The Chrysler 300 does look new and fresh, something I can't say about GM's elderly DTS and copycat Buick Lucerne and LaCrosse. I personally, don't like the Chrysler 300's very, very limited glass area, but the overall design is brilliant. I can't think of single Lutz-era Chrysler that's had the same impact as the 300. Actually, I can't think of a half-way decent car from Lutz's period of employment at Chrysler. Hooray for the Germans!

 

Uh... both the Viper AND the Intrepid came out under Lutz.... these two cars probably saved Chrysler Corp from disappearing altogether.

Viper gave the company an image car (finally), and Intrepid was a miracle car for Dodge. It finally brought them into the 90's ... striaght from the 70's!

 

Redzed you are wrong Chrsler would be in a much better place today if it hadn't been for the "merger of equals". That merger set every single thing in the chrysler portforlio, that wasn't really close to produciton, back about 2 years. How big of a hit would the 300C have been if it had jumped on the scene 2 years earlier? Also Chrylser is holding up Mercedes right now so don't go bragging about the Germans.

 

1. Both generations of the Intrepid had plenty of flaws, both in design and execution. Is it any wonder that the nameplate died. I have a hard time comparing the 1993 Intrepid, or the 1998 Intrepid, to Chrysler's current 300C.

2. The first generation Viper always felt like a "kit car" more than a "production car." Sure, it generated a buzz, but the buzz was that the Viper didn't have much to do with the K-car based products that were still in production at the time.

 

The LX-platform is derived from the current generation Mercedes E-class (not the last generation car). Quite frankly, the LX cars were set back 6-12 months at most, not the 2 year figure you state.

It was old-school Chrysler management that couldn't make any progress on a RWD Chrysler flagship, not the post-merger-shakeout German management.

 

Not necessarilly. Zeta may or may not be the basis for all the sedans and coupes.

As far as GTO being GM's performance coupe, unlikely. The next GTO's volume will be waaaay under 30,000 units. In fact, it probably won't even outsell Corvette.


The GM performance coupe has/will have one bogey....and that's Mustang. GTO will barely be a blip on the radar screen for Mustang.

 

Is anybody else getting sick of Chevrolet using the same freaking names for cars for the last half a century???

Monte Carlo
Impala
Camaro
GTO
(Rumors of Chevelle)

Not saying I don't want a Camaro, but I think Chevy is killing themselves using old names. Look at Ford, the only thing they could come up with is a stupid retro version of an old Mustang. Why not drop the Mustang name, come out with a completely new design and head towards the future? Instead they have locked the Mustang into looking the same for the rest of it's life. It might be cool for a couple years, but it will fade. Then what's next? A Fox Body retro mustang!!!!

I would love Chevrolet to introduce a new sport coupe with a completely new name. The Camaro has a great history and I love my Camaro to death and will never sell it. But the fact is, we really need something fresh and if Chevrolet comes out with a Retro looking "Camaro" it will make me sick. I think the best thing Chevrolet could do especially to attract other people is to come out with a Coupe similar to the Camaro in size, but go COMPLETELY against the grain with a new redesign. No Camaro design cues, no Camaro grills, etc... I think maybe GM has recognized that the Camaro has had a great history, and it is time to move on...

I'm completely for a 5th gen pony car. As to if it's named a Camaro or not, I don't really care. I just don't want GM being afraid of trying something new just because it is a "Camaro."

 

No.


I should have stopped reading at this point. Mustang is the most recognized car name in the known universe. I don't know what you think the future is, you must be one of those turbine powererd engine people, because clearly people like what they already know.


Really, because the new mustang certainly looks different than the last of twenty years of production and I think this is part of its life.

Attract who ricers? The people who are interested in a pony car already know what they wan't and Camaro is one of two definitive American pony cars, so I don't follow you.

I wasn't aware GM had a 4 generations of history to base a pony car off of other than Camaro

 

You do know that the GTO is a Pontiac, Right???

 

Gimme a break.

Intrepid was ground breaking for Chrysler Corp. It brought them out of the dark age of styling for everyday cars.

Viper was a supercar when it came out. Even the original Vipers will still outrun most anything put out today.

 

Well I'm sure GM would love to bring in alot more people then they are. The Camaro was faultering in the last few years and they had to stop it. I think to sit back and take a break for awhile. Give them a chance to throw something new in the equation.


Exactly why it's time for something new.

I'm not saying they don't /ever/ have to bring it back. But lets see a new name and new image come from Chevrolet right now. Not a hacked up 48yr old one. Just my 2c.

 

Buick is going to have three Zetas, so why can't Chevy have two?

 

Meh. Chevy can barely do things they know right, I don't know if I trust them with something totally new. Not only that, but even I know GMs decision to kill the Cam3ro had little to do with its faltering sales, and more to do with plant and platform issues and them generally sucking.

People don't like new things. They say they do but they really don't. How else do you explain "Vanilla Coke" "Chocalate Lucky Charms" and almost every show on television.

Everytime I pull up anywhere in teh Cam3ro there is at least one person who has to give a thumbs up and may proceed to tell me about their Cam3ro, thier fathers, uncles, whatever. While a new car would create some buzz, a lot of people will still want to know where their Cam3ro is... a la GTO.

 

The 1993 Intrepid turned out to be a huge disappointment after the very hopeful launch. After the first year or so, resale values collapsed. The first generation Intrepid was very lacking in build and material quality. The second generation car was much better, but by that time the damage had been done. It was old school Chrysler that soiled the Intrepid nameplate, not today's Daimler-Chrysler.


The original Viper had cartoon styling and cheap interior materials. Sure it was quick, but so are plenty of kit cars. The second generation car lost a few rough edges but the overall appearance and concept is still lost in the '90s.

The Viper is a bittersweet memory of Chrysler's past. The past is precisely where it belongs.

 

Wow.

Today's Nissan has a "cartoon styled" family car in the Maxima, and no supercar in the U.S. at all...

They also built the Sentra which is worse than the current Stratus or Neon sedans as far as looks, safety, and performance.... and it's pretty long-in-tooth to boot.

But you sing their praises all the time!