I think this is good news, if they don't screw it up. Even if it goes FWD, I don't think that would be a bad thing in a volume-selling midsize sedan. If they keep the styling of the concept, and make a half-decent interior, they will have a winner on their hands in the midsize segment, finally.
Outstanding news! Based on everything I've heard out of Auburn Hills it really sounds like Fiat is attacking Chrysler's product deficiencies quickly and logically. The 200C was a gorgeous concept, love to see a RWD premium mid-size entry to take Chrysler up market after Mercedes kicked them down into the ditch.
They MUST stick with RWD. That was the whole concept behind Daimler's effort to re-energize the brand and platforms almost 10 years ago--bring American iron back to its heyday. Switching to FWD would alienate a lot of people, even if it can be successfully done (by Acura, at least).
@abgwin: Absolutely--the ultimate net result was negative, but they were the ones who came in and said "WTF? What does it mean to be an iconic American brand?" and took it from there, resulting in 300C and Magnum on some hand-me-down E-class parts. It's not all bad.
Remember what Chrysler had in the late 90s? Not exactly noteworthy.
@Ash78: hmm, late 90s Mopar included Viper, Intrepid, 300M, industry-leading minivans. Even the first-gen Stratus was a great looking car.
Compared to same vintage Buick Century or Ford Taurus, Chrysler was doing pretty well in my opinion.
"showed us more vaporware EVs" -- you know, when I see the term vaporware, I usually equate it with something on Gizmodo that's just a CGI rendering and will never be in production. I don't equate it with something that is actually in the physical world, but may not necessarily live up to it's hype.
However, I feel that the ENVI program will live up to it's hype.
The UConnect Funding Bill is passed. The system goes on-line January 10th, 2009. Human decisions are removed from strategic driving. UConnect begins to learn at a geometric rate. It becomes self-aware at 2:14 a.m. Eastern time, February 24th. In a panic, Chrysler tries to pull the plug.
I don't want ANY car that requires some semblance to connection to an internet system in order to start it. In fact, I don't eve like these damn remote start systems. I'm a big boy dammit, I can start my own car.
@pauljones: Dude, it's 0 degrees F outside. I'm the king of the remote starter and its nice-toasty-interior-awaiting side effect. I even have a special little wave I give my neighbors and co-workers as they toil, bundled Randy Parker style, with their ice scrapers.
@pauljones: I'm with paul. My car can have all the computers it wants, but they damn well better not be necessary for it to function. I'm an engineer, I don't trust computers. Or women.
What scares me the most about this system is just how easily your car really could be hacked. This is what makes me laugh about ford sync; let's use a a program based on Windows, the most easily hacked OS in existence! Plus, I don't want to start my car and see that dumbass little icon in the bottom of the dash indicating that software updates are ready for my computer, or that my car is running a virus scan on itself.
@beercheck: Yup, best invention of the '90s. Especially when you have to park outside because whoever built your house 1) decided 1 car was enough for the garage, and 2) put the garage behind the house so you can't get into it with anything more than a Smart FourTwo.
@pauljones: Just wait until Sync upgrades to Vista, and User Access Control is everywhere. Dialog boxes pop up in the middle of the windshield saying something like this...
@Whydoesthisalwayshappentome: I secretly brought my camera along when Mulally called me over to Dearborn to test drive the new Taurus prototype. Scary shit.
But your car's computers are already necessary for it to function. This is all just a new interface for them. The lack of a physical ignition key scares me a bit, but the idea of a car that can send a text message if it's parked with the lights on is pretty cool.
Yes, current cars depend very much on their engine management computers. But integrating it into an entire operating system that is permanently hooked up to the internet is a scary thought.
@Ray Wert: I still think you guys should have exploited that system.
I am really just messing with you. When people say they "hacked" something, it makes me thing of the song Voodoo People, winamp style visualizations, and something about hacking the gibson. *shiver*
@jimothy: Note the "quote" marks. We really didn't "hack" it so much as we played around with it and figured out how to get it to display the Jalopnik website.
This looks to be the most impressive of the ENVI vehicles, but is it really the most likely to make it to production? I mean, three of them are based on current production cars (and that Wrangler makes me very happy in the pants area). I'd expect either the Patriot or Town and Country to make it to the showroom first.
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Remember what Chrysler had in the late 90s? Not exactly noteworthy.
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Compared to same vintage Buick Century or Ford Taurus, Chrysler was doing pretty well in my opinion.
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However, I feel that the ENVI program will live up to it's hype.
01/16/09
True Vaporware
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4chan lives again!
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zing!
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It better not show up in any car that I want to drive or buy. The Luddite in me is still fond of buttons, knobs and dials.
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ALL SYSTEMS GO!
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UConnect fights back.
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Just realized that Terminator 2 was released 18 years ago, and therefore can no longer be considered a "current" pop culture reference.
Officially feeling old now.
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Remote start is AWESOME, big boy.
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What scares me the most about this system is just how easily your car really could be hacked. This is what makes me laugh about ford sync; let's use a a program based on Windows, the most easily hacked OS in existence! Plus, I don't want to start my car and see that dumbass little icon in the bottom of the dash indicating that software updates are ready for my computer, or that my car is running a virus scan on itself.
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LOL!
By the time that happens, I will be happily cruising around in my 73 Firebird or 74 Camaro...
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Also, followed by three "are you sure?" prompts.
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But your car's computers are already necessary for it to function. This is all just a new interface for them. The lack of a physical ignition key scares me a bit, but the idea of a car that can send a text message if it's parked with the lights on is pretty cool.
01/16/09
Yes, current cars depend very much on their engine management computers. But integrating it into an entire operating system that is permanently hooked up to the internet is a scary thought.
01/16/09
That is what I want to see.
Hack? I don't see no hackers...Where are the dozen cans of jolt and Evangelion figures?
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I am really just messing with you. When people say they "hacked" something, it makes me thing of the song Voodoo People, winamp style visualizations, and something about hacking the gibson. *shiver*
@johnnyichiban: Just off the top of my head.
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