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2006 NAIAS :: Reviews and Interviews

Chrysler brings back the Imperial and Dodge Challenger

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / AMERICAJR.com

Chrysler has brought back the Imperial!

by Robert Banker

YoungPimpEO@aol.com

 

In today’s world, it seems that everything from the past is reinvented. Case in point, the retro look of the Ford Mustang and the return of the Dodge Charger. This year DCX has decided to take it a step further bringing back the Dodge Challenger and the Chrysler Imperial. Chrysler wanted to preach the sex appeal of both these cars by having Eva Longoria help launch the car.

What is so sexy about this car you might ask? Well this car is based on the original 1970-4 Dodge Challenger. This car was not pretty back then, now it is hot. The retro look interior is marvelous compared to the Mustangs and other muscle cars of today. The Hemi V-8 that this car uses is also shared by the Chrysler 300c. The 300c is basically Chrysler’s biggest hit in years.

This concept car is designed and built on Chrysler’s standard LX sedan platform. The big V-8 and this smooth riding platform are continuing the return of American luxury. People are trying to get better gas mileage now a days and these cars deliver it despite the v-8 engines. The only question that remains is will Chrysler actually go through and build this? The answer is not clear just yet, GM’s launch of the 2004 GTO did not go over very well. Chrysler is going to probably make some adjustments and then determine what to do.

The Chrysler Imperial on the other hand is a concept that is very luxurious. This car is the cousin of the Challenger so to speak. This car offers suicide doors, for those of you who do not know. That means rear doors open toward the back and the front doors swing towards the front of the car.

This car resembles a Bentley just like the Chrysler 300c does. This car was a flag ship Chrysler product for many years. But as the times changed Chrysler dropped the car. The original car was something that a man of decent wealth would buy in the 1950s. So Chrysler designed this concept car to reflect that heritage. This car also has the same Hemi V-8 that was mentioned for the Challenge.

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / AMERICAJR.com

A side view of the new Chrysler Imperial.

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