The display floor at McCormick Place is still dotted with pock marks after visitors to the Chicago Auto Show in February had their eyes pop from their sockets when the concept Dodge Charger was rolled onto the turntable.
So where is that Dodge Charger concept now? It was conspicuous by its absence from a host of DaimlerChrysler concepts displayed at the Specialty Equipment Marketers Association (SEMA) show here.
SEMA is the annual venue for automakers to display concepts that are headed for the auto-show circuit to gauge consumer acceptance or those that have made the auto-show tour, been judged winners and are thisclose to production.
“No comment,” replied Tom Gale, executive vice president of design and product strategy, when asked where Charger was hiding. “I’d like to see a great rear-wheel-drive car from us, but there are no plans to announce at this time.”
Hmm. Sure would be nice to bring out a high-performance Charger off the Dodge Intrepid platform to coincide with Dodge’s return to the NASCAR circuit in 2001, when Intrepid will bow in a race-car form for the track.
“Wow, bring out a Charger timed with bringing out our 2001 NASCAR? Never thought about that! Makes good sense,” Gale said, breaking into a devilish smile.
As long as Dodge is returning to NASCAR, what about a return of the Hemi V-8? And what about a Hemi V-8 in a Charger? Charger and the Hemi bring back fond memories of the days Dodge was a muscle-car powerhouse.
“Great idea! Why didn’t I think of that?” Gale said, the devilish smile returning to his face after pulling the scribe’s leg a second time.
“All I’ll say is, look at our track record,” he added, referring to the fact that when it comes to the unexpected, you can expect it from Chrysler.
DaimlerChrysler did show a high-performance Chrysler 300M concept here, with an upgraded 3.5-liter, 300-horsepower V-6 engine, a vehicle Gale holds in high regard.
“We’re looking at this one. It could be done in 18 months,” he said, “but it would have to have a different feel, enhanced handling, be quieter and more European than a Charger,” he said, still not admitting a Charger is in the works.
Some will argue that Chrysler creates vehicles whose stunning styling leads to the expectation that the performance will match but doesn’t.
Viper, for example, is quick, but ride and handling are crude.
A Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300M Special would give DaimlerChrysler cars that look and act like performance machines.
“We’ve gotta back up our looks with reality, that’s mandatory,” Gale said.
Suburban to go: Also at SEMA, Chevrolet said the full-size Suburban will get the same Z71 off-road treatment for 2000 offered on the Tahoe sport-ute for 1999. Among the features: body-colored grille, door handles and bumpers; fog lamps; tow hooks; roof rack with rear-facing lights; wheel flares; rocker-panel extensions; Flexvision entertainment system with flip-from-the roof video screen and VCR; four-wheel-drive; 18-inch wheels and all-terrain radial tires; and a 5.3-liter, 285-h.p. V-8.
Performance on-line: General Motors said starting next year, its high-performance 320-h.p. LS1 V-8 offered in Camaro and Firebird will be available on-line for order by customizers and hot rodders from its Service Parts Organization through www.gmgood wrench.com. GM also said it is developing a new family of in-line 4-, 5- and 6-cylinder engines with 4-valve-per-cylinder technology for use in trucks that promise higher mileage, lower emissions and less noise. No date was set for production.
Pacing LeMans: A high-performance version of the 2000 Cadillac Seville called the STS Cunningham Edition will be the pace car at LeMans. The name commemorates Cadillac’s entry in LeMans in 1950 by racer Briggs Cunningham, who finished 10th in a ’49 DeVille powered by a 331-cubic-inch V-8. The STS Cunningham is powered by a 320-h.p. version of the 4.6-liter, Northstar V-8–20 h.p. more than the production engine. GM said the 320-h.p. V-8 might be used in a future production model of the Seville, which comes up for a major redesign in 2004.
Things to come: At the show, Chevrolet said it will bring out a Cavalier Z24 sedan companion to the current Z24 coupe for 2001.
Chevy also said it will bring out a four-door S-10 crew-cab pickup for 2001, but while two doors are being added to the machine, don’t look for a styling remake on the truck for a while.
Though it was expected that the S-10 would get a design overhaul for 2001, the same time as the Blazer sport-ute built off the same platform, the S-10 reportedly won’t be redone until 2002 or 2003. Some think the delay might buy GM enough time for Isuzu to do the next rendition of the pickup instead of spending the money to develop a truck on its own. Getting a truck from Isuzu also would free GM production capacity for another SUV or hybrid.
Of note at the show, Rick Wagoner, GM president, and John Middlebrook, head of sales and marketing for GM, took pains to note that the vehicles they were unveiling to the media were “built on UAW assembly lines.”
Some members of the media wondered whether GM executives would have paid homage to the United Auto Workers if they had gone on strike this year rather than sign a new contract without any work stoppage disruptions.
