Chrysler Says Okay For Imperial
A venerable name in autodom is being resurrected and it will shortly grace the body of a huge, rear wheel drive top end car. After a successful “concept car” debut at a pair of recent vehicle shows, the Chrysler Imperial will be built and should be in U.S. Showrooms in 2010. Yes, it is going to be a long wait for the Imperial’s return but the car must first await additional changes inside DaimlerChrysler before it can be built. Read on to find out more on the Imperial’s impending return.
The Chrysler Imperial that has been now making the rounds at various auto shows has been well received. Visitors have remarked favorably about the vehicle’s Bentley like look as well as its cavernous interior and luxury appointments. Currently, the brand has nothing bigger or more splendid to offer buyers who might need to upgrade from the 300C, so Chrysler has been regularly losing buyers to more luxurious brands, something parent DaimlerChrysler [DCX] wants to stem.
The Imperial name can be traced all the way back to 1926 when Walter P. Chrysler made a decision to take on Lincoln and Packard with a luxury model all of its own. From its inception, the Imperial has always represented the top of the line auto for Chrysler and it has, at diverse times, been marketed as its own make. Numerous versions of the Imperial have shown up over the years, with a lot of them being ultra opulent versions of Chrysler’s New Yorker model.
The 2011 Chrysler Imperial will be similar in design to the idea car, but without the suicide doors. Chrysler put the special doors on the concept car in order to to make it simpler for car show visitors to see into the car. Still, reports from the company are indicating that the 22 inch Wheels, Bentley grille, boxy body, and leather/wood trim would be included. Prices for the Imperial won’t be announced for many more years, but it might retail for as high as $60,000 according to some reports. Currently, the apex of the line 300C maxes out at around $42,000.
So, why the hold up? Well, for one thing the Imperial program will be an added expense for DCX. Currently, the company is in the method of making its Mercedes line up more profitable and that involves the expense of updating many models. based on the Mercedes “R Class” body, the approaching Imperial is certain to be built on a more modern version of the R Class platform. Both automobiles would arrive in dealer showrooms at the same time as 2011 models, therefore the long lead time.
The Imperial concept sits on a frame with a 123 in. Wheelbase. The car measures 214 long, much longer than the 300C. Reports are meaning that the tenet car dimensions are probably going to be retained.
For Chrysler fans, the Imperial represents further bracing of the Chrysler-Mercedes relationship. By using a Mercedes platform, the Imperial can be built and will give Chrysler a much needed product. With a standard V8 mated to a five or six speed automatic the car will certainly not be on the fuel efficient side. However, my best guess is that the car will also come optionally equipped with a thrifty Mercedes built turbo diesel, a first for any Chrysler car.
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