1957 Chrysler Dart-Diablo Concept Car

The 1957 Chrysler Diablo is Going on the Block.

On August 15th, RM Auctions will offer the 1957 Chrysler Diablo at it’s Sports & Classics of Monterey. The Diablo, produced by Chrysler during what is today affectionately known as the “Virgil Exner Era”, is an impressive, one-of-a-kind concept car, designed by influential American stylist, Virgil Exner and bodied by Italian coachbuilders Ghia. It represents one example of a series of American designed, Italian built concept cars from the 1950s, and a special partnership formed between Chrysler and Ghia to produce a line of innovative ‘idea cars’ in order to compete with the industry’s other major players. The Diablo started life as the 1956 Chrysler Dart, a featured concept for the 1957 US auto show circuit, before being slightly modified by Virgil Exner in an effort to achieve a more production look. Styling changes included fitting the car with a new windscreen and conventional soft-top convertible roof, shortening of the fins and painting Diablo red. The look was completed by numerous Diablo insignias on both the interior and exterior.

The Diablo was reportedly Chrysler’s star concept car of the year in 1957 and was showcased to the public at the 1958 Chicago Auto Show, before being returned to Ghia in Italy for their corporate promotion. The car eventually found its way back to the United States and has been under the careful care of its current owner for over 25 years.

The legendary Diablo has been a featured attraction at various museums over the years, including the Cleveland Auto and Aviation Museum, the Petersen Automotive Museum and Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, as well as at such events as the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and New York’s Louis Vuitton Classic.

Its offering at the upcoming RM Auctions’ Sports & Classics of Monterey on August 15th will mark the car’s auction debut – an exclusive ownership opportunity for dream car enthusiasts.

Can a concept car ever win Best of Show at Pebble Beach? That is a big question, but if there ever was a top of the line concept car, that could, the 1956/1957 Chrysler Ghia Dart/Diablo Hemi has to be the one. Chrysler took off the gloves for the 1956 show circuit, going after GM with one of the largest American concept cars ever made and undoubtedly one of the most impressive. The design of course was done by Virgil Exner, the head designer at Chrysler Corporation in the 1950’s and bodied by Ghia as were most of the Chrysler concept cars. This dream car was done on a 1956 Chrysler Imperial modified chassis with a modified Chrysler Hemi 392 displacement, 375 horsepower engine with 3 two-barrel carburetors, push button transmission, star wars dashboard, four bucket seats. Note: the door handles are built into the leading edge of the fins.

Many of the concept/dream cars/prototypes were used for two years. The first year would be modified for the second year rendition. This car was the Dart by Virgil Exner, Chrysler’s head designer in 1956 and the second edition being called the Diablo again by Ghia. In the Diablo form the car has many Diablo insignias on the trunk, under the hood and in the interior. The Diablo has four bucket seats. There are power windows, power brakes, power steering, high-intensity headlights, wrap around rear bumpers with the continuous stainless steel side molding. This car is even equipped with the original chrome C02 fire extinguisher with the Diablo emblem on it that was originally fitted in the trunk. Note: this car did not come with air conditioning originally and this was added on by a previous owner approximately 25 years ago and has not had the system charged up in the last fifteen years. The Diablo was one of the most expensive concept cars ever produced in the 1950’s.

This car has all the provenance and has been featured in many articles and was shown at Pebble Beach in the circle in front of the lodge in 1990 or 1991 on special invitation. The current condition is a high quality restoration done about 15 years ago. The car shows very well but for today’s Pebble Beach standards, the Best of Class and beyond would require detailing throughout. The odometer reading is believed to be actual mileage at 14,756 miles.

This car has been in the current collection for almost twenty years and during the 1970’s was part of the famous Paul Stern collection in Pennsylvania. Every top collector has their preference for one particular manufacturer which might be Bugatti, Delahaye, Duesenberg, etc. One thing for sure this Chrysler show car will stand tall next to any pre-war, post-war or 50’s or 60’s American prototype. Previously at the big Scottsdale auction in January, concept cars at this level have been selling from $3 to $3.5 Million. To avoid the wasting of time, bidding on this car has been opened at $1.8 million and those that wish to bid should use the phone number attached to ask any and all questions, make arrangements for an inspection if so desired and also to be qualified. If the car does not sell against the reserve (which will not be disclosed) the top three bidders will be contacted for another opportunity.

You could possibly spend another lifetime and never see a concept/prototype car of this provenance offered for public sale again. This is without a doubt, one of the most highly prized Chrysler Ghia concept cars ever produced and most likely the most desirable American concept car by a Detroit manufacturer between 1953 and 1963.

There has been a lot written about the 1956/1957 Dart/Diablo including the following articles:

Ride with the Devil, Mopar Action August 2006
Devilish Dream Car, High Performance, March 1992
Chrysler Diablo, Classic Auto Restorer December 1990
Not for Production, Special Interest Autos September/October 1975
The Diablo has been on display at various auto museums in the USA since 1985. The following is a list of some:

Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum in Cleveland
Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago
Peterson Museum in Los Angeles
Gilmore Museum near Kalamazoo, MI
Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum in Auburn, IN

If the cost of motoring isn’t enough, the boys over at Chrysler have devised a new way for motoring to take your hard earned money, inpired by the pyramid styled Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, the Chrysler Town & Country Black Jack has been created to be dominant and enigmatic on the strip.

The exterior features unique 20 inch wheels with a set of Brmbo SRT brakes and a custom Amber-Black Pearl paint, the “black jack” logo is ghosted on the hood. But these are just to grab your attention closer to the interior where the most attractive features are.

The third row of seating have been removed to make space for a black jack table,. An after hours lounge bar effect is created with the Panoramic style roof openings and illuminated lighting. Of course this has to be topped off with two 10inch sub woofers tied to a 1250 watt amplifier and two pairs of 6inch speakers, lets also not forget the 37 inch LCD Flatscreen (yes – that is thirty seven inches).

The Chrysler Town & Country Black Jack draws its inspiration from the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas – a dominant and enigmatic presence on the Strip. Massive, dark and simple in shape and design, the icon casts a shadow over the surrounding properties.

It sits on custom one-off 20-in. wheels with new bright finishes built by Alcoa Forged. They are tucked around a set of Brembo SRT brakes, matched with an adjusted ride height. Its stance is sophisticated, yet approachable. Covered in a custom Amber-Black Pearl paint, the hood features a ghosted “Black Jack” logo and pin stripe provided by Jim-Tech. Chrome accents complement the billet-style grill.

The exterior was designed to draw people to the stunning inside. LED lighting, provided by OSRAM-Sylvania Group, was crucial to the application of Las Vegas allure. To give it an “after hours lounge bar” setting and atmosphere of light and shade, the team created dual panoramic-style roof openings. After relocating the gas tank, light-sensitive “scintilla” provided by Sensitile was used. Constructed of 100 percent acrylic, Scintilla transforms the way in which the surface interacts with interior lighting. The scintilla actually illuminates the players’ “field.”

A leather- wrapped curved bench replaces the third-row seats. Providing “rat pack” and “rat rod” influence, the passenger seats are wrapped by Katzkin, and feature Vogl satin black leather, custom embroidery. Seat inserts feature perforated suede with silver backing and a suede headliner. The centered dealer’s seat required removal of the second-row pilot seats. The “black jack” table is constructed of light-weight carbon fiber. Creating seamless construction, it’s bolted to the translucent center mount that flows into the translucent floor. The adjustable lighting and table placement contribute to the players’ comfort.

Azentec and KICKER brought a “bada bing” to the interior. The entertainment system features two KICKER Audio 10-in. L7 sub woofers tied to a 1250-watt amplifier. Two pairs of 6-in. speakers and a four-channel 700-4 amplifier provide the “boom” factor. The rear-mounted 37-in. LCD flat screen and two 7-in. overhead monitors are connected to three hidden overhead digital cameras so there are “eyes” on the dealer’s and players’ hands. The Azentec head unit – the Atlas 1000 – serves as a high-powered laptop radio head unit. Windows XP provides adaptability and capability for wireless internet, Bluetooth, cell phone, navigation system and personal PC – putting the Black Jack on the forefront of in-car entertainment.

Statistics

A typical American car dealership in Fremont, California. Between 2002 and 2003 alone the number of vehicles in the United States increased by three million.
The United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration as well as the National Automobile Dealers Association have published data in regard to the total number of vehicles, growth trends, and ratios between licensed drivers, the general population, and the increasing number of vehicles on American roads. Overall passenger vehicles have been outnumbering licensed drivers since 1972 at an ever increasing rate, while light trucks and vehicles manufactured by foreign marques have gained a larger share of the automotive market in the United States. In 2001, 90% of Americans drove to work in cars. New York City is the only locality in the country where more than half of all households do not own a car (the figure is even higher in Manhattan, over 75%; nationally, the rate is 8%).

According to the US Bureau of Transit Statistics for 2004 there are 243,023,485 registered passenger vehicles in the US. Out of these roughly 243 million vehicles, 136,430,651 (56.13%) were classified as cars, while 91,845,327 (37.79%) were classified as “Other 2 axle, 4 tire vehicles,” presumably SUVs and pick-up trucks. Yet another 6,161,028 (2.53%) were classified as vehicles with 2 axles and 6 tires and 2,010,335 (0.82%) were classified as “Truck, combination.” There were approximately 5,780,870 motorcycles in the US in 2004, which accounts for 2.37% of all registered passenger vehicles.
According to cumulative data by the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) the number of motor vehicles has also increased steadily since 1960, only stagnating once in 1997 and declining from 1990 to 1991. Otherwise the number of motor vehicles has been rising by an estimated 3.69 million each year since 1960 with the largest annual growth between 1998 and 1999 as well as between 2000 and 2001 when the number of motor vehicles in the United States increased by eight million. Since the study by the FHA the number of vehicles has increased by approximately eleven million, one of the largest recorded increases. The largest percentage increase was between the years of 1972 and 1973 when the number of cars increased by 5.88%.

Age of vehicles in operation
In the year 2001, the National Automobile Dealers Association conducted a study revealing the average age of vehicles in operation in the US. The study found that of vehicles in operation in the US, 38.3% were older than ten years, 22.3% were between seven and ten years old, 25.8% were between three and six years old and 13.5% were less than two years old. According to this study the majority of vehicles, 60.6%, of vehicles were older than seven years in 2001. This relatively high age of automobiles in the US might be explained through gradually declining sales figures since 1998.
The median and mean age of automobiles has steadily increased since 1969. In 2005 the overall median age for automobiles was 8.9 years, a significant increase over 1990 when the median age of vehicles in operation in the US was 6.5 years and 1969 when the mean age for automobiles was 5.1 years. Of all body styles, pick-up trucks had the highest mean age (9.4 years), followed by cars with a mean age of 8.4 years and van with a mean age of 7.0 years. As SUVs are part of a relatively new consumer trend originating mostly in the 1990s, SUVs had the lowest mean age of any body style in the US (6.1 years). The average recreational vehicle was even older with a mean age of 12.5. The mean age has increased continuously for all body styles from 1969 to 2005.

Sales
In the year 2004, 7,505,932 passengers cars were sold in the United States according to the US Department of Transportation. This figure “Includes domestic and imported vehicles.” (Department of Transportation) The number of vehicles sold in the US has been decreasing at a gradual yet continuous rate since 1999, when nearly 8.7 million vehicles were sold in the US. Looking back at history however, reveals that such decline is only part of normal market trends and most likely only a temporary affair. Overall, 1985 was a record year with cars sales totaling just over eleven million. While imports have been gaining ground in terms of units sold during the 2000s and have regained roughly the same market share they held in 1992, the sales of domestic vehicles are still more than double those of imported vehicles. It should be noted however that the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics “Includes cars produced in Canada and Mexico” as domestic vehicles as both countries are part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). In 2004 the sales of vehicles made in NAFTA states totaled 5.4 million, while the sale of imported vehicles totaled 2.1 million. 798,000 vehicles were imported from Japan, making it the greatest exporter of vehicles to the US. Germany was the second largest exporter of vehicles to the US, with 542,000 units exported to the US in 2004. Imports from all other nations, except Germany and Japan, totaled 809,000.

Pricing

Full-size SUVs such as the Chevrolet Suburban had an average sticker price of $42k, but were sold for an average 22% discount, bringing the net price down to $33k. Overall, large non-luxury SUVs featured the largest discounts in the SUV segment (Edmunds.com).
In July 2004, Edmunds.com published a report stating that the average sticker price on a vehicle sold in the United States was $29,746. However, in the US, passenger vehicles are commonly sold at considerable discounts and customers rarely pay the sticker price or MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price). The discount is commonly determined by the company’s marketing strategies and tends to be larger the slower selling a vehicle is. Due to what many American consumers have perceived as a declining quality among the automobiles manufactured by the “Big Three” and large fixed labor and capital costs, discounts tend to be larger on domestic vehicles. In 2003 the average discount on a domestic vehicle was 20.6% below MSRP. For Japanese and Korean vehicles the average discount was 10% and 12.8%. The lowest discounts were given on vehicles from European manufacturers, where the average discount was 7.7% below MSRP. Overall, the average discount in July 2004 was $4,982 (16.8%), meaning that while the average MSRP was almost $30,000, the average buyer of a new car paid only $24,764.[9] Dr. Jane Liu, the Vice President of Data Analysis for Edmunds.com further stated that, “New models are being introduced at higher price points, but the competitiveness of the market is dramatically pushing down net prices, resulting in a record average discount.” The lowest discounts among all car segments were given on luxury SUVs, where buyers received an average 10% discount, resulting in a $43,725 net price, versus the sticker price of $48,586.
Fuel economy

A Hummer H2, with an estimated fuel economy of 9 miles per gallon, is often criticized by environmentalist groups for its abysmal fuel economy.

A Toyota Prius Hybrid, features an EPA fuel economy rating of 55 miles per gallon (45% above national average). It was recently named the most fuel efficient vehicle in the United States by the Sierra Club, and has been cited as an example by environmentalists and celebrities to make a statement in favor of more fuel efficient vehicles.
The American automobile industry became notorious for the manufacture of gas guzzlers during the 1960s and 1970s when fuel prices and consumer awareness concerning fuel economy were at an all-time low. In the 1960s and 1970s, American-made cars took on enormous proportions as consumers placed their emphasis on comfort, power and style. Large sedans from this era came to be known as land yachts, often rivaling today’s largest pick-up trucks in terms of length and width. In 1977, the Lincoln Continental Mark V was reviewed by the German automobile magazine, auto motor und sport and still holds the record for the worst fuel economy of any vehicle ever tested by the magazine with an average of seven miles to the gallon.
Following the oil crisis of the early 1970s, however, smaller vehicles, often imported from Japan, became more and more popular with the American public as these vehicles featured better fuel economy ratings. In the late 1970s, the US government passed minimum fuel economy standards and in the 1980s American automobile manufacturers drastically downsized their cars, only a few vehicles, such as those using the Ford Panther platform retained their over-sized glory. The downsizing did, however, backfire in some cases. After downsizing nearly the entire Cadillac line-up in the late 1980s, General Motors scrambled to save its most prestigious marques. Many American manufacturers again increased the size of their vehicles in the 1990s, while better technology allowed for better fuel economy ratings among sedans.
According to the United States Department of Transportation, the average motor vehicle, including light trucks, in the US had a fuel economy rating of 17.1 miles a gallon or 13.8 liters per 100 kilometers. The average fuel economy for passenger vehicles in the United States has remained stagnant throughout the 1990s and 2000s, peaking in 2001 and 2004. Overall, the past decade has seen the slowest increase in fuel economy since 1960, with fuel economy increasing from 16.4 miles a gallon in 1990 to 17.1 miles a gallon today. This is in contrast to the 1980s when the average fuel economy improved somewhat more significantly from 13.3 miles a gallon in 1980 to 16.4 miles a gallon in 1990. The lackluster increase in fuel economy during the 1990s is largely due to the rising popularity of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), whose status as light trucks gains them exception from the fuel economy restrictions placed on sedans and other cars. According to the Sierra Club “In 1997 all three US automakers violated CAFE standards for light trucks.” The Sierra Club is one of many environmental organizations who warn of the low fuel economy of SUV and hold these vehicles largely responsible for the low average fuel economy of vehicles in the United States.

Average fuel economy in miles per gallon according to the US Department of Transportation.

Year 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
MPG 12.4 12.5 12.0 12.2 13.3 14.6 16.4 16.9 16.9 16.7 16.7 16.8 16.9 17.0 16.9 16.7 16.9 17.1 16.9 17.0 17.1
L/100 km 19.0 18.8 19.6 19.3 17.7 16.1 14.3 13.9 13.9 14.1 14.1 14.0 13.9 13.8 13.9 14.1 13.9 13.7 13.9 13.8 13.7
Vehicle and population ratios since 1960
Year Population Drivers Motor
vehicles Increase
in vehicles % Growth
1960 180 87 74 N/A N/A
1961 183 89 76 2 +2.72
1962 186 91 79 2 +2.63
1963 188 94 83 3 +3.79
1964 191 95 86 3 +3.61
1965 194 99 90 4 +4.65
1966 196 101 94 4 +4.44
1967 197 103 97 3 +3.19
1968 199 105 101 4 +4.12
1969 201 108 105 4 +3.96
1970 204 112 108 3 +2.85
1971 207 114 113 5 +4.62
1972 209 118 119 6 +5.30
1973 211 122 126 7 +5.88
1974 213 125 130 4 +3.17
1975 215 130 133 3 +2.30
1976 218 134 139 6 +4.51
1977 220 138 142 3 +2.15
1978 222 141 148 6 +4.22
1979 225 143 152 4 +2.70
1980 227 145 156 4 +2.63
1981 230 147 158 2 +1.28
1982 232 150 160 2 +1.26
1983 234 154 164 4 +2.50
1984 236 155 166 2 +1.21
1985 239 157 172 6 +3.61
1986 241 159 176 4 +2.32
1987 243 161 179 3 +1.70
1988 246 163 184 5 +2.79
1989 248 166 187 3 +1.63
1990 248 167 189 2 +1.01
1991 252 169 188 -1 -0.52
1992 255 173 190 2 +1.06
1993 258 173 194 4 +2.10
1994 260 175 198 4 +2.06
1995 263 177 202 4 +2.02
1996 265 180 206 4 +1.98
1997 268 183 208 4 +1.94
1998 270 185 208 0 +/-0
1999 273 187 216 8 +3.84
2000 281 191 218 2 +0.92
2001 281 191 226 8 +3.66
2002 288 195 230 4 +1.76
2003 291 196 231 1 +0.43
All numbers in millions;

SOURCE: US Department of Transportation
Since 1960, the number of passenger vehicles has steadily risen, and since 1972 has exceeded the number of licensed drivers. Considering the population in the United States of 293,655,404 during the 2004 economic survey,[14] there is one passenger vehicles for every 1.20 persons in the United States, meaning that there are 833.34 passenger vehicles for every 1,000 Americans. According to the Federal Highway Administration there were an estimated 196 million licensed drivers in the United States in the year 2003. Considering the slightly lower number of motor vehicles for 2003, there were an estimated 1.17 motor vehicles per licensed driver, meaning that there are more vehicles than drivers in the US, with vehicles outnumbering drivers 1.2 to one.
The number of motor vehicles in the US has risen by 157 million (212.16%) since 1960, while the population of licensed drivers grew by 109 million (125.28%). Between 1971 and 1972, the number of motor vehicles in the US increased by four million, a record at the time. Since then, the gap between the number of cars and drivers has continuously risen. While in 1972 there were only one million more motor vehicles than drivers, cars outnumber drivers by 35 million in 2003. This means that while there were 0.84% more motor vehicles than drivers in 1972, there are now 17.85% more vehicles than drivers.

Body style and size
Mainstream mid-size sedans such as the Toyota Camry or Ford Taurus are often perceived to be the typical and most common body style in the United States. While mid-size sedans are indeed among the country’s best selling vehicles, pick-up trucks currently hold the top positions, rivaling sedans in the terms of total numbers sold. In the year 2006, the best selling models were the Ford F Series with 796,039 units sold and the Chevrolet Silverado with 636,069 units sold. The Toyota Camry, Dodge Ram, and Honda Accord held the next three positions as the best selling cars

Manufacturing

The Mercury Milan, despite being manufactured in Mexico, is still considered a domestic vehicle.

The Saab 9-7X, despite being manufactured in the US by GM, is still considered an import vehicle.
The US was the largest producer of vehicles in the world in 2003, followed by Japan and Germany. While most vehicles sold in the US were manufactured by the Big Three, foreign corporations such as Japan’s Toyota Motor Company have starting manufacturing in the US and are now an integrated part of the US automobile industry. According to many sources, the extended US operations of foreign based companies now rival those of American automobile manufacturers. For example, Toyota Motor Company now operates twelve manufacturing plants in the US, producing 1.55 million vehicles, 61.66% of the roughly 2.5 million vehicles the company sells in the US each year.
A wide variety of vehicles are manufactured in the United States, from compacts to full-size luxury vehicles. The American automobile industry itself is probably best known for the manufacture of large cars, leading to the common public perception of American cars being larger than those from other countries and making the US well known for the production of so called land yachts. Currently, light trucks (including SUVs) of all sizes and full-sized sedans constitute the majority of vehicles made by workers of the United Auto Workers union (UAW).] The Lincoln Town Car is currently the most expensive and largest car made in the US by an American manufacturer, while the Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum is the most expensive SUV (This title used to held by the Hummer H1 until it was cancelled in May 2006). The largest passenger vehicle currently produced in the United States is the Dodge Ram Extended Cab.

Domestic vehicles
While the denotation of domestic vehicle includes all vehicles made in the United States, the term Domestic vehicle in the United States is usually only applied to vehicles made by the “Big Three” and their traditional marques. The term domestic vehicle does not include vehicles sold under marques who used to be headquartered outside the United States and are now owned by the Ford Motor Company or General Motors. Ironically, vehicles made outside the US by the traditional marques of the “Big Three” are considered to be domestic vehicles, while vehicles made inside the US by foreign manufacturers are not considered domestic, but rather import vehicles.

The Mercedes-Benz R-Class is one of many vehicles that is marketed as an import vehicle due to the national origin of its manufacturer, yet is manufactured in the United States.
Import vehicles
As with the term domestic vehicles, there is a legal definition for import vehicles but popular usage of the term, and popular views of what constitutes an “import” vehicle, vary widely.
For the purposes of Federal regulations, such as Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) and the American Automobile Labeling Act of 1994 (AALA), vehicles produced in the United States, regardless of brand, are considered “domestic”, while vehicles produced outside the United States are considered “imported”.
However, many Americans view a Toyota vehicle made in Kentucky, or a Mercedes-Benz vehicle made in Alabama as an “import”, while others view a Pontiac vehicle made in Australia as a “domestic” vehicle. This perception is due to the respective brands’ longstanding association with their parent countries: Toyota with Japan, Mercedes-Benz with Germany and Pontiac with the United States.

The country of origin of any particular vehicle can be easily determined:
• The AALA requires that passenger vehicles manufactured after October 1, 1994 must have labels specifying their percentage value of U.S./Canadian parts content, the country of assembly, and countries of origin of the engine and transmission. These are typically part of, or adjacent, to the vehicle’s Monroney Label.
• Each vehicle sold in the United States carries a Vehicle Identification Number, as required by NHTSA regulation — Title 49, Part 565 of the U.S. Code. The VIN identifies the vehicle’s country of manufacture, and the company responsible for its production. Vehicles manufactured in the United States have VINs beginning with the numbers 1, 4, and 5 — regardless of where the company is based. Thus, a Toyota Camry made in the U.S. will have a 1, 4 or 5 at the start of its VIN, while one imported from Japan will begin with the letter J.
In the year 2000, according to an article in the magazine Motor BMW attempted to label its “X5″ Sport Utility Vehicle, made in Spartanburg, South Carolina with a VIN beginning with the letter W — indicating the vehicle was made in Germany. A spokesman for the Society of Automotive Engineers, the agency responsible for assigning the three-digit “World Manufacturer Identifier” that begins the VIN label, was quoted as saying “We assign (codes) according to the dirt the plant’s built on, not the headquarters of the company.”
The Big Three
“The Big Three” refers to the three largest automobile manufacturers headquartered in the United States. While there have been roughly 1,800 car manufacturers in the US over the course of the 20th century, only three large corporations with considerable sales numbers were left by the 1980s. The terms is applied to General Motors, the Ford Motor Company, and the Chrysler Corporation.
General Motors

The Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit serves as the global headquarters of General Motors.
See General Motors for a complete overview of the corporation

General Motors is the largest automobile manufacturer in the United States and the world. GM is headquartered at the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit, employs approximately 327,000 people, sold 9.17 million cars world-wide, and had a $192.6 billion revenue for the year 2005. The corporation sells its vehicles in the United States under the following divisions and subsidiaries:
• Buick
• Cadillac
• Chevrolet
• GMC
• Hummer
• Pontiac
• Saab
• Saturn

Ford Motor Company

A Ford assembly line in 1913, ten years after the company was founded in 1903.
See Ford Motor Company for a complete overview of the corporation

The Ford Motor Company (FoMoCo) was founded in 1904 by Henry Ford, and is America’s second largest and the world’s third largest vehicle manufacturer according to total sales volume. In 2005, the Ford Motor Company had a total revenue of $178.1 billion. The corporation sells vehicles under the following brand names and subsidiaries:
• Aston Martin (Ford retains a roughly 7.7% stake[27])
• Ford
• Jaguar (also has the rights to the Daimler brand in some markets)
• Land Rover (both Land Rover and Jaguar were sold in 2008 to Tata Motors)
• Lincoln
• Mazda
• Mercury
•

Chrysler

The Chrysler 300 has become one of the best selling American sedans and has marked Chrysler’s revival, according to many critics.
See Chrysler for more detailed description

Formed in 1925 by Walter Percy Chrysler, the Chrysler Corporation has since been one of the most important American automobile manufacturers, consistently ranking as the third-biggest for most of the post-war period.
In 1998, the Chrysler Corporation officially merged with Daimler-Benz of Germany, into a new entity, DaimlerChrysler (DCX), which is headquartered both in Stuttgart, Germany and Auburn Hills, Michigan (where the pre-merger headquarters of DaimlerBenz and Chrysler, respectively, were located). This raised a dispute on whether Chrysler (or, more specifically, the Chrysler Group within DCX, which consists of most former Chrysler Corporation operations and is headquartered in Auburn Hills) can still be seen as a domestic manufacturer. Nevertheless, the term “Big Three” still applied. Chrysler is once again an independent American corporation as of 2007.
In 2005, the Chrysler Group employed 83,130 people and sold 2.83 million vehicles globally, generating $57.4 billion in revenue. Chrysler manufactures and sells vehicles under the following brands:
• Chrysler
• Dodge
• Jeep
Other automakers with manufacturing operations in United States

The best-selling passenger car in the United States is not one from the Big Three, but the Toyota Camry, although it is also manufactured in the US
BMW
See BMW AG for a complete overview of the corporation
BMW opened its American manufacturing plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina in 1994, to manufacture the Z3 roadster, later replaced by the Z4 model. Since 2000, the plant also manufactures the X5 SUV. All those models are made exclusively at Spartanburg for both the domestic market and worldwide exports (not counting CKD operations in some countries).

Honda
See Honda for a complete overview of the corporation
Honda was the first Japanese automaker to build a factory in the United States. Following the success of the Accord, the company opened a new plant in Marysville, Ohio in 1982 to assemble the model, which went on to become the most popular car in the US in 1989. Honda expanded their operations and the scope of models manufactured in the US, building the Anna engine plant and East Liberty automobile assembly plant, and in 2001 opening Honda Manufacturing of Alabama in Lincoln. Most models sold under the Honda and Acura brands in North America are currently manufactured in either the U.S. or Canada. Others, such as the Honda Fit, Honda S2000, Acura TSX, and Acura RL, are imported from Japan. Some vehicles, such as the older CR-V (in the eastern United States) and the Civic SI hatchback, were imported from the UK. Some Accord passenger cars were imported from Mexico in the early 2000s.

Hyundai
See Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama for more detailed description
Hyundai Motor Company started manufacturing in the United States in 2005, when their plant in Montgomery, Alabama started the production of the Sonata sedan. It was joined in 2006 by the new Santa Fe SUV.

Mazda
See AutoAlliance International for more detailed description
Ford Motor Company and Mazda Motor Corporation jointly operate an automobile assembly plant in Michigan that currently produces the Mazda6 and the Ford Mustang.

Mercedes-Benz
See Mercedes-Benz U.S. International for more detailed description
In 1997, a year before the merger of Damiler-Benz and Chrysler, the former Daimler-Benz followed the steps of their Bavarian competitor and opened a plant in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, to serve as a worldwide production location for the new M-Class. The M-Class has since then been replaced by a new generation and joined by the new R-Class and GL-Class, also manufactured exclusively in Alabama.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation
See Diamond-Star Motors for more detailed description
Mitsubishi Motors entered the American market through a long-standing partnership with Chrysler Corporation, and later this partnership was extended into a 50/50 joint venture manufacturing operation named Diamond-Star Motors (DSM) in Normal, Illinois. In 1991, Mitsubishi took over Chrysler’s share in DSM and in 1995 renamed it Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) Manufacturing Division. The plant has produced a number of Mitsubishi models and their Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth and Eagle derivatives, and currently manufactures vehicles based on the American-designed PS platform – the Galant, Eclipse and Endeavor. Manufacturing of related Chrysler-branded vehicles was taken over by Chrysler Group, and while other related Mitsubishi vehicles are sold worldwide.

Nissan
See Nissan Motors for a complete overview of the corporation
Nissan opened their first factory in the 1980s in Smyrna, Tennessee, joined in the new millennium by another plant in Canton, Mississippi. Most models sold under the Nissan brand in United States, as well as Infiniti QX56, are currently manufactured there – contrary to Toyota or Honda, the company does not have any manufacturing operation in Canada. However, Nissan maintains manufacturing operations in Mexico, from which its smaller U.S.-market cars are imported from. Most North American models are specific to this market, although some models, like the Murano and Quest, are exported to other continents.

Subaru
See Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. for more detailed description
Subaru teamed up with fellow Japanese manufacturer Isuzu, forming a joint-venture called Subaru Isuzu Automotive to build and operate a manufacturing plant in Lafayette, Indiana. The plant made Subaru cars and Isuzu SUVs mostly for the American market until 2003, when Isuzu, facing faltering sales in America, decided to quit the venture selling their share to Subaru for $1. The plant continued to build Isuzu Rodeos under contract until the end of that vehicle’s production run. From then on, the production was limited to Subaru models such as Legacy and its derivatives Outback and Baja, as well as the new B9 Tribeca. The two latter models are only built in Indiana for all markets where they are sold. After Toyota acquired a stake in Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent company of Subaru, it shifted some of the Toyota Camry production to the Lafayette plant.

Toyota Motor Corporation

See Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America for more detailed description
Toyota’s first foray into automobile manufacturing in the United States was NUMMI, a joint venture with General Motors based on the latter’s production facility in California, which started in 1984 and has been manufacturing Toyota models and their versions branded as Geo, Chevrolet and Pontiac. Toyota went on to establish a number of wholly owned plants in states such as Kentucky, Indiana, California, West Virginia and Alabama, as well as in Canada. It does not, however, operate a plant in Mexico. More than half of Toyota-branded vehicles sold in the United States come from American plants. Conversely, all Scions are imported from Japan. Lexus-branded models are imported from Japan or Canada (RX only).

The Viper was conceived as a modern take on the classic American muscle car. While there are some who insist that the iconic AC Cobra was a source of inspiration, the final version of the Viper was far too large and heavy to seriously claim any direct lineage with the compact and lightweight vehicle. Most saw claims to kinship with the Cobra as a marketing exercise, although Carroll Shelby was involved in the initial design of the Viper.

The Viper was initially conceived in late 1987 at Chrysler’s Advanced Design Studios. The following February, Chrysler president Bob Lutz suggested to Tom Gale at Chrysler Design that the company should consider producing a modern Cobra, and a clay model was presented to Lutz a few months later. The car appeared as a concept at the North American International Auto Show in 1989, and public reaction was so enthusiastic, that chief engineer Roy Sjeoberg was directed to develop it as a production car.

Sjoberg selected 85 engineers to be “Team Viper”, with development beginning in March 1989. The team asked then-Chrysler subsidiary Lamborghini to cast some prototype aluminum blocks based on their V10 truck engine for sports car use in May. The production body was completed in the fall, with a chassis prototype running in December. Though a V8 was first used in the test mule, the V10 which the production car was meant to use was ready in February 1990.

Official approval from Chrysler chairman, Lee Iacocca, came in May 1990. One year later, Carroll Shelby piloted a preproduction car as the Indianapolis 500 pace car. In November 1991, the car was released to reviewers with first shipments beginning in January 1992.

First generation (1992 – 1995)
Generation One
Viper RT/10
Production: 1992 – ]1995
Body style: 2-door roadster
Engine: 8.0 L V10
400 hp (298 kW)
450 ft/lb (610 Nm)
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Wheelbase: 96.2 in (2443 mm)
Length: 175.1 in (4448 mm)
Width: 75.7 in (1923 mm)
Height: 44.0 in (1118 mm)
Curb weight: 3400 lb (1542 kg)
Fuel economy: 14 mpg (16.8 L/100 km)
19 mpg (12.4 L/100 km)

The first prototype was tested in December 1989. It first debuted in 1991 with three pre-production models as the pace car for the Indianapolis 500 when Dodge was forced to substitute it in place of the Stealth, and went on sale in January 1992 as the soft roofed RT/10 Roadster.

The centerpiece of the car was its engine. Originally designed as a truck engine and based on the Chrysler LA engine, then a division of the Chrysler Corporation, revamped Dodge’s cast-iron block V10 for the Viper by recasting the block and head in aluminum alloy, and giving the engine a significant power boost. Some within Lamborghini felt the pushrod two-valve design, while adequate for the truck application for which the engine was originally created, was unsuitable for a performance car and suggested a more comprehensive redesign which would have included four valves per cylinder. However, Chrysler was uncertain about the Viper’s production costs and sales potential and so declined to provide the budget for the modification.

The engine produced 400 hp (298 kW) at 4600 rpm and 450 ft/lb (610 Nm) of torque at 3600 rpm, and thanks to the long-gearing allowed by the torquey engine, provided surprising fuel economy at a claimed 21 mpg US (11.2 L/100 km) if driven sedately. The body was a tubular steel frame with resin transfer molding (RTM) fiberglass panels. Typical of American performance car design, it had a front-mounted engine driving the rear wheels; it was also heavy with a curb weight of 3,280 lb (1,488 kg) and lacked many modern driver aids such as traction control or anti-lock brakes. Car and Driver magazine referred to this generation as “the world’s biggest Fat Boy Harley”, and likened driving it to “playing ping pong with a Louisville Slugger baseball bat.” Despite this, in straight line performance, it completed a quarter mile in 12.9 seconds and had a maximum speed of 164 mph (264 km/h).

Suspension on the first-gen Viper was equally frugal, with many front-end pieces coming directly from the Dakota pickup truck.

Second generation (1996 – 2002)
Generation Two
Viper RT/10, GTS
Dodge Viper GTS – the fixed-roof coupe version of the Viper
Production: 1996 – 2002
Body style: 2-door roadster
2-door coupe
Engine: 8.0 L V10
450 hp (336 kW)
Transmission: 6-speed manual

Second generation models increased engine power, improved suspension, and reduced braking distances; the 1996 to 2002 Viper GTS had a 450 bhp (336 kW) engine, which could complete the quarter mile 0.7 seconds faster and increased top speed by 35 km/h (22 mph) or so. A number of third party firms have modified the car to boost performance.

A coupe model, called the GTS, was also introduced in 1996. An interesting feature of the coupe was the “double bubble” roof contours; two small humps to accommodate drivers wearing helmets. Indeed, the Viper’s performance has made the vehicle popular for both amateur and professional racers. Vipers can be seen participating often in drag racing, road racing and drifting. The GTS, like its predecessor, was chosen as the pace car for the 1996 Indianapolis 500.

Dodge contracted French racing team Oreca to build a racing version of the Viper known as the GTS-R in the FIA GT Championship’s GT2 category, where they won the series in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002 (the last two with Larbre Competition). The car also won its class in the Le Mans 24 Hours from 1998 to 2000 and took overall win at the 24 hours of Daytona. Dodge would celebrate by releasing a special edition model with the winning car’s livery.

In the first six years of production almost 10,000 Vipers were sold. The second generation Vipers were exported to Europe, where they were sold as Chryslers.

The 1999 model was the last Viper that had forged pistons. Subsequent years had lighter-weight, hypereutectic pistons similar to other sports cars, as well as improved exhaust systems. Also in 1999, the American Club Racing (ACR) model was introduced. This model featured suspension and engine enhancements focused on maximizing performance in road racing and autocross environments. Horsepower was bumped to 460 bhp in these models. Continuing chassis refinements, ABS braking was introduced in 2001. In 2002, the end of second generation production was celebrated with the release of 360 commemorative “Final Edition” models. These models were painted red with white stripes, paying tribute to the famous race-winning Oreca cars.
Third generation (2003-present)
Generation Three
Viper SRT/10
2006 Dodge Viper SRT-10 coupe
Production: 2003 – present
Body style: 2-door roadster
2-door coupe
Engine: 8.3 L V10
510 bhp @ 5600 rpm
525 ft/lb @ 4600 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Wheelbase: 98.8 in
Length: 175.6 in
Width: 75.2 in
Height: 47.6 in
Curb weight: 3380 lb
Similar: Chevrolet Corvette
The Dodge Viper underwent a major redesign in 2003, courtesy of DaimlerChrysler’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) group. The new Viper SRT-10 was heavily restyled with sharp, angled bodywork. The engine was enlarged to 8.3 L which, with other upgrades, combined to increased output to 504 hp (375 kW) and 525 ft/lb (711 Nm) of torque. The initial model was a convertible.

The new Viper SRT-10 Coupe (no longer called the GTS) was introduced in 2005 at the Detroit Auto Show as a 2006 model. It shares many of its body panels with the convertible but takes its side and rear styling cues from the Competition Coupe (see below). The new coupe looks much like the previous Viper GTS and retains the “double-bubble” roof shape of the original, along with the original GTS’s taillights, for an added homage to the original Viper coupe. In addition to these style upgrades, the Viper receives 510 hp (380 kW) and 525 ft/lb (711 Nm) of torque.

The third generation Viper has been sold in Europe since 2004, the first model to be sold as a Dodge, as part of Chrysler’s new sales strategy for the European market. It’s however sold as the “Dodge SRT-10″, as the Viper name is a registered trademark in the UK.

Using such production engine components as the block, cylinder heads, and crankshaft, Team Viper engineers were able to extract 700 hp from the normally 450 hp second generation 8.0 L V10 engine. The chassis was re-engineered from the ground up by British sportscar manufacturer Reynard Motorsport’s Special Projects Division under chief engineer Paul Brown, losing much of the Roadcar’s heavy tubular steel and fibreglass structure in favour of lightweight carbon fibre components.

The car made its competition debut in the 24 Hours of Daytona with Canaska Racing in 1996, then the 24 Hours of Le Mans, when a GTS-R finished tenth overall in its very first run for glory. The next year, Team Viper (who now switched services to Oreca) switched to the GT2 class and proceeded to dominate, winning five titles in the FIA GT Championship between 1997 and 2002. Oreca switched to the prototype class in 2000, but customer Vipers continued to be the most competitive in the series.

In 1998, Team Viper returned to Le Mans to set new track records in practice. When the checkered flag dropped on the 24th hour of the longest day in racing, Viper GTS-R racers finished first and second in their class to become the first American car to win at Le Mans in three decades, and the first-ever production-based American car to grace the winner’s circle.

In addition to the race cars, Chrysler built 100 street-legal 1998 GT2 Championship Edition Vipers, which were rated at 460 hp (343 kW) and 500 ft/lb (67 Nm) of torque. Named after the GT2 categories it competed in, it was aesthetically similar to the GTS-R with it’s paint job, aerodynamics package, and visual options in order to publicize the Viper’s achievement in the FIA and Le Mans.

As of 2003, a special, non-street legal Viper SRT-10 Competition Coupe is available from Dodge for race car drivers, picking up where the GTS-R racing variant left off. The power and torque ratings have been improved, but the vehicle has been stripped of anything not essential for racing, such as the interior body panels, instrumentation, air conditioning, and stereo system which lightened the car by 380 lb (170 kg). The “CompCoupe” comes equipped with a full roll cage, a racing fuel cell, and other racing-related equipment. It is not sold through dealers and is purchased from Dodge directly as, essentially, a very expensive race car component. Pricing is approximately US$139,000. The Viper Competition Coupe sees action in the highly competitive SCCA Speed GT World Challenge.

In 2004 Samuel Hubinette used a Competition Coupe with a modified rear axle for the Formula D, in which he won the title before the car was barred by the end of the season (due to the fact FD would adopt D1 Grand Prix regulations from the following year which had already prohibited the car from competing) and was replaced by an SRT-10 the following season.

After a few one-off entries in the Spa 24 Hours, from 2006, the Viper Competition Coupe will race in Europe fulltime for the first time, joining the new FIA GT3 Cup with the Italian team Racing Box.
Hennessey Venom 1000 Twin Turbo

A normal SRT-10 Viper Coupe and Covertibles tuned by Hennessey. The fastest limited edition street car in the world. For the September 2005 issue, Road & Track magazine gathered 14 of the world’s fastest vehicles including the Hennessey Venom 1000 Twin Turbo and the Rocketsport Racing DHL Lola-Ford Cosworth Champ Car. At hand was a test of speed on the 13,000 ft. runway at Lemoore Naval Air Station where each vehicle would run the standing mile. At the end of the day the Hennessey Venom Twin Turbo had posted the highest speed of the day running the standing mile in 25.6 sec. @ 210.2 mph and the DHL Lola Champ car had run a best of 24.23 sec. @ 203.3 mph. The Hennessey Venom Twin Turbo also posted the quickest 0-200 mph in the test laying down a time of 21.3 sec. a compared to the DHL Champ car’s time fo 22.0 sec.

Power:
1000 hp @ 5000 rpm
1100 lb-ft torque @ 3800 rpm

Performance:
0-60: 2.9 sec.
0-100: 5.9 sec.
0-150: 10.9 sec.
0-200: 19.9 sec.
Top Speed: 205 mph (theoretical)

Includes:
2006 Dodge Viper SRT-10 Coupe or Convertible
Brembo Upgraded Brakes
Venom 1000 Twin Turbo Engine Upgrade
Adjustable Traction Control
522 CID Stroker Motor with 9.0:1 Compression
Quaife Differential Upgrade
Twin Garrett Turbos
Hennessey Venom 7R Wheels
Air-to-Air Intercooler
Michelin Pilot Sport 2 Tires
VenomAero Body Upgrade
Limited Edition Connolly Leather Interior with Custom Embroidery
KW Adjustable Suspension
5-Point Racing Harnesses
DVD Navigation System
Hennessey Custom Floor Mats
2 Year/24,000 Mile Warranty
1-Day Private Track Instruction

Cost: $225,000

The Chrysler Sebring has long been an interesting choice for a midsize vehicle. Debuting more than a decade ago, the Sebring has been one of the few mainstream-brand vehicles available to be offered as a coupe, sedan and convertible. For the most part, our editors were impressed with early versions of the Sebring thanks to their style and value, but more recently the car has lost its edge to fresher competitors.

Chrysler recently performed a full redesign in hopes of making the Sebring more desirable and competitive. It’s now available as a sedan and a convertible (with either a soft- or hardtop), and overall it’s a higher-quality car that’s more interesting to behold and roomier than its predecessor. It also has several engine choices, an extensive equipment list and advanced technology going for it. However, mediocre performance and cut-rate interior materials drop the Chrysler Sebring back in the pack among midsize cars in this price range. It’s still worth considering, particularly if you’re looking for an affordable hardtop convertible, but consumers should be aware that it’s one of many viable choices.

The current Chrysler Sebring sedan was redesigned for the 2007 model year. The convertible sat out ‘07, returning as an early 2008 model with an optional retractable hardtop. Both body styles are offered in base, Touring and Limited trim levels. Base Sebrings start out reasonably well-equipped with full power accessories, front side-impact and full-length head curtain airbags, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, CD/MP3 audio and, on the convertible, a power vinyl top. Touring models get 17-inch alloy wheels, upgraded audio speakers and LED cabin lighting, while the top-of-the-line Limited features leather trim, automatic climate control and a premium audio system with satellite radio.

The Sebring’s options list is lengthy; highlights include a rear-seat entertainment system and a 20-gigabyte hard drive-based navigation/audio system. In lieu of the aforementioned vinyl top, Sebring convertible buyers can opt for a power cloth top or a power-retractable hardtop.

Standard on most Sebrings is a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine rated for 173 horsepower. Optional on the Sebring Touring sedan, and standard on Sebring Touring and Limited convertibles, is a 2.7-liter V6 good for 189 hp. With either of these engines, a four-speed automatic transmission routes power to the front wheels. Available on Limited models only is a 235-hp 3.5-liter V6 backed by a more sophisticated six-speed automatic transmission.

Cabin space is generally on par with the rest of the midsize car class, as the Sebring sedan offers respectable amounts of headroom and legroom. Front-seat occupants in the Chrysler Sebring convertible will find the quarters similarly roomy, but the droptop’s rear seat has considerably less legroom and can accommodate only two passengers. Cabin design is clean and ergonomically sound, but the quality of interior plastics is subpar for this price range.

On the road, the base four-cylinder delivers the best fuel economy, but feels sluggish and coarse when accelerating. A better choice for most people is the 2.7-liter V6, as it provides much stronger performance when merging and passing. The most powerful engine, the 3.5-liter V6, is still a tad light on launching power but satisfyingly smooth once it spins up. If you’re shopping for a Chrysler Sebring, be it a sedan or a convertible, the 3.5-liter V6 is by far the best choice.

Ride quality is among the Sebring’s strong points, as it proves both comfortable and composed at freeway speeds. Braking and handling are just average, though. The Sebring exhibits moderate body roll around corners but has decently weighted steering.

The original Sebring was launched in 1995 as Chrysler’s new midsize coupe. Mechanically, it was related to the Mitsubishi Galant of the same period. Available in LX or LXi trim, the Sebring coupe came with a 163-hp, 2.5-liter V6 and a standard four-speed automatic. At the time, the vehicle’s best attributes were its sporty and purposeful exterior styling and roomy (for a coupe) interior. Despite a steeply raked windshield and roof line, headroom fore and aft was adequate even for adults, and the trunk impressed us with its size. The biggest downside was the V6’s marginal performance.

The first-generation Chrysler Sebring convertible debuted a year later. However, this model was based on Chrysler’s own platform. (It was related to the Cirrus/Stratus/Breeze compacts.) At the time the car brought class, dignity and quite a bit of luxury to this otherwise whimsical segment, and became very successful with upscale buyers of all ages.

In 2001 Chrysler introduced a new Sebring sedan and reworked coupes and convertibles powered by updated engines and transmissions. As before, the coupe shared a platform with Mitsubishi. At the top of the heap was a 3.0-liter V6 cranking out 200 hp. It was initially available only in the LXi Coupe. Standard in convertibles and LXi Sedans was the Chrysler-built 2.7-liter V6 rated at 200 hp. A 2.4-liter four-cylinder was also available. In early reviews we praised the Sebring for its good looks, solid performance, competitive pricing and wide range of body styles.

Minor updates followed in successive years, and Chrysler shuffled the trim levels on a nearly annual basis: The familiar Sebring LX and LXi models ultimately gave way to GTC, TSi, Touring and Limited trim levels. Note that the Sebring coupe was discontinued after the 2005 model year, while the Sebring convertible and sedan continued through 2006.

As time went by, the second-generation Chrysler Sebring became increasingly uncompetitive. In later tests, we found that its drivetrains were unrefined; its ride quality was harsh (particularly in the sedan); and its build and interior materials quality were well below average. Though it wouldn’t hurt for used-car shoppers to take a look at the Sebring — especially those interested in the model-year range of the late ’90s to early 2000s — it’s probably wise to consider other options before making a final decision.

Combining refinement, function and style, the Chrysler Nassau concept explores a new expression of the Chrysler brand. The four-door, four-passenger Chrysler Nassau luxury coupe is, as Alan Barrington, principal exterior designer of the concept said, “a more emotional and artistic articulation of what it means to be a Chrysler.

Though built on a full-size 120-inch wheelbase, the Nassau appears more visually compact than a comparable Chrysler 300C.

“Traditional exterior proportions have been enhanced with a silhouette that recalls the classic English ’shooting brake,’” said Barrington. “This provides SUV-like interior volume with a lower, more roadworthy physique.”

Barrington said the exterior design vocabulary is fluid and sophisticated with special attention paid to wheel placement relative to the body surface for a sleek, toned stance.

“In order to attain a more compact appearance,” explained Barrington, “the Nassau has deliberately concise front and rear overhangs, with the body surface wrapped around the large 10-spoke 21-inch wheels.”

Accenting the Mystic Blue Pearl color of the body, the sill and the lower portions of the front and rear fascias are finished in Starbright Silver. The lower surface of the body is defined by a subtle undercut that rises slightly toward the rear wheel.

Though the arc of the roof resembles that of a coupe, the Chrysler Nassau concept is in fact a four-door hard top with front and rear side glass that retracts fully, revealing the absence of an above-the-belt B-pillar. The crisp but fluid A-line that closes slightly against the rising belt is also of particular note.

“We sought to capture the effect of a classic sculpture-an artistic approach with a shapely flowing of lines that give the impression of movement even while standing still,” Barrington said. “The line in the profile draws down and into the taillamp, leading the eye of the observer toward to the dramatic back end which creates its unexpected ’shooting brake’ appearance.”

In side view, the upper portion of the rear hatch is steeply raked, with the back light swept cleanly around to the C-pillars. The lower portion of the tapering back light glass is pulled emphatically rearward, a treatment repeated in the near vertical surface of the lower hatch. The flanking taillamps are graphically the reverse of the headlamps, with the lenses growing wider as they sweep around to the side, with the bright accent along the bottom of the lens. Much of the lens is populated by rows of bright rectangles set in a red field, the rectangles helping to delineate the surface of the rear quarters when the lamps are unlit. All exterior lighting is visually distinctive with the use of atypical textures, colors and LED technology.

Fronting the long hood is a new interpretation of the eggcrate Chrysler grille, rendered in chrome and satin aluminum. Bracketing the grille and sweeping rearward nearly to the wheel openings, the long, narrowing headlamps and their upper chrome brows combine with the rising sculptured line of the upper fascia to subliminally evoke the uplifted wings of the Chrysler badge.

The Chrysler Nassau’s lower fascia is accented by the long chrome brows of the tapering left and right fog lamps, a detail replicated in the “repeater lamps” of the slim, door-mounted side view mirrors. The plan view of the Nassau highlights the dramatic swept-back curves that define both the front and rear fascias.

Stepping into the Chrysler Nassau, one enters a new world of luxury specially designed to a younger, aspiring audience. The presiding interior theme is one of flowing seamless sculpture composed of leathers and fabrics derived from futuristic architectural interiors.

“We looked carefully at space efficiency,” said Ben Chang, principal designer of the Nassau’s luxurious interior. “We pushed the interior surfaces outboard to increase the space inside while individual bucket seating provides each of the four occupants personal space.

“The look of various components inside the vehicle was inspired by the design of contemporary cell phones, computers, iPods and MP3 players,” Chang added. “We paid close attention to the graphics and finishes of these technologically advanced products, seeking to make controls in the Nassau’s interior that the driver interfaces with similar to what you’d find in the office or among personal electronic devices. We strived to achieve a seamless interface between your car and the rest of your electronic world.”

The instrument panel is a showcase for new technologies in data display, personal control interface, and home theater-inspired entertainment. Gear selection is accomplished via a pod control mounted on the instrument panel while the steering wheel incorporates auxiliary paddle shifters.

“The look of the instrument cluster was based on an expensive watch, again because we sought to create a visible connection with what people have and use,” Chang said.

While the instrument cluster has its own taut brow, the shape of the forward portion of the instrument panel is sensuously sculpted. Housing the main cluster, the upper surface of the panel includes a wide asymmetrical elliptical opening.

The shape was inspired and reminiscent of Constantin Brancusi’s famous Bird in Space sculptures. Brancusi, an artist based in Paris from the 1920s to the 1940s, was preoccupied by physical attributes of birds in flight, or more specifically, the essence of flight. The theme fits perfectly with the vehicle’s goal of giving the constant impression of smooth, slender movement.

Within the housing of the instrument panel (I/P) is a three-layer screen, which allows the simultaneous display of the navigation, passenger entertainment and vehicle function displays.

As they move toward the doors, the left and right side lower portions of the two-tone I/P rise upward, again subtly reprising the Chrysler wings. Sandwiched between the upper and lower surfaces of the instrument panel are partially-concealed horizontal vents that direct cool air into the cabin.

The four handsomely-formed bucket seats are covered in cream-colored leather, with the suede accents in a fine bamboo texture, a theme repeated on the door trim panels. Occupants can gaze upward through twin “Picture View” skylights, longitudinal blue-tinted glass panels that run the length of the roof panel. Those in the rear seats can enjoy a movie displayed on the flush video screens incorporated into the rear-facing portion of each of the front seat headrests.

Running fore-aft between the seats is a center console with a satin silver trim strip that travels from the I/P center stack to the upper rear seat backs. Set within the console are the front and rear “joy stick” controls designed to function much like the “mouse” control of a home or office computer. Power window switches and flush-mounted pop-up cup holders are also contained in the console.

Among the more interesting visual details within the Deep Mystic Blue and Cream interior are the refined-yet-simple chrome accents and textures used on the silver speaker grilles on the doors, seat back monitors, headliner and foot pedals.

Behind the passenger cabin, the surface of the boat tail-shaped cargo cover is accented with five stainless steel accent strips, while panels in the carpeted cargo area below offer additional storage.

Chrysler broke new ground when it introduced its Crossfire sports coupe last year, and keeps momentum for 2005 with significant additions to the line. Or maybe that should read “significant reductions,” as the most immediately noticeable addition is the removal of the top, to form the Crossfire Roadster.

The Roadster was planned from the inception of the Crossfire program, and was developed in tandem with the Coupe. As with the Coupe, the Roadster is a product of both sides of the DaimlerChrysler combine, styled in the U.S. by Chrysler, based on the first-generation Mercedes-Benz SLK and assembled by Karmann in Osnabrueck, Germany. The SLK platform is eminently suitable for drop-top use – the original SLK was the first modern convertible with a folding metal top, after all. The Crossfire Roadster’s power folding cloth top fits neatly into the space as the SLK’s metal top disappeared into.

The Crossfire line has grown in other ways, too. The regular models are now offered in two trim levels, base and Limited. Base models have a six-speed manual transmission, cloth upholstery, and low-back bucket seats; Limiteds get standard leather and high-back buckets, an available five-speed automatic transmission, and more luxury features. All have a moveable spoiler that deploys above 60 mph, and both convertible models feature a power-operated top that disappears completely beneath a stylish metal tonneau.