Chrysler Imperial Concept News

[Vintalage]

While Chrysler has already confirmed that it will have a Dodge Challenger concept for Detroit , the company's been considerably more tight-lipped about another concept that could be on display at Cobo Hall. An anonymous tip to TCC says a Chrysler Imperial concept will be shown off in Detroit , reviving the nameplate for the most luxurious Chrysler vehicles that died away in the 1990s. Drawn off the 300C body, the stretched-wheelbase Imperial concept is said to evolve the 300C in a Rolls Phantom direction-much as the current 300C has been dubbed the "baby Bentley."

- Photos from Motortrend
- Article from The Car Connection

[lironet]

Just plain brutal.

[BigTaters]

wow that looks just plain hideous

[HiFiCarGuy]

It'll be in Nelly's new video in no time.

[bigbenSC]

That is terrible, Chrysler has lost all sense of style. I hope BMW sues them for copying the Phantom (not a good place to start in the first place).

[Rich]

it doenst look THAT bad i think. except the rear just kills it.

[Ajaxus]

was lookin at it...not so bad...not so bad...not so bad...(saw the rear)...HOLY CRAP...(lost all interest)...

[SikMindz]

WiTF is that?

[Vintalage]

At the opposite extreme lies the luxurious Imperial riding on a 123-inch wheelbase, a three-inch stretch over the 300C. To achieve the proper proportions for the concept, the overall length grows 17 inches to 214 inches, and the overall height is six inches taller than a 300C. The car rides on massive 22-inch turbine-finned wheels and tires, with passengers sitting nearly seven inches higher than in the 300C.

Envisioned as a “noble” yet attainable flagship positioned a cut above the 300C (“It’s a six-figure image but at a much lower price,” says Tremont), the concept designed in Chrysler’s Auburn Hills studio doesn’t mimic Imperials of the past, but it does draw on some of the styling cues from those older cars. It also carries expressive attributes from Chrysler’s long line of concept cars, from the 1953 d’Elegance to the Fire-power that premiered at last year’s Detroit show.

Among the design details incorporated into the concept: the long flowing hood and front end dominated by an upright radiator and strong horizontal grille; brushed and polished aluminum pods that evoke free-standing headlamps of Imperials from the 1930s and 1960s; circular LED taillights with floating outer rings that bring back the “gun sight” taillight look of early 1960s Imperials; and a roofline pulled rearward to enlarge the cabin and create a strong profile.

The wide-open, B-pillar-less doors allow a panoramic view of the show car’s opulent four-seat, two-tone interior, where no expense is spared when it comes to use of leather, suede, California burl wood accents and satin-finished aluminum. Designers also paid considerable attention to handcrafted components like the sculptured instrument panel with large dual gauges, coved ceiling, and the floating oval armrests in the doors, all bathed in warm light.

Dynamically, Imperial also is diametrically opposed to Challenger, with the latter adopting a full-throated roar while the former is loaded with sound-deadening insulation and is tuned for smooth and silent running. But even in its subtlety, the stately Imperial is more driver’s car than chauffeur-driven limousine, says Chrysler design chief Trevor Creed. Power for the concept comes from the standard 5.7-liter, 340-hp, 390-lb-ft Hemi V8, linked to a five-speed transmission lifted from the Mercedes E-Class.

“This is the car for somebody who has made it, who takes great pleasure in driving from place to place,” says Creed.

Though Chrysler execs won’t commit to production plans for either car, there are obvious advantages to building the concepts on the so-called LX platform that underpins the wildly successful 300C, Dodge Magnum and Charger production cars. Not only does using existing hardware help contain the astronomical cost of building show cars, but in the event one or both concepts gets the green light, Chrysler has a much easier path to building production versions, and gets even more return on its engineering and tooling investment in the rear-drive LX platform.

“These are strictly concepts, but we like to see people get excited because it might help make the case to take one or the other to production,” says Tremont. “There will be a completely different draw to these cars—the Mopar followers will have their Challenger, and the Imperial will appeal to a completely different audience. But they will both stimulate people’s thought processes about what could be a Chrysler.”

We can only hope that, given a few inches, Chrysler designers and product planners will take the whole foot—and mash it on the accelerator all the way to the showroom.

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl.../51229003/1008

- Autoweek

[stillriza]

What ever happens to all these concept cars after the shows??

[Ajaxus]

private collections most likely


btw, STILL hating that rear end on it

[Exodus]

Front is pretty decent, back is, well... below par. You can proly fit 30's on that circumference.

[alerored04]

ewww. Is chrysler just trying to make stupid vehicles for stupid people now? That thing looks like a wanna be rappers wet dream. Big wheels, very little style, and no specified functionality.

[Sprucegagt]

Originally Posted by Ajaxus

private collections most likely


btw, STILL hating that rear end on it

Nope, try the crusher. It's standard policy for prototypes and concepts. I'm sure that's where all the GA concepts have gone or soon will be.

[BlackAttackGA]

That is one of the most ugly cars I've ever seen. The huge grill makes it look completely retarded. Wow, what is Chrysler thinking?

[BlackAttackGA]

And I thought the 300C was ugly, this tops that. I hate the whole "big boxcar" mentality. The cars they are making are just big tanks, IMO.

[crazypontiac03]

Don't worry its like everyother POS concept. They will probably change it 8 time's before production.

If they wouldn't waste 3-4-5 Million at a time,on a concept they never produce, all the Auto Makers would be better off.

[notsoaveragej0e]

Originally Posted by Sprucegagt

Nope, try the crusher. It's standard policy for prototypes and concepts. I'm sure that's where all the GA concepts have gone or soon will be.

IDK about Chrysler, but GM has warehouses all these are kept in... not only do a handful of people know where they are, but even fewer are allowed access. I remember reading a story about how once a reporter got to go in a warehouse like that and saw all kinds of concept camaros and corvettes.

On topic: If the taillights weren't red, you wouldn't be able to tell which was the front end and which was the back.

[pyro]

so its basically a phantom made by DC?

The rear end is soo fugly...To me, it looks like it belongs in a mobster movie...