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.
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.
I seem to remember the more mainstream magazines saying that they working on a replacement due for the 2011 model year as a replacement for the current Avenger and Sebring and IMHO, we are looking at it. I think the issue with Jalopnik and most people here is that they are under the incorrect assumption that Chrysler has been sitting on their hands when in fact they have not been. And I get so sick of hearing about how bad their interiors are, PLEASE check out and SIT IN an 09 Ram, Challenger, Patriot, or Compass, IMHO you will be SHOCKED at how good they actually are. As for the Phoenix engines, they are to start appearing in 2010, here is a chart of the differed engines
Size Line Cars
3.0 V6
Base
Premium
Direct Injection
MDS
Export models (four different varieties are apparently planned though volume will probably be low)
3.3 V6 VVT Sebring, Avenger, Minivans
3.3 V6 Direct Injection Challenger, Charger, Minivans, Grand Cherokee, Durango, Aspen
Uh. Guys? Why are you complaining?? Let's go through this again.
Mid-sized REAR WHEEL DRIVE attractive sedan with a potent little V6 in it? You KNOW they're gonna dump a small-block V8 in there at some point. Shit, it's Chrysler, they put the Viper engine in a motorcycle, there's someone out there trying to get it to fit in this car right now.
If they can manage to find someone other than Rubbermaid to make the interior, this is actually a car I would want. With a small V8 and RWD in it, this is a car I would want very badly indeed.
@Deartháir: a Cruder, Fart-Joke Version of graverobber: Oh sure, you sound optimistic now. But just wait until some gremlin at Chrysler (possibly hidden in a Jeep warehouse somewhere, just waiting for his moment in the spotlight) decides to fuck us over while this thing's still in the tubes. They'll give it a 3-speed automatic from a tractor, maybe some 16" Toyota wheels, and price it at $50,000 just to annoy us. Then they'll kill it after building just 1,000 (all in beige, of course) and will wonder why nobody's buying Chryslers in the first place. You'll see most of them with Avis stickers on the back.
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Remember what Chrysler had in the late 90s? Not exactly noteworthy.
08/11/09
Compared to same vintage Buick Century or Ford Taurus, Chrysler was doing pretty well in my opinion.
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Chrysler is dead, and that's the grim reality of it.
Chrysler is _DEAD_.
I don't know why they're even bothering because this thing will never come to fruition.
01/11/09
Size Line Cars
3.0 V6
Base
Premium
Direct Injection
MDS
Export models (four different varieties are apparently planned though volume will probably be low)
3.3 V6 VVT Sebring, Avenger, Minivans
3.3 V6 Direct Injection Challenger, Charger, Minivans, Grand Cherokee, Durango, Aspen
3.3 V6 DI/HEV Sebring, Avenger, 300, Minivans
3.3 V6 MDS Sebring, Avenger, Minivans
3.6 V6 VVT Multiple models
3.6 V6 Direct Injection Ram, Wrangler
3.6 V6 MDS Challenger, Charger, 300, Minivans, Grand Cherokee, Durango, Aspen
3.6 V6 HEV Minivans
3.6 V6 PZEV Sebring, Avenger, Minivans
4.0 V6 Base (no VVT) marine use
4.0 V6 Premium, MDS, no VVT marine use
4.7 V8 VVT Ram, Charger, 300, Dakota, Grand Cherokee, Durango, Aspen
And a link to info from allpar.com
[www.allpar.com]
You paople counting them out are being foolish as CHrysler has shown itself capable from pulling itself to the brink more than once.
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Really, their interior quality's no worse than a base-model Chevy or Toyota. Powertrains aren't as refined right now, but this engine looks promising.
I just hope they don't screw the pooch.
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Which definitely isn't a bad thing, compared to that shitbox they're trying to pass off as a car, the Sebring.
01/11/09
Mid-sized REAR WHEEL DRIVE attractive sedan with a potent little V6 in it? You KNOW they're gonna dump a small-block V8 in there at some point. Shit, it's Chrysler, they put the Viper engine in a motorcycle, there's someone out there trying to get it to fit in this car right now.
If they can manage to find someone other than Rubbermaid to make the interior, this is actually a car I would want. With a small V8 and RWD in it, this is a car I would want very badly indeed.
01/11/09