Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge, and Jeep Concept Cars
Why and how do they make concept cars?
Concept cars are made for many reasons, largely to get a visible, tangible look at a design before production so its feel can be evaluated, possible problems can be foreseen, and so reactions of non-gearheads can be judged. Sometimes, concepts test particular ideas - for example, colors and materials, controls and dashboard layouts, and the like. Those ideas can be rather subtle and hidden.
Other concepts are designed to help designers think out of the box. One example of that is the Jeep Treo, a study to consider what cars might be like when fuel cells are common (if they become common), and how that would affect styling. Without a large engine in front, for example, the Treo allows drivers to actually look through the grille.
Concept cars can be divided more precisely. Pre-production cars like the Challenger, Prowler, and Viper were all production-based concepts dressed up in doodads and geegaws to hide the production intent. A “true” concept is a styling, engineering, or manufacturing excercise that tests out consumer reaction to various ideas and is not a specific model production intent vehicle. For example, the Renegade pickup was actually a 2008 minivan concept.
Driving concept cars is a fascinating experience because you begin to realize why they did things - the old question of "what the #*$#@*&!^! were they thinking?" is answered. Designs that seem over the top become reasonable. However, before the expensive concepts are driven by outsiders, they usually get some form of mechanical limiter so the engine can roar but the car won't move. The exceptions in our experience were the Sling Shot, a rebodied smart car, and the 2.4-turbo equipped, five-speed Pronto Spyder, which would have been an amazing Plymouth had it been produced.
Specific concept cars (newest to oldest)
Chrysler concepts
- ecoVoyager (2008) - preview of the mid-sized Chrysler crossover?
- SRT-392 Roadster, Town & Country Blackjack (2007 SEMA cars)
- Chrysler Nassau (2007) - LX based luxury car
- Chrysler Firepower - Viper body and suspension, SRT-8 powertrain for a lighter, easier-to-drive supercar. (2005)
- Chrysler ME Four Twelve - AMG V12-powered supercar knocked together in less than a year - yet more capable than the Mercedes McLaren SLR! It would almost certainly have been produced, except that it did beat the expensive, long-development-time Mercedes, infuriating the oh-so-superior Stuttgart folks. (2004)
- Chrysler Natrium (2003) - fuel cell powered minivan - see minivan history page for electric Dodge / Plymouth TEVan and EPIC.
- Chrysler 300C (2003) - standard Hemi engine putting out 400 horsepower through the rear wheels. 90% production-ready. Now a real production vehicle.
- Chrysler Pacifica (2002) - the real thing was based on a minivan and came out safer but several years later.
- Chrysler Chronos (1998) - beautiful, sleek, V10 powered, and inspired by past Chrysler concepts; our driving impressions and photos
- Chrysler Phaeton (1997) - dual cowl luxury with a 5.4 liter V12 engine
- Chrysler Atlantic (1995) - Bugatti-inspired curves with a straight-eight engine made from two Neon engines
- Chrysler turbine cars (1954-1989) - Fifty distinctive 1963 models were distributed as a test. An M- or K-based turbine was planned for production.
- Chrysler La Comtesse (1954) - predecessor of the La Femme.
- Chrysler K310 (1953)
Dodge concepts
- Dodge Dakota MX Warrior, Caravan R/T, Avenger Tuner Stormtrooper, Ram BFT (2007 SEMA cars)
- Dodge Demon (2007) - yet closer to the new small car?
- Dodge Hornet (2006) - prototype for Europe
- Dodge Rampage (2006) - the Dodge Ridgeline, so to speak; front-drive Hemi?
- Dodge Challenger (2006) - a real production car, and it came about as the result of the Charger's “less than ideal” reception. Check out the production Challenger!
- Dodge Scooter (2005): a small, low-slung vehicle
- Dodge Nitro (2005) - this Liberty-based vehicle has the squarish Land Rover look that's in vogue, along with all the Jeep's weight and off-roadability. The real Nitro is more practical on the street, faster in R/T form, and not designed for off-roading.
- Dodge Caliber (2005) - next-gen-Neon-based SUV; look for it on dealership lots in 2006.
- Dodge Sling Shot - (2004) quick, with 45 miles per gallon. The two-seater features excellent handling. Read about our test drive and see our excluisve photos. (Updated 4-26-06.)
- Dodge Magnum SRT-8 (2003) - with a supercharged Hemi engine putting out 430 horsepower through the rear wheels. Now a real production vehicle.
- Dodge Tomahawk (2003) - V-10 motorcycle hitting 60 in under 3 seconds.
- Dodge Durango Hemi (2003) - may show up next year!
- Dodge Kahuna and Avenger (2003) - the Kahuna looks like a PT Cruiser done ugly, the Avenger seems to be an Audi-influenced next-generation Neon. Both are likely to be produced - the Avenger as the next-generation Neon (under the name Dodge Caliber?)
- Dodge Neon SRT (2002) - produced!
- Dodge M80. (2002) - plug pulled on the small pickup
- Dodge Razor. (2002) - still up in the air
- Dodge PowerBox. (2001) - the shape of trucks to come
- Dodge Charger (1999) - swoopy, LH-based, natural gas RWD V8. Sorry, the link goes to the production version, not the concept!
- Dodge Intrepid ESX. (1999) - searching for the 80 mpg large car
- Dodge Copperhead. (1997) - low-cost rear drive high-performance car
- M4S (Dodge PPG Turbo Interceptor; 1981, 1984) - see writeup below
- Dodge Polycar. (1980) - weight-saving version of the Lebaron
Jeep concepts
- Jeep Renegade (2008 NAIAS)
- Jeep Wrangler JT, Wrangler All-Access, Wrangler Ultimate (2007 SEMA cars)
- Jeep Trailhawk (2007) - Wrangler based SUV, just like the Cherokee...but different.
- Jeep concept car test drives - March 2005. Includes the Hurricane, Dakar, Jeepster, Willys2, Rescue, and Compass.
- Jeep Hurricane (2005) - dual-Hemi powered monster with four wheel steering. Exclusive photos.
- Jeep Gladiator (2005) - Diesel-powered Wrangler pickup with a midgate for added storage. Updated with our photos and driving experience.
- Jeep Treo (2004) - Our ride-and-drive of this mobile study of what hydrogen-powered Jeeps make look like in 2020.
- Jeep Rescue (2004) - Rescue may be Jeep's attempt to conquer the Hummer.
- Jeep Willys2. (2001) - Also see our ride-and-drive photos.
- Jeep Commander 2 - see below
- Jeep Dakar (1997) - four door extended wheelbase Jeep Wrangler (and you thought that was the Cherokee!) - click here for our test drive
- Jeep Icon (1997) - hints of the next-generation Jeep Wrangler
- Jeep JJ internal concept (1980s) - entry-level "soft-roader" that met full Jeep off-road standards; designed for export markets but killed to make funds available for the Grand Cherokee.
Plymouth concepts
- Plymouth Howler - replacing the 3.5 liter V6 and automatic with a 4.7 liter V-8 and stick-shift, but with a slower 0-60 time of 5.9 seconds despite a manual transmission; also had a pickup-truck bed. (Thanks, Dimitri).
- Plymouth Truck - Cruiser (2000?) - the PT Cruiser!
- Plymouth Pronto Spyder (1998) - cool sports car previewing the 2.4 turbo and tortoise-shell wheel
- Plymouth CCV (1998) - totally recycled plastic Plymouth meant as a low-cost, environmentally sound car for China and India; copied by Ford's 2003 "City Car." Ironically Plymouth is now gone and DCX has announced that Dodge will import Chery cars from China.
- Plymouth Pronto (1997) - covered below
- Plymouth Falcon (1956?) - the Valiant was originally to be called the Falcon, and a remarkably sporty concept car shows what it could have been. We have many details on this surprising car.
- Plymouth Belmont (1954) - the Corvette/Thunderbird fighter
History of Chrysler concepts
| Hans Riemenschneider wrote: The '41 Thunderbolt was designed by Alex Tremulis (a.k.a. Tucker Torpedo). It had a one-piece retractable hardtop. Five were built, four survive. |  |
Richard
Wagner wrote: The 1941 Chrysler Newport with LeBaron design similar to
the BMW 328 may actually be the missing link to this list of concept
cars and dare I suggest, an inspiration to the final design of another
classic, the 1948 Jaguar XK-120. Photo courtesy Martin Link.
David Ryan wrote: We at the shop have the official 1941 Chrysler Newport Dual-cowl Pheaton Pace Car (non-hiding headlights). I had to fab the bumperettes for it. The car is currently green; Walter P. Junior didn't appreciate the silver colour, so he had it painted to his liking. The doors and half the body are made of aluminum, wood structure, the rest is steel, totally ahead of its time.
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Hans Riemenschneider wrote: The amazing Chrysler Norseman featured a cantilevered roof which did not require A-pillars. Intended to be the premiere show car of 1957, it went down with the Andrea Doria in July of 1956 en route from Ghia in Italy. |
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Other concepts
M4S / Dodge PPG Turbo Interceptor
Best known for its movie role in The Wraith, an M4S/PPG is in storage at the Walter P. Chrysler museum. It had a 2.2 block and five speed manual with a Cosworth 16-valve twin-cam head, dual turbos, and Bosch fuel injection, making 440 hp with 0-60 in 4.1 seconds and a 12.9 quarter with 195 mph top speed (Road & Track figures). It was mid-engined and loosely Daytona based, and was an actual Indy car in 1981. There are reportedly four still around, one at PPG HQ, one at the Chrysler museum, and two others. For a time, a replica was being made as a kit car with a different engine. Thanks, Derek Beland.
J.E. Hartman, who sent the photos, wrote, “this is a 1982 Dodge 2.2 turbo Charger concept car, an all out design modifacation built SVI under contract for PPG as a pace car. Its cost is reported to be about $300,000. This is one of a kind, it saw service in 1982 and early 1983 Indy car races. Mine has gull wing doors also, it was donated to Harrahs in 1985 where it sat for 20 years.”
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Chrysler TwoPlace LeBaron
Ric DiDonato wrote: I'm a 1986 Chrysler LeBaron owner and frequent visitor to your site (a photo of my car's engine is on the 2.2 engine page). I've attached a photo of the Chrysler Two-Place concept of 1983. The Two-Place name is derived from the fact that this is a two-seater. The rear area is covered with a hard shell which contours to the headrests similar to the early 1960s Ford Thunderbird sport convertibles. I think it's interesting to note the style and elements that were later used on LeBarons and Reliants, particularly the rounded edges used on the 1986 K bodies, and the grill treatment. It's also interesting to note the Mercedes SL convertible styling.
Jeep Commander 2
The Grand Cherokee-based Commander 2 has a hybrid-electric fuel cell powertrain and dual electric motors which increase its equivalent of gas mileage by 12 mpg. As with the Intrepid ESX, it runs on electricity generated by the fuel cell, which is fueled by hydrogen from an on-board methanol reformer. Methanol eliminates the need for large hydrogen storage tanks. The battery captures energy normally lost during braking. Despite a light-weight plastic body, which cuts body weight nearly in half while saving manufacturing costs (with near total recyclability), the Commander 2 is 5,700 lb, due to the heavy powertrain. It is seven inches wider than the standard Grand Cherokee. (1998?)
The Plymouth Pronto (1997)
The affordable five-door four-passenger 1997 Plymouth Pronto concept sedan was, according to John Herlitz (VP of Product Design) "another clever response to Plymouth's calling for unique, affordable transportation...Before setting out to create Pronto, we gathered guidelines and specs for designing traditional four-passenger sedans. Once we studied all of this information, we threw it out and built a new vehicle from the ground up for our next generation."
Pronto had a spacious interior, roll-back fabric roof, and distinctive stand-alone bumpers. Its tall architecture seats passengers higher within the vehicle and gives them more of a command-of-the-road feeling. Styling was "New Plymouth:" "Much in the same fashion that we seasoned the Dodge brand with Viper cues, we will seek opportunities to season the Plymouth brand with Prowler cues," said Chrysler VP Walling. (This would lead to the PT Cruiser.)
Body panels would be made of Acrylonitrile/Styrene/Acrylate (ASA) plastic and have a single molded-in color which would simplify assembly and eliminate the painting process. The exterior would also feature stand-alone, blow-molded front and rear bumpers which, along with plastic trim, offer two molded-in color options compatible with interior trim.
Click here for the Pronto Spyder.
Other recent concept cars
Up and coming cars, trucks, and minivans
Modern Chrysler Concept Cars - The Cars That Saved The Company
Following are photos of some more recent concept cars:
| 1989 Millenium (Intrepid-like profile) | 1993 Thunderbolt | Jeepster |
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| 2000 Power Wagon | 1998 T-Rex - 500hp and a 26,000 pound towing capacity |
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