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| Chrysler 300 Hemi C Concept Design Review | ||||||||||||
| If the design of a car could personify a motoring culture - the 300 Hemi would be American cruising. Along a boulevard with the top down, this long, low and wide luxury car seems to have the confidence and size one associates with American cars of the past. When Daimler-Benz merged with Chrysler, they spoke of synergies between a low cost, fast to market company and a high cost, slow to market company. But Daimler-Benz also joined with a company that knows how to instill the emotion of America in a concept car. This car tries to be nothing else except itself. It knows what it is. The proportions are classic rear drive coupe with the passenger compartment well to the rear. There doesn't seem to be any need for "cab-forward" thinking here. The front end details are evolutionary Chrysler with a more aggressive lower intake and fog lamp treatment. Not much new - not much to challenge, just a beautifully executed 4 place convertible. |
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| From the rear, the number plate surround and the centre exhaust valence play off the front end graphics. The one interesting element in the rear view has the chrome handle inline with the white of the reverse lamps. With a tiny rear window, there needs to only be a tiny rear-view mirror. Hardly worth mentioning are the expected wheel and tire size enhancements - always an easy way to augment the appearance of any car. A simple side vent meanwhile adds restrained drama to the body side. | ||||||||||||
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| The interior was somewhat of a disappointment. The theme overall was quite simple like the exterior but the execution lacked emotion and refinement. The shift gate trim plate looked almost forgotten by the design team while the center console had the usual confusing array of identical buttons. The wood trim on the steering wheel looked tortured and disfigured encompassing control buttons and finger indents while spanning the wheel rim, spoke and hub. A natural material like wood doesn't seem natural when stretched like this. Despite the uninspiring interior, this car proved very popular in Detroit. The exterior's confidence and strength drew attention and so Chrysler's goal was achieved.
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Photos: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
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