The Creation of a New Flagship: the Chrysler Chronos Concept Car

To say that the Chrysler Chronos Concept Car is dramatic is to understate the obvious. With an overall length of 205 inches (5,217 mm) and a 76-inch width (1,942 mm), plus massive 20-inch front and 21-inch rear aluminum wheels, this car posseses a definitive presence. Long, low and sweeping, the wheels are pushed forward and aft. The cabin is shifted rearward, giving the Chronos similar proportions to many of the classic Virgil Exner-era creations of the 1950s.

"This car really owes its inspiration to the 1953 Chrysler D'Elegance concept vehicle," said Jack Crain, Chrysler Design Studio Chief, who headed the development of the new Chronos.

The steeply raked windshield flows cleanly from the chrome grille and jewel-like headlamps. Inside, luxury features include wood dash panels, a hand-wrapped leather steering wheel and a hand-sewn center console which houses an in-place humidor with storage, lighter and humistat.

Under the hood waits a powerful 6.0 liter, V10 engine producing more than 350 bhp (261 kW). It is combined with a single-long-arm (SLA) modified Viper front and rear suspension, a Unibody structure and high-strength steel chassis. This creates a spirited and highly balanced driving experience in the rear-wheel-drive Chronos.

Tom Gale, Executive Vice President of Product Development for Chrysler, best sums up the goals of this, the ultimate Chrysler icon. "If you're going for the flagship of the Chrysler brand, and the Chrysler Chronos clearly is, then everything must add up. The look must fit. The quality must be appropriate. And the ride must be exhilarating. It has to totally quench the thirst for perfection."