http://www.worldcarfans.com/spyphoto...es-sls-mclaren

Apparently Mercedes doesn't need to test body panels on its mules anymore.

 

Man...I dunno what to make of that. Here we thought the BMW thing from last year was really weird:

http://www.thecarconnection.com/Enth...178.A8788.html

 

whoa odd!

 

I wonder if this would have anything to do with the Chrysler ME412?

It was the brain child of Dr. Z when he was with Chrysler. I know it was supposedly going to be produced but was killed off by the Germans. Then, when he took over DC, there were rumors flying that the car was back on, but nothing has been heard of it since.....now this.

I don't know, just a thought.

 

This isn't an ME412 mule.

Chrysler had a mule present at Laguna Seca for selected press and VIPs (which I hardly was, but did get to see it from as close as 50 yards as they took people on spins around the track. The exterior is all ME412, but the interior was all..... crude.

As for why it was killed, you're mostly right. But the thing about the project that killed it was the question of pricing to make profits.

I can't remember the exact figures, but in general it boiled down to the thought that Chrysler would have to sell X-thousand cars at $250K (which was unlikely given the type of car it was) or sell X-hundred cars at nearly a million (which begged the question, would people pay that much for a Chrysler badged car).

My numbers might be off, but that's the decisions they had to look at. In the end, they decided to try a different route that was less risky, less expensive, and far easier. The result was the Firepower concept.

Chrysler is/was due to make a go/no-go decision on a production (and renamed) Firepower by now, so stay tuned.

 

dont all manufacturers use this type of "sled" to test out their drivetrain/suspension combinations ??? I remember hearing about this on some speed channel program

 

Sorry, I was thinking that this midsized McLaren might have evolved from the ME412.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the Firepower was a go with the new more powerful Viper, MY09(?). Both are suppose to be produced on the same line, with the exception that the Firepower gets the HEMI and is named Crossfire.

 

Firepower is a go. Suppliers have been working on it for a while now.

That said, it doesnt mean it couldnt be shelved on down the line....but that would hurt the business case for the ZC platform pretty badly.

 

I really like the ME412. I saw it at the Atlanta auto show and it's just incredible looking. I can't believe how wide it is in the rear. It's a cool looking car if you ask me.

 

Chris, do you have a line on the production name for Firepower yet? I love the name and think they should keep it.

 

When they're done with it (the mule in the first post) I'd love to have it as an autoX car. That would be a blast!!

 

I haven't heard anything firm on the name. SOP is still a ways out so DCX probably wouldn't even have it set in stone yet.

 

Cool. I knew it was getting to the point where a decision was overdue. I just hadn't heard anything yet.

 

Thats definitely unique. Kinda looks like a golf cart on steroids.