and organic all the same.

2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid starts at $43,090, or just over $35,000 with a tax credit

Chrysler has announced pricing for its 2017 Pacifica Hybrid plug-in minivan, and with the federal tax credit, it's priced similarly to mid-range vans. The Hybrid Premium starts at $43,990, or $35,590 after the credit, and the Hybrid Platinum starts at $46,090, or $38,590 with the credit. In Chrysler's line-up, these are close in cost to the Touring L and Touring L Plus Pacifica models, as well as mid-level trims on competitors' minivans. The big difference being that the Pacifica Hybrid provides up to 30 miles of electric range on a full charge and an 80 MPGe rating in the city. The Pacifica Hybrid is equipped similarly to the mid-range Pacificas. The Premium trim comes standard with leather seats all around, seat heaters for the front, remote start with pre-conditioning, three-zone automatic climate control, active noise cancellation, 7.3 inch color display in the instrument panel, and the SafetyTec package. This package includes features such as rear park assist and blind-spot monitoring. The Platinum trim adds Nappa leather and front ventilated seats, a heated two-tone steering wheel, 13-speaker sound system, Uconnect Theater rear entertainment, and a programmable key for young drivers (or sketchy-looking valets). At a potential price of just over $35,000, the Pacifica Hybrid is an appealing package, since it's a plug-in hybrid with usable range and loads of space. However, this is the case as long as the tax credit holds out. Once the credit is no longer available, the Pacifica Hybrid will top the line for pricing. At that point, its value proposition will have to be weighed more heavily against its green cred and driving dynamics. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.