2013 Chrysler 200 S Special Edition Gets Carhartt Upgrades

Chrysler has partnered with Michigan-based clothing manufacturer Carhartt on a special-edition 200 S sedan. This 2013.5 model is meant to represent blue-collar values and hard work, just like the two companies involved in its creation.

The car ties in nicely with the Chrysler’s “Imported From Detroit” tagline, which in the words of brand CEO Saad Chehab has “resonated really, really well.” For proof you needn’t look further than Chrysler’s breakthrough Super Bowl ads.

As for the Chrysler 200 S Special Edition, it features a variety of tweaks and upgrades compared to the standard car. For starters it’s powered by the company’s award-winning Pentastar V6 engine fitted with a cold-air intake as well as a cat-back exhaust system “for a throatier tune” Chehab said.

It also features a new suspension system complete with a strut-tower brace, so it should handle better than the standard-issue 200.

The car’s exterior received some attention as well. Its front and rear fascias are new as are its side skirts. The car also gets a unique grille, a lowered valance and dual exhaust tips. Icing the cake, Chehab said it’s “finished off with menacing black wheels.” Altogether it is not an unattractive vehicle.

The cockpit has been trimmed in a water-resistant black fabric selected by Carhartt and the seats are accented with the company’s signature triple-stitch pattern done in a diesel-gray color. Stitching on the armrest, steering wheel and center console carry that hue throughout the cabin.

Chrysler has been offering a variety of special-edition models lately and the strategy is paying off. The brand’s sales were up 200 percent in California last year. Singlehandedly, the 200 S lowered the brand’s median buyer age in the state by five years; the average customer’s annual household income also increased by $15,000. Not a bad performance for a marque with only three basic nameplates in its lineup.

Base price for the Chrysler 200 S Special Edition is $28,870. The car will be featured at the New York Auto Show, which opens to the press next week.