Back in 2005, the Chrysler lineup consisted of the 300, Crossfire, Pacifica, PT Cruiser, Sebring, and Town & Country.
So aside from the somewhat sporty Crossfire, the Firepower concept (which may be the most American-sounding name for a car ever) may have looked like it came out of left field.
The press release from the 2005 North American International Auto Show …
Rear 3/4 very Aston
The automatic-only idea was a bit of an odd choice. Perhaps they were trying to make this something like a downmarket alternative to the Mercedes SL? I think a Viper in a tuxedo would have been a better mindset, and would have called for a stick. The styling is pretty interesting, and it would probably have had less of the "fast pig" feel that an SL has.
Isn't the Cadillac SLX also automatic-only? Basically a luxo-vette?
In any case, the firepower always looked pretty cool. A shame only the dowdy crossfire amde it to production.
MadScientistMatt said:The automatic-only idea was a bit of an odd choice. I think a Viper in a tuxedo would have been a better mindset, and would have called for a stick.
I disagree. This is a boulevard cruiser. It would not be improved by a 3-pedal manual.
I think they should have just stuck a 727 Torqueflite in it and called it good to go.........
They should have made this because people whine so much about chrylsers that I could probably get one cheap by now
Patrick (Forum Supporter) said:They should have made this because people whine so much about chrylsers that I could probably get one cheap by now
Dang, that's almost exactly what I was going to say.
Would have, could have. But didn't
+ a whoopin' with the
=
Yeah, Aston did this a lot better. It's basically all Aston does. I can't imagine they would have sold many with a manual trans were this to have made it to market. The target demographic is, uh, Frank Sinatra were he still alive at the time? That sort of buyer doesn't want a clutch pedal to deal with at this point.
I think a hot rod Chrysler coupe with some chrome and glam to it would have worked better as a Challenger derivative and not Viper. NVH targets would probably have been easier to hit with a Challenger base as well as space & ergonomics. Might have lead to a fit & finish improvement for the Challenger in the process.
It would have been one of those declining not very good sales in the first place, killed after 3 years models that turn out to be hot used car deals everybody wants. I'll take one!
For the country club crowd. Not for me, I'm old and retired.
mr2s2000elise said:Rear 3/4 very Aston
The front is a bit of XK.
MadScientistMatt said:The automatic-only idea was a bit of an odd choice. Perhaps they were trying to make this something like a downmarket alternative to the Mercedes SL? I think a Viper in a tuxedo would have been a better mindset, and would have called for a stick. The styling is pretty interesting, and it would probably have had less of the "fast pig" feel that an SL has.
I disagree too. I've actually met several old guys at the local Corvette clubs who traded older manuals for newer automatics because of shoulder issues.
How did noone say SLS so far? V8-powered luxury Viper you say? You mean Mercedes SLS? The exact same basic idea? Chrysler version of an SLS? Yes, actually, i WOULD like that.
That was back when Chrysler thought everthing looked good with their corporate minivan grill.
The front end almost reminds me of a late model 'vette for some reason. Headlights, maybe?
they would have been better off making that demon concept to challenge the miata
Strangely, I don't find myself hating this.
They made the same mistake as they did on the Crossfire, though - they wouldn't allow you to buy a manual trans with the best engine (SRT). Well, that and a few handling idiosyncrasies...
I know that few would ever be ordered with a manual but they should at least offer it to be considered as more than a boulevardier.
More specifically..
Chrysler Firepower: "Signs early in 2006 pointed to the Firepower going into production ... but later that year Chrysler officially announced that the Firepower would not be produced"
Mercedes SLS: "It was at the December 2006 Daimler executive board meeting...AMG engineers figured the Viper would be a good place to start because its tube frame could be modified quickly and easily to accommodate the axles, brakes and power train of the future SLS...By using the basic structure of the Vipers, AMG technical designers quickly had test mules "
No gullwings, no care? Or, if you DO like the SLS, how about "Thank you, Chrysler Corporation!"
What about this thing?
2004 Chrysler ME412:" four turbochargers...would have made it the most powerful, as well as the fastest, road-going production vehicle at the time . The transmission is a...7-speed Ricardo-built dual-clutch... Estimated top speed was claimed to be 399 km/h"
2005 Bugatti Veyron: "The 7-speed Dual Clutch system developed for (oh really?) the 406km/h, 987bhp Bugatti Veyron will be shown for the first time (you dont say?) by Ricardo"
Good thing for Chrysler haters that they never build any of this stuff. It would sure undermine a lot of opinions about Chrysler's place on the automotive totem pole. At least now they've finally been strangled enough that they've mercifully stopped presenting 'the threat of a good example'.
So do it now with a Hellcat...?
Too bad the Viper is gone now. Chrysler got an SLK for a Halo car, and Mercedes got a Viper for theirs. Just more coulda-beens from the worst automotive merger in history.
In reply to Vigo (Forum Supporter) :
The Firepower name wasn't totally out of left field, as they did use the moniker on a Hemi back in the '50s.
Shame about this and the ME412.
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