Honda-Acura.Net New York International Autoshow Coverage
04-14-2003, 08:07 AM
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2003 New York International Autoshow Preview
Here's Honda-Acura.Net's Preview of the 2003 New York International Autoshow (also to be found on, uh..the Car Connection). 98CoupeV6 and I (hopefully) will both go down there and take plenty of pictures, as well as gather information.
Every other year, automotive journalists experience a rare sort of nirvana. It s difficult to tell if it s the enlightenment of seven major auto shows dawning upon us or just a contact buzz from the ink on the two tons of press kits we re compelled to cart home. But 2003 is one of those biannual highs that puts us and you in the driver s seat through the major auto shows in L.A., Detroit, Chicago, Geneva, New York, Frankfurt, and Tokyo.
The New York auto show rounds out the year in American shows, and it seems set to do it in a style best termed New York Brash. How else to explain the worldwide intros of about 20 new vehicles, including trios of important product from Nissan and Toyota, not to mention a groundbreaking new direction for Chrysler cars?
2004 Chrysler LX
We've shown you spy pictures of Chrysler s upcoming rear-wheel-drive LX that s set for a New York debut. The new car will switch the Chrysler sedans from a front-wheel drive platform to rear-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive as an option. Power is expected to come from an optional 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 or a base 3.5-liter V-6 powerplant, and the cars will share several components with Mercedes, including their five-speed automatic transmission and electronic stability control system.
2004 Nissan Pathfinder Armada/Titan CrewCab
Nissan will follow up on its Detroit trifecta with a pair of trucks sure to cause concern in Detroit, Dearborn and Auburn Hills. The full-size Pathfinder Armada SUV shares design features and components with the recently introduced Titan pickup, and it too will be built alongside at Nissan s plant in Canton, Miss. Power will come from a 300-horsepower 5.6-liter DOHC V-8. The newest member of Nissan s quickly growing family is expected to be available next fall, as will a Crew Cab version of the Titan.
2004 Toyota Prius/Camry Solara
Toyota is planning a busy schedule of introductions for April s New York Auto Show. The company has released a sketch of its HPX concept car with a brief description, calling the concept a high-performance, all-wheel-drive crossover. Gone un-photoed: the two production models due at New York. The 2004 Prius, which Toyota says will be larger and more fuel-efficient than the current car, and the 2004 Camry Solara, the two-door version of Toyota s Camry sedan. Toyota says the Solara will be its most American effort to date, with development, styling and production all handled within U.S. borders.
2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
In Detroit we showed you the four-door Malibu due in 2004. New York s turn comes with the 2004 Chevy Malibu Maxx. Like the Malibu four-door, it s built off GM s Epsilon architecture, which also is the basis of the Saab 9-3 and Opel Vectra. But the Maxx has something different from the sedan namely, a fifth door. The Malibu Maxx is a hatchback in the tradition of the old Mazda 626 hatchback, though Chevy will call it an extended sedan. It is six inches longer than the standard sedan, with six inches of travel in the back seat of both models, allowing the driver to reconfigure the back seat and luggage area to accommodate passengers or gear. The front passenger seat folds flat. Chevy boasts that an eight-foot kayak or eight-foot stepladder fits inside the car with the trunk closed. The trunk of the Maxx has a flexible half that works to hide gear, and it stands up on a post when the trunk is open for a tailgating table. It also will come with a standard remote starter, literally a hot-button feature that Chevy feels will have as much allure to buyers in cold-weather states as a disappearing third seat on a minivan.
2004 Mazda 3
Mazda is scheduled to show its recent MX Sportif concept car from Geneva show in New York but our sources suggest that concept is a dead ringer for the 04 Mazda3. Based on Ford s CW170 world small-car platform and sharing this platform with the upcoming Volvo S40 and future Ford Focus, the Mazda3 will be officially introduced during the 2004 model year. The North American market will first see sedan and sport wagon variants, with the hatchbacks (three- and five-door models) possibly to follow. The exterior design of the Mazda3 (and especially the front) is closely related to that of the Mazda6. Due to its low and sloping roofline, the new lineup will appear quite dynamic. The engine offerings for North America are expected to include a 2.0-liter four and a 2.3-liter four, with other options available in Europe and Asia.
2004 Kia Opirus
Kia has big plans for the coming New York Auto Show big as in full-size, that is. The Korean company says it will pull the wraps off its biggest sedan ever on April 17 at 1 p.m. at the Jacob Javits Center. Details in a release were sketchy Kia didn t even release the name but the company s American president promises the five-passenger car will be competitive with more expensive vehicles. Kia is the value brand that always delivers more than you expect, said Kia Motors America President Peter M. Butterfield, and we plan to fulfill that promise yet again with a brand new, large sedan with all the comfort, convenience and safety found in vehicles costing thousands more.
2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK Cabriolet
The CLK Cabrio has already been shown in Geneva, but the New York show will be its first chance to show its sheetmetal for the American public. While Mercedes has been moving to retractable hardtops on many of its cabrios, the CLK keeps a cloth top. Improved aerodynamics should translate into both better mileage and reduced wind noise. The Cabrio boasts a range of high-tech safety hardware, including a rollover protection system. Three engines will come to the U.S. versions: the 215-hp CLK 320 is powered by the 3.2-liter V-6; the CLK 500 gets a 302-hp V-8; and the 369-hp CLK55 AMG gets a 5.5-liter V-8 and paddle-style shifters.
2004 Nissan 350Z Convertible
Nissan distributed this photo of the upcoming 350Z roadster earlier this year, promising that the two-seat convertible will make its first appearance at April s New York auto show. The 350Z roadster will come with a power-operated cloth top with glass rear window, according to a release from the company. It goes on sale this summer.
2004 Saab 9-3 Convertible
It's been tough times for the Swedish automaker, but company officials are betting things will start getting better when they roll out the next variation on the all-new 9-3 theme. The compact convertible is expected to capture 15 percent of Saab 9-3 sales worldwide, and about 25 percent in the U.S. Saab has always been strong in the cabrio market, and currently captures about four in ten sales of four-seat ragtops. The 9-3 s hydraulically-powered cloth top is the fastest in its class, taking just 20 seconds to deploy. It features several other unusual touches, including a unique cargo wing that serves double duty, either as a spoiler or a carrier for skis and other cargo. Then there s the Cargo Set, basically the trunk equivalent of an expanding suitcase. When room for extra cargo is needed, the deck lid raises up several inches. The 9-3 convertible will be customized at the Magna-Steyr plant in Graz, Austria.
2004 Buick Rendezvous Ultra
Buick will up the power of the popular Rendezvous SUV in 2004 by adding a new V-6 engine to the vehicle. The motor will be a 3.6-liter DOHC V-6 with 255 hp, and is to be shared with the Cadillac CTS and SRX crossover wagon. The engine in the Rendezvous today makes just 185 hp.
2004 MINI Cooper S
The New York Auto Show will be the backdrop as MINI introduces its most powerful vehicle yet a 200-hp Cooper S package dubbed the John Cooper Works package. Due this spring and developed by the John Cooper Works its namesake was the man who gave MINI its racing heritage in the 1960s, including three Monte Carlo wins the package can also be retrofitted to existing 2002 and newer MINI Cooper S cars. The package includes a reconfigured cylinder head, an uprated supercharger and special engine electronics and a performance exhaust, and boosts power from today's 163-hp maximum.
ALSO COMING: A new Mitsu Galant and possibly, a refreshed Diamante Caddy s high-performance V-Series an Acura concept said to presage the 2004 TL sedan.
Every other year, automotive journalists experience a rare sort of nirvana. It s difficult to tell if it s the enlightenment of seven major auto shows dawning upon us or just a contact buzz from the ink on the two tons of press kits we re compelled to cart home. But 2003 is one of those biannual highs that puts us and you in the driver s seat through the major auto shows in L.A., Detroit, Chicago, Geneva, New York, Frankfurt, and Tokyo.
The New York auto show rounds out the year in American shows, and it seems set to do it in a style best termed New York Brash. How else to explain the worldwide intros of about 20 new vehicles, including trios of important product from Nissan and Toyota, not to mention a groundbreaking new direction for Chrysler cars?
2004 Chrysler LX
We've shown you spy pictures of Chrysler s upcoming rear-wheel-drive LX that s set for a New York debut. The new car will switch the Chrysler sedans from a front-wheel drive platform to rear-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive as an option. Power is expected to come from an optional 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 or a base 3.5-liter V-6 powerplant, and the cars will share several components with Mercedes, including their five-speed automatic transmission and electronic stability control system.
2004 Nissan Pathfinder Armada/Titan CrewCab
Nissan will follow up on its Detroit trifecta with a pair of trucks sure to cause concern in Detroit, Dearborn and Auburn Hills. The full-size Pathfinder Armada SUV shares design features and components with the recently introduced Titan pickup, and it too will be built alongside at Nissan s plant in Canton, Miss. Power will come from a 300-horsepower 5.6-liter DOHC V-8. The newest member of Nissan s quickly growing family is expected to be available next fall, as will a Crew Cab version of the Titan.
2004 Toyota Prius/Camry Solara
Toyota is planning a busy schedule of introductions for April s New York Auto Show. The company has released a sketch of its HPX concept car with a brief description, calling the concept a high-performance, all-wheel-drive crossover. Gone un-photoed: the two production models due at New York. The 2004 Prius, which Toyota says will be larger and more fuel-efficient than the current car, and the 2004 Camry Solara, the two-door version of Toyota s Camry sedan. Toyota says the Solara will be its most American effort to date, with development, styling and production all handled within U.S. borders.
2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
In Detroit we showed you the four-door Malibu due in 2004. New York s turn comes with the 2004 Chevy Malibu Maxx. Like the Malibu four-door, it s built off GM s Epsilon architecture, which also is the basis of the Saab 9-3 and Opel Vectra. But the Maxx has something different from the sedan namely, a fifth door. The Malibu Maxx is a hatchback in the tradition of the old Mazda 626 hatchback, though Chevy will call it an extended sedan. It is six inches longer than the standard sedan, with six inches of travel in the back seat of both models, allowing the driver to reconfigure the back seat and luggage area to accommodate passengers or gear. The front passenger seat folds flat. Chevy boasts that an eight-foot kayak or eight-foot stepladder fits inside the car with the trunk closed. The trunk of the Maxx has a flexible half that works to hide gear, and it stands up on a post when the trunk is open for a tailgating table. It also will come with a standard remote starter, literally a hot-button feature that Chevy feels will have as much allure to buyers in cold-weather states as a disappearing third seat on a minivan.
2004 Mazda 3
Mazda is scheduled to show its recent MX Sportif concept car from Geneva show in New York but our sources suggest that concept is a dead ringer for the 04 Mazda3. Based on Ford s CW170 world small-car platform and sharing this platform with the upcoming Volvo S40 and future Ford Focus, the Mazda3 will be officially introduced during the 2004 model year. The North American market will first see sedan and sport wagon variants, with the hatchbacks (three- and five-door models) possibly to follow. The exterior design of the Mazda3 (and especially the front) is closely related to that of the Mazda6. Due to its low and sloping roofline, the new lineup will appear quite dynamic. The engine offerings for North America are expected to include a 2.0-liter four and a 2.3-liter four, with other options available in Europe and Asia.
2004 Kia Opirus
Kia has big plans for the coming New York Auto Show big as in full-size, that is. The Korean company says it will pull the wraps off its biggest sedan ever on April 17 at 1 p.m. at the Jacob Javits Center. Details in a release were sketchy Kia didn t even release the name but the company s American president promises the five-passenger car will be competitive with more expensive vehicles. Kia is the value brand that always delivers more than you expect, said Kia Motors America President Peter M. Butterfield, and we plan to fulfill that promise yet again with a brand new, large sedan with all the comfort, convenience and safety found in vehicles costing thousands more.
2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK Cabriolet
The CLK Cabrio has already been shown in Geneva, but the New York show will be its first chance to show its sheetmetal for the American public. While Mercedes has been moving to retractable hardtops on many of its cabrios, the CLK keeps a cloth top. Improved aerodynamics should translate into both better mileage and reduced wind noise. The Cabrio boasts a range of high-tech safety hardware, including a rollover protection system. Three engines will come to the U.S. versions: the 215-hp CLK 320 is powered by the 3.2-liter V-6; the CLK 500 gets a 302-hp V-8; and the 369-hp CLK55 AMG gets a 5.5-liter V-8 and paddle-style shifters.
2004 Nissan 350Z Convertible
Nissan distributed this photo of the upcoming 350Z roadster earlier this year, promising that the two-seat convertible will make its first appearance at April s New York auto show. The 350Z roadster will come with a power-operated cloth top with glass rear window, according to a release from the company. It goes on sale this summer.
2004 Saab 9-3 Convertible
It's been tough times for the Swedish automaker, but company officials are betting things will start getting better when they roll out the next variation on the all-new 9-3 theme. The compact convertible is expected to capture 15 percent of Saab 9-3 sales worldwide, and about 25 percent in the U.S. Saab has always been strong in the cabrio market, and currently captures about four in ten sales of four-seat ragtops. The 9-3 s hydraulically-powered cloth top is the fastest in its class, taking just 20 seconds to deploy. It features several other unusual touches, including a unique cargo wing that serves double duty, either as a spoiler or a carrier for skis and other cargo. Then there s the Cargo Set, basically the trunk equivalent of an expanding suitcase. When room for extra cargo is needed, the deck lid raises up several inches. The 9-3 convertible will be customized at the Magna-Steyr plant in Graz, Austria.
2004 Buick Rendezvous Ultra
Buick will up the power of the popular Rendezvous SUV in 2004 by adding a new V-6 engine to the vehicle. The motor will be a 3.6-liter DOHC V-6 with 255 hp, and is to be shared with the Cadillac CTS and SRX crossover wagon. The engine in the Rendezvous today makes just 185 hp.
2004 MINI Cooper S
The New York Auto Show will be the backdrop as MINI introduces its most powerful vehicle yet a 200-hp Cooper S package dubbed the John Cooper Works package. Due this spring and developed by the John Cooper Works its namesake was the man who gave MINI its racing heritage in the 1960s, including three Monte Carlo wins the package can also be retrofitted to existing 2002 and newer MINI Cooper S cars. The package includes a reconfigured cylinder head, an uprated supercharger and special engine electronics and a performance exhaust, and boosts power from today's 163-hp maximum.
ALSO COMING: A new Mitsu Galant and possibly, a refreshed Diamante Caddy s high-performance V-Series an Acura concept said to presage the 2004 TL sedan.
04-15-2003, 08:05 PM
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New York Auto Show is here...
The new shape of Chrysler was unveiled today (16 April) in New York with the worldwide debut of the 300C concept vehicle. The car, revealed at the 2003 New York International Auto Show, features an entirely new shape based on Chrysler’s all-new rear-drive architecture. The striking concept saloon continues the Chrysler brand’s proud ‘letter series’ tradition - but in a thoroughly modern way. It has been nearly five decades since Chrysler first introduced its fabled ’letter series’ cars. The brand’s renowned line of Chrysler 300s started with the C-300 in 1955, and continued for 11 years.
This Chrysler 300C concept features classic proportions - a long bonnet, short deck and a dramatic profile complete with 20-inch tyres. Paying tribute to some of the first ’letter series’ cars, a production version similar to the Chrysler 300C concept will go on sale in the USA in 2004. No decision has been made yet on whether the car will be available in right-hand drive form.
"Chrysler 300C signals a dramatic new design direction for Chrysler," said Dr Dieter Zetsche, President and CEO of the Chrysler Group. "With its new shape and noble proportions, the Chrysler 300C redefines the classic American car, while moving the brand solidly into the premium segment of the market."
While Chrysler 300C is a concept vehicle, it provides a strong hint at the first saloon from Chrysler Group’s much-anticipated next generation of rear-wheel drive vehicles to debut in 2004.
Dr Zetsche added: "With recent introductions including the innovative Chrysler Pacifica sports tourer, the head-turning Crossfire sports coupe, and now the all-new 300C, the Chrysler brand has one of the most impressive product portfolios in the industry."
Simon Elliott, Managing Director of Chrysler and Jeep in the UK said: "300C is indeed a fantastic-looking vehicle. We have put the case forward to our colleagues in America for it to be manufactured in right-hand drive and we are optimistic that we’ll get a good response."
Chrysler 300C Concept Sedan:
Performance
· 5.7-litre HEMI® V-8 engine
· Electronically-controlled five-speed automatic transmission with AutoStick®
· Rear-wheel drive configuration
· Short- and long-arm front suspension
· Independent five-bar multilink rear suspension
· Rack and pinion steering
· Front P245/45R20, Rear P275/40R20 tyres
· Deep-dish 20" x 8" front/20" x 9" rear five-spoke wheels
· Dual exhaust
Features
· Tortoiseshell accents on steering wheel rim, shifter knob and door pulls
· Heated leather seats
· Leather-wrapped steering wheel with flush-mounted audio and trip computer controls
· Tilt-telescoping steering wheel
· Automatic temperature control
Safety
· Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
· Traction Control
· Anti-lock brake system
· Vehicle architecture supporting all-wheel drive system
· High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps
· Navigation radio with integrated six-disc CD changer
I think it looks really good. Not as sporty as I would have liked to have seen, but there's supposed to be 7 LX variants and this is only the second...
04-15-2003, 08:10 PM
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wow.....
...definitely not what I was expecting. It looks more like a rolls royce than a chrysler...I guess it's a good thing though, seems like they're really pushing to make chrysler a lot different than Mercedes....so far, it looks like they're succeeding.
...definitely not what I was expecting. It looks more like a rolls royce than a chrysler...I guess it's a good thing though, seems like they're really pushing to make chrysler a lot different than Mercedes....so far, it looks like they're succeeding.
04-15-2003, 08:12 PM
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Continuing with its biggest ever product offensive, Saab Automobile AB expands its product line further with the introduction of the new Saab 9-2. The 9-2 will be Saab’s entry offer and will help attract new, younger customers to the brand. It is targeted at customers looking for a distinctive, fun-to-drive car with the versatility to support an active lifestyle. As customers would expect from Saab, the 9-2 will feature excellent driving dynamics with its sophisticated all-wheel drive system and turbo performance as well as great versatility with its hatchback body style.
Leveraging the global resources of the GM Group, Saab Automobile AB is collaborating with Fuji of Japan to create the new Saab 9-2 model in cooperation with Subaru, Fuji’s automotive division.
“We see an emerging segment in the United States for a premium, small car below the Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan,” says Peter Augustsson, President and CEO of Saab Automobile AB. "The Saab 9-2 is a result of collaboration between two like-minded brands. We both have a special aircraft heritage and a successful history in rallying, and our cars are known as dynamic, safe and fun-to-drive. It makes a lot of sense for us to combine our strengths in creating the next Saab and bring it to the market quickly," says Augustsson.
Saab will offer two versions of the new 9-2, both five-door, all-wheel drive cars. The base Saab 9-2 will be equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, while the Aero version will feature a high performance, 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Initially, the vehicle will only be offered in the United States and Canadian markets.
“Both brands have this special flair,” said Bob Lutz, GM’s Vice Chairman for Product Development. "It is such a natural fit for them to combine their talents and expertise to bring the first all-wheel-drive performance car into the Saab family - a car with great dynamic qualities and exhilarating performance."
The new Saab 9-2 will be produced in Fuji’s facilities in Japan, beginning in the spring of 2004.
Saab Automobile AB, based in Trollhättan, Sweden, is fully owned by GM, which has a 20 percent stake in Fuji.
I think it looks really good, from the front. The back basically looks like a reskinned Impreza. I know that Saabs conventionally have wagons that look like that from the back (9-5), but this is too obvious...
04-16-2003, 04:55 AM
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anyone notice that the two engines for this car are the only two offered on the Imprezas? The wrx 2.0 turbo and the impreza 2.5 liter big block while using Subarus awd chassis
these will only be reskinned Imprezas (wonder if they'll try to move the ignition to saabs quirky place) showing GMs ability to make Saab and Subaru just another Pontiac or Buick division where each unit has little originality outside of a slightly different sheetmetal, interior and badging
these will only be reskinned Imprezas (wonder if they'll try to move the ignition to saabs quirky place) showing GMs ability to make Saab and Subaru just another Pontiac or Buick division where each unit has little originality outside of a slightly different sheetmetal, interior and badging
04-16-2003, 06:27 AM
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lets just hope and pray that GM doesn't take a controlling stake in subaru. subaru, toyota and honda are the only japanese car companies left that are still controlled by japanese.
04-16-2003, 06:53 AM
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More pics and news:
Chrysler previews the look — outside and inside — of its next big sedans.
Chrysler says its New York Auto Show concept will reflect a sea change in its brand styling — and will hark back to the days of big performance from Chrysler’s four doors.
Following the lines of the Crossfire coupe and the recent Airflite concept from Geneva, the 300C concept bows wearing a heritage-influenced shape that’s formal, striking, and a direct link to the look of the Chrysler 300M replacement due early next year.
“After generations of bland, front-wheel-drive cars, all too many that look alike, we needed to break away and find a new package,” explained Chrysler’s design director, Trevor Creed, during an recent interview with TheCarConnection.com
Red letter day
The new shape reinterprets Chrysler’s “letter cars” from the Sixties in a modern way, say company officials. And thanks to mechanicals from Mercedes-Benz, the underpinnings are a return to the rear-drive form made legendary in cars like the C-300.
The U.S. side of DaimlerChrysler had been looking at rear-drive for more than a decade, “but we couldn’t figure out how we’d get there until the merger,” says Creed. But when the parts bin opened up the choice pieces on the other side of the Atlantic, Chrysler snapped up some for not just the 300C, but also the new Crossfire and Pacifica.
The new 300C concept’s dramatic proportions are highlighted by equally dramatic details. The long hood and short deck — the antithesis of cab-forward design that Chrysler championed in the early 1990s — is emphasized by an upright grille and 20-inch tires.
Not all Chrysler products will adopt the stance of the 300C and other cab-rearward designs. Cab-forward is closely identified with products such as the Neon, and will continue as long as Chrysler keeps building front-wheel-drive vehicles.
Fighting trim
Beneath the panels of the heritage homage, the 300C carries much the same equipment as Dodge’s Hemi-powered Magnum wagon from this year’s auto show circuit, with independent suspension front and back and rack-and-pinion steering. The rear-drive chassis is built with all-wheel-drive capability factored in. The Hemi engine is a version of the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 now found in the Dodge Ram. Here it’s mated to an electronically controlled five-speed Autostick automatic transmission.
Safety features on the concept include Electronic Stability Program (ESP), traction control, anti-lock brakes, and high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps.
Inside, the interior is decorated with fanciful touches sure to avoid production – tortoise-shell steering wheel accents — and features no doubt headed for the production car, including heated leather seats, tilt/telescoping steering, and automatic climate control.
Chrysler says the production version of the 300C will be very similar to the concept shown at the New York show. Early next year, it and the Dodge Magnum will bow in full production form.
http://www.thecarconnection.com/inde...&sid=176&n=156
The 300c looks VERY similar to a Rolls Royce. Not bad.
[/
Chrysler previews the look — outside and inside — of its next big sedans.
Chrysler says its New York Auto Show concept will reflect a sea change in its brand styling — and will hark back to the days of big performance from Chrysler’s four doors.
Following the lines of the Crossfire coupe and the recent Airflite concept from Geneva, the 300C concept bows wearing a heritage-influenced shape that’s formal, striking, and a direct link to the look of the Chrysler 300M replacement due early next year.
“After generations of bland, front-wheel-drive cars, all too many that look alike, we needed to break away and find a new package,” explained Chrysler’s design director, Trevor Creed, during an recent interview with TheCarConnection.com
Red letter day
The new shape reinterprets Chrysler’s “letter cars” from the Sixties in a modern way, say company officials. And thanks to mechanicals from Mercedes-Benz, the underpinnings are a return to the rear-drive form made legendary in cars like the C-300.
The U.S. side of DaimlerChrysler had been looking at rear-drive for more than a decade, “but we couldn’t figure out how we’d get there until the merger,” says Creed. But when the parts bin opened up the choice pieces on the other side of the Atlantic, Chrysler snapped up some for not just the 300C, but also the new Crossfire and Pacifica.
The new 300C concept’s dramatic proportions are highlighted by equally dramatic details. The long hood and short deck — the antithesis of cab-forward design that Chrysler championed in the early 1990s — is emphasized by an upright grille and 20-inch tires.
Not all Chrysler products will adopt the stance of the 300C and other cab-rearward designs. Cab-forward is closely identified with products such as the Neon, and will continue as long as Chrysler keeps building front-wheel-drive vehicles.
Fighting trim
Beneath the panels of the heritage homage, the 300C carries much the same equipment as Dodge’s Hemi-powered Magnum wagon from this year’s auto show circuit, with independent suspension front and back and rack-and-pinion steering. The rear-drive chassis is built with all-wheel-drive capability factored in. The Hemi engine is a version of the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 now found in the Dodge Ram. Here it’s mated to an electronically controlled five-speed Autostick automatic transmission.
Safety features on the concept include Electronic Stability Program (ESP), traction control, anti-lock brakes, and high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps.
Inside, the interior is decorated with fanciful touches sure to avoid production – tortoise-shell steering wheel accents — and features no doubt headed for the production car, including heated leather seats, tilt/telescoping steering, and automatic climate control.
Chrysler says the production version of the 300C will be very similar to the concept shown at the New York show. Early next year, it and the Dodge Magnum will bow in full production form.
http://www.thecarconnection.com/inde...&sid=176&n=156
The 300c looks VERY similar to a Rolls Royce. Not bad. [/