Chrysler celebrates 20 years of modern concepts

The first Chrysler concept ever built was the Lamborghini-engined, cab forward-styled, four-door Chrysler Portofino concept sedan in 1987. Now, almost 20 years and more than a 100 concepts later, the ‘concept to reality’ has become the phrase that drives Chrysler’s innovative product line.

“We’ve always said at Chrysler that we don’t just produce concepts for fun. We have proved year after year that our concepts are innovative and relevant,” said Trevor Creed, Senior Vice President - Product Design Office, Chrysler Group. Chrysler’s concepts allows their designers to test new colors, design cues, features, vehicle size and segments.

“While we can’t say yet if any of our 2007 concepts will eventually be seen in our showrooms, they clearly hint at exciting and innovative future design directions that could find their way into our company’s products,” Creed added.

Chrysler’s current 2007 concept lineup includes the Chrysler Nassau, Jeep Trailhawk and Dodge Demon. We long to see the Demon on the road
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SevorbeupstryIsBack - 5/29/2007 11:52:11 AM

0 Boost

Some of their concepts look really good.. but if you look at the current line-up one starts to wonder where all that talent has gone.

Threepoint1415926 - 5/29/2007 3:39:30 PM

+1 Boost

We all know where their talent went, after Mercedes finally broke lose. One starts to wonder why they dont put their concepts into production. We just keep getting watered down crap vehicles.

jt716 - 5/29/2007 3:54:19 PM

+1 Boost

Celebrating more then 20 years of losses! When was Chrysler ever profitable?? Concepts were sexy until they water them down with plastic more plastic and cheaper and more plastic

Anti_Bangle - 5/29/2007 7:58:16 PM

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Chrysler probably has the worst interior design in the industry. Celebrate this!!

fr88 - 6/1/2007 4:39:25 PM

+1 Boost

The timing is not real good for this. Reminds me of 1953, when a slew of sleek, elegant Exner concept cars built by Ghia were brought out to divert the attention of customers from the dumpy, graceless lineup of production cars in the showrooms. Pretty much the same thing today. The only Chrysler vehicles of any stature are the 300/Charger/Magnum. The rest of the lineup consists of graceless lumps with Playskool plastic interiors available in any color you want as long as it is a shade of dirt. Dirt Grey or Dirt Beige. Can they be any more grim?

Oh yes, there are the drivetrains of the FWD cars - droning, gutless lumps with neither refinement nor particularly stellar economy. So the driving is experience is dull in appearance and performance.

Indeed, where have the stylists gone who penned the beautiful concept cars of the 90's? Wunderkind Bryan Nesbitt went to GM, and 300 designer Ralph Gilles went to the Dodge Truck Division. The cars that have emerged since they left show the decision to let them leave was a tragic mistake.

Chrysler has the ability to build great cars. Some of the current mediocre ones can be invigorated by upgraded interiors and additional drivetrain refinement. And just the simple addition of color to the interior palette would give many models new life. It is the cheapest upgrade a manufacturer can do, so why don't they do it? For instance, the early 300's - from 1955-1961 - all had the same color saddle leather interior. Why was that color not offered from the beginning in 2005? Instead, the closest we got was Office Equipment Taupe. Yechh. Don't we see enough of that color? A 300 with a great exterior color and an interior such as saddle or red, or dark forest green (all with the tortoise trim) would be a stunner. The lucite steering wheel available in the 300C Heritage Edition was a great step in the right direction, but it's pale blue-green color that is out of whack with the standard Shade of Dirt Taupe interior -the only one offered.

Add some visual glamour and excitement to the next generation of cars and trucks. It was there in the Lutz era, and continued to about 2005. It can be there again.