Chrysler 200C EV Concept

Witness Chrysler's four-door competitor to the Chevy Volt: The 200C EV Concept can run 40 miles on electric-only power and 400 miles using a small engine-generator. It's built on a shortened version of Chrysler's rear-wheel-drive LX platform — think 300C, Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger — but looks like no other Chrysler on the market. The front end looks a bit like the Hyundai Genesis, while the rear recalls a BMW 6 Series. All are good signs for a company better known for designing cars of a more pedestrian, er, caliber.Inside, the 200C is still very much in concept-car territory. A panoramic screen spans much of the dash, purportedly offering the sort of roaming touch-screen interface we saw in the latest Bond movie. A recharging port for mobile devices, media libraries and internet browsing are all part of the setup, and the four-seat interior has heated and cooled chairs with pearl leather upholstery. As in several BMW and Mercedes models, the 200C has a column-mounted electronic shifter. Chrysler says the floor was inspired by a Zen rock garden, with molded waves and recycled-nylon floormats.The prospect of a production 200C depends on Chrysler's survival, but the drivetrain has promise. It offers very similar capabilities to the Volt, and if it makes it into a production car it will likely go a long way toward lifting Chrysler's downtrodden image.

source : cars