The redesigned 2015 Chrysler 200. |
I'm not the kind of guy who typically
looks a gift horse in the mouth. So, when Chrysler chose one of my
favorite cities – the place I consider my hometown – for the
media launch of its redesigned 2015 200, and issued an invitation, I
was all over it.
Louisville's 300 Building where I had my first job out of college with GE Credit, and which is now home to the downtown version of the Bluegrass Brewing Company. |
I was 13 when my family moved to
Louisville, Ky. There I matriculated through most of junior high and
all of high school, graduating from Atherton High School. I graduated
college while based there. My first, second and third jobs were
there. I owned my first home in the Derby City. My parents are buried
in its Resthaven Cemetery. I was 28 when my job took me from
Louisville to Knoxville, Tenn. and beyond. But no matter how far away
from Louisville I've drifted over the years, it has never been far
from my heart. If I didn't live in Greenville, SC, I'd probably be
back in Louisville. I visit every chance I get.
I scheduled my flight into Louisville a
few days early to spend the extra time with friends. I covered some
of our antics in my March 9th Clanging Bell post “Getting Our
Bourbon On: Touring Four Roses and Wild Turkey.” As the personal
portion of my visit drew to a close, my friends dropped me off at the
front door of the 21c Hotel in the heart of downtown Louisville,
where Chrysler hosted this event.
While lunching with the communications
manager for the 200, Kathy Graham, in Atlanta last week, she opined
that Louisville was a good fit for the 200 media launch because both
are experiencing a revival of sorts. Indeed they are.
The Garage Bar. The two cars are a moving sculpture that when placed, had the two cars intact and separated. They have been gradually crushing into each other ever since. |
Although the struggle with its downtown
is ongoing, Louisville is rich in eclectic neighborhoods – some
rubbing up against the downtown – populated with trendy bars,
restaurants and boutiques. These are enclaves where the redesigned
200 will be quite at home.
The midsize-sedan segment, where the
200 competes, is a Battle Royale among a legion of overachievers.
Finally, though, Chrysler has designed and engineered a car equal to
the task of taking on the best sedans in its class.
Entry to the 200 for the base LX will
set you back $21,700. Chrysler expects its $23,255 Limited to be the
volume model. Beyond the Limited, Chrysler claims it is taking a
novel pricing/trim-level approach by creating more of a “Y” than
stacking its next two trims on top of one another over the Limited.
Because the $25,995 200C costs more than the $24,495 200S and both
cost more than the Limited, I don't quite grasp the Y-trim claim, but
the S and the C do take somewhat different tacks with the S getting a
sportier suspension and darker accents. But the S builds on the
Limited's content; while the C builds on the S's content.
Chrysler has a marketing department for
the same reason every major company does, to create and promote areas
separating its products from the competition. The Y
pricing/trim-level lane of attack would seem to be such a creation.
It seems to be at least somewhat effective. After all, I've just
spent more than a paragraph writing about it.
The well-executed cabin in the 200C. |
Two engines – a 184-horsepower
2.4-liter four-cylinder and a 295-horsepower 3.6 V6 – are available
and each is bolted to the industry's first nine-speed,
driver-shiftable automatic transmission. Shifting is accomplished
with either steering wheel-mounted paddles or a round knob on the
console. Passengers enjoy a roomy cabin that is quiet and nicely
appointed. The ride is smooth. There are a passel of standard and
available safety features – a few of which are unique in this
segment. Parking assist that can help park the 200 in either a
parallel or a perpendicular spot, Lane Sense Departure Warning-Plus
not only alerts the driver when the 200 is drifting out of its lane,
but also nudges it back on course, and Adaptive Cruise Control-Plus
with the capability of bringing the 200 to a complete stop are all on
the safety menu.
Premium materials well assembled
highlight the roomy cabin.
I spent over 100 miles with the four
and the V6, and I am impressed with both powertrains.
The 200 at our lunch stop at Hermitage Farms. |
Even with some of its expressways
experiencing the growing pains of widening, Louisville is an easy
city to escape. You can transition from downtown to the countryside
in 20 minutes. Terrific driving roads probably isn't the first thing
that pops into most people's minds when Louisville is mentioned, but
Chrysler found some dynamic roads laced with curves and variations in
their topography.
Downtown Louisville suffers from the
traffic snarl of most larger cities. Several one-way streets add to
the confusion for the uninitiated.
There is art around every 21c corner. |
Listing its address as 700 West Main
Street, the 21c Hotel's actual entrance is on 7th Street.
This was my third or fourth stay at this property that is as much an
art gallery as it is a hotel. Owned by the Brown family, it benefits
from their love of art and sufficiently deep pockets to assemble
pieces from all around the world. Some of it is pretty quirky, and
some of it will make the innocent blush, but what do I know? It's not
all photos of one-legged naked guys.
Modern and well furnished, the 21c is
an ideal base for business trips and vacation getaways alike.
The terrace off of Chrysler's penthouse hospitality suite. |
Dinner our first night was downstairs
in one of the art galleries. Part of the festivities included a
bourbon-tasting station. Among the selections: Colonel E.H. Taylor,
Eagle Rare and Elmer T. Lee – all products of Buffalo Trace. Old
Grandad was also offered. I didn't even know it was still being made.
It was certainly the odd man out among this group.
After dinner a few of us adjourned to
Proof, the hotel's bar. As with the rest of the hotel, the bar is a
bit quirky. The lighting is so crazed, it defies shooting photos at
night. But what it does have is well over 50 bourbons. Stocking a
Who's Who of hard-to-get labels, it is pure heaven for a bourbon
lover. Was I happy? Why, yes I was!
A few selections at the hotel's Proof Bar. |
Four blocks from the hotel at 3rd
and Main Streets is the downtown edition of the Bluegrass Brewing
Company. I always make a stop at the actual brewery in St. Matthew's
just east of downtown on my Louisville visits, but don't get to the
downtown version very often. It happens to be located in the 300
Building where I toiled at my first job out of college. It's sort of
my Louisville circle of life. Even it had at least 25 or 30 bourbons
on hand.
The hard-core contingent at Garage Bar. |
This was a Brown family-centric event
that not only included our hotel, but also our lunch stop on the
driving day at Hermitage Farms, as well as our dinner spot on the
second evening at Garage Bar.
No shortage of excellent bourbons and craft beers at Garage Bar. |
Garage Bar is a converted gas station.
Its bar, stocked with, what in Louisville is, the obligatory 50 or so
bourbons, was also loaded with wonderful craft and imported beers.
With indoor and outdoor seating, there is more room than there would
seem at first glance. The food was delicious; while the post-dinner
bourbon sipping sucked a number of newbies into expanding their
horizons and trying some small-batch versions.
All in all, it was a terrific trip with
just the right amount of getting acquainted with the 2015 200, good
food and wonderful bourbon.
Yep, Louisville was a good fit.
That’s a terrific upgrade for a Chrysler 200. With its amazing features, your travel to the Derby City to witness its unveiling is worth it. Did you consider buying this redesigned Chrysler after seeing its incredible performance and capacity?
ReplyDeleteDiane Wilson @ Fletcher Chrysler
The dirty-little truth about auto journalism, Diane, is that once you begin writing about cars, you need never buy one again. My last car was a 1989 Saab 900 that I purchased new. I put less than 6,000 miles on it during the nine months or so that I owned it. And, I had to work at putting that many miles on it. I have a manufacturer test car (at times more than one) at all times. Having said that, the 200 is a terrific sedan.
DeleteThank you for sharing these stories from your trip. It sounds like you really had a good time. I have never been to Louisville but it has been on my list for quite some time now. The city has a ton of history and I am hoping I can take a few tours while I am there to learn more.
ReplyDeleteFreddy @ Jacky Jones Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Louisville is a great place to spend a few days. I am still excited to visit. I constantly lobby carmakers to hold media events there.
ReplyDelete