As you see below, if you scroll your Google map a little bit to the right you'll find the 1.8 mile-long test track that sits adjacent to the big honkin' headquarters. That's what sets it apart from most malls and it's exactly why it'd be the only mall we'd ever shop at if it were to ever become one. Which it won't because Michigan's economy is quickly reaching the level of third-world country.

But it'd be nice to dream, right?

BusinessWeek published an article two weeks ago about the value of Chrysler’s various assets in anticipation of its bankruptcy, which has since happened. Here’s the most interesting bit:

The Chrysler headquarters building is a spectacular sight from I-75 in Michigan. But the Auburn Hills edifice and its sprawling campus sit in the middle of one of the most economically depressed areas in the country. When the building was erected in the early 1990s, it was designed so it could be repurposed into a shopping mall without too much modification if the perennially troubled Chrysler should go out of business. But there is no interest in another shopping mall in a commercial corridor where unemployment and foreclosure rates are both above 20%, and one of the best-performing malls in the state, The Somerset Collection, sits 15 minutes away in Troy, Mich.

Unsurprisingly, no mention of this is made on the site of SmithGroup, the company which designed the building in the 80s:

Chrysler’s mandate for their new U.S. headquarters was that it be “forward looking, contemporary, and strong with a prominent signature.” Its curved glass tower is an aerodynamic exclamation point to the 500-acre site, and is highly visible from Interstate 75. The 35-foot tall Pentastar window at the top of the tower proclaims a powerful corporate identity and reflects changing conditions of natural light. Inside, the Pentastar is a dramatic accent for the top floor.

Glass-enclosed offices and dome-shaped skylights enliven the workplace throughout the building. Teamwork concepts are facilitated by the design of the complex, helping Chrysler to operate more efficiently on every level.

We learned of the building’s dual-use design from a segment on NPR’s May 2 edition of Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me—which is online now.

UPDATE: We did forget one minor distinction between Chrysler's HQ and a mall.

Source: BusinessWeek, Photo Credit: USGS, SmithGroup, Hat Tip to Samu Szemerey

Jalopnik Snap Judgment: A little more math, based on the fact that Chrysler really has nothing besides the Ram truck coming out this year, tells us Chrysler is on track for a $2-billion-plus loss for the year, breaking their previous record of $1.6 billion. As Rebecca Lindland, auto analyst at Global Insight, said, "From a product perspective, you can't point to a light at the end of the tunnel." Ouch. So Chrysler's survival will depend upon how deep owner Halliburton Cerberus Capital Management's pockets are. Or how quick they can sell it off. [Detroit News]

When the boat-car debuts, it'll be the first major amphibious civilian vehicle since the Amphicar went to market in 1961. The three seat Aquada will be able to hit 110 MPH on the street and about 40 MPH or 35 knots on the water and will sell for about $85,000. Production location has not be set yet, but Michigan is also high on the list for that one as well. We're just wondering how the insurance companies would handle water damage on an amphibious car. [Detroit News]