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2007 Chrysler Nassau Concept

I remember very clearly the Chrysler Group stage at last year's North AmericanInternational Auto Show. Multiple performances over all three days of the media preview with plenty of celebrities and one gigantic paper blizzard performed by none other than Slava's Snow Show. But put that drama aside, which was still pretty good thanks to the hypnotic rhythms of Drum Cafe, not to mention hundreds of onlookers haplessly beating their own little Jeep emblazoned congas, and Chrysler's stage still had some of the most talked about concept cars at the show. The orange with carbon fibre striped '70s style Challenger rated so highly amongst showgoers that Dodge just had to give it the green light. Chrysler also showed off its interpretation of modern American luxury with the Imperial, but the brown quasi-limousine wasn't greeted with the same adoration. That didn't hamper Trevor Creed and company, as they returned to Detroit a little wiser and a little more in

Nassau previews Chrysler's next generation of styling for rear wheel drive vehicles. (Photo: Chrysler Group)

tune with what it believes consumers want today: the Nassau Concept.

If there's one thing that I could emphasize about the Nassauis that it is one gigantic optical illusion. From these shots it looks no bigger than, say a 3-Series BMW or a C-Class Mercedes-Benz. In reality, it's a very big machine measuring an ample 196.1 inches, or more than the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, which is one of the vehicles its stylists seem to have had in mind when penning the concept. Yes, break down the Nassau into its its numbers and indeed it really is a full-sized vehicle. It rides on the same wheelbase as the standard 300/Magnum/Charger, which

It's hard to believe that the Nassau is based off the LX-chassis Chrysler. (Photo: Chrysler Group)

measures in at 120.0 inches, but with proportionate 21-inch wheels and a larger glass-to-metal ratio the Nassau looks a touch less radical, not to mention less menacing and less like a bunker on wheels.

Alan Barrington, the principal stylist on the Nassauproject decided to be daring. Typical Chrysler luxury vehicles have been large sedans, but the Nassau is different; it's an elegant shooting brake. From the side and from the rear three-quarters, Barrington's design looks good, the sloping hatchback and pointed "boat tail" rear end are stunning. I'm not exactly convinced from the front quarter view, especially where the thick rear C-pillar and rear fenders meet up, as the car has an unusual bulkiness to it. In some respects I believe that if Chrysler were

21-inch 10-spoke wheels are very striking. (Photo: Chrysler Group)

to do another wagon (see 300C Touring sold in Europe), it would once again have a five-door fast hatchback design than an upright Volvo-esque station wagon layout. I am reminded of Renault's production designs, specifically those on the Vel Satis executive sedan and the Avantime two-door van/GT touring car, and to a degree, Chevrolet's Malibu Maxx.

With the exception of the 300, Chrysler is dedicated to givingits cars aerodynamic noses. The Nassau's front end has a peaked bumper that looks sharp enough to split the air it passes through, with faceted edges on the hood and fenders that appear to channel the air around the sides of the car. The grille is very chromey, distinctively a Chrysler, but it doesn't have the hood strakes that have spread out into the majority of Chrysler's current production range. I do like Chrysler's use of lighting for the cornering and brake lamps. They're reversed

Shooting brake hatchback is unique. (Photo: Chrysler Group)

from how they normally are with the backdrop glowing instead of the little diodes. The effect is that it looks like an insect's compound eye. In the grander scheme of things, the L-shaped headlamps look to form the tips of Chrysler's winged logo. I also like how the creases and lines flow along the car, starting from just behind the front fender and following across the body and into the tail lamps. The roof-mounted "fin", or rather the third brakelight is an unusual touch.

The exterior of the Nassau might draw mixed opinionsfor its unusual tail, but its interior should more than make up for it. Most of the controls are touch-sensitive buttons made from slick stainless steel. The transmission is a push-button unit off to the left side of the console, while the power windows and mirror controls feature similar materials located on the center console. The instruments look a touch busy, while the center information interface that sits atop the console appears like something taken out of a science fiction

Instruments inspired by "expensive watches". (Photo: Chrysler Group)

set with its 3D hologram-effect display. The analog clock lives on in Chrysler tradition. If there's one area of the Nassau's cabin that I'd change, it'd be the center console. Chrysler's aim was to make the entertainment system's controls akin to PDAs and cellphones, which is exactly what it looks like. A mouse-like device mounted on the transmission tunnel also provides controls over the main navigation screen; it functions like the one featured in Mercedes-Benz's S-Class sedan.

The Nassau's lines point to a vehicle that we would describe as elegant, sophisticated and luxurious, rather than rowdy. Chrysler seems to think otherwise as far as the running gear is concerned. Shoehorned into the front end of the concept is the same 6.1-liter blueprinted HEMI V8 engine as can be found in any of the SRT8 cars. And just like those SRT8 cars it gets a five-speed automatic with Autostick manual mode, although the Nassau's sequential gearbox can be activated via paddles on the steering wheel. Though the crowd that would consider the Nassau probably wouldn't use the power to dispose of that 21-inch high-performance

For such a futuristic looking car, you'd think they'd have gone a different route than incorporating "free with a 3-year contract" cell phone styling for the car's controls. (Photo: Chrysler Group)

rubber, we could certainly see them using it to dust off various forms of German and Japanese metal. After all, it'll take quite a lot to match its five second 0-60 mph acceleration time, and it will walk away from most competitors on the Autobahn as it is not limited to 250 km/h (155 mph); its top speed is 165 mph.

The Nassau is certainly a nice concept car that would provide a positive new direction for the brand's future vehicles, but on the whole I don't think this car represents Chrysler's brand identity very well. To me, a real Chrysler is big and bold. If it's luxury that the brand is trying to capture, it has its core strength cars such as the 300 series and would-be Imperial, or a variation thereof. These are cars that are imposing yet subtly sophisticated, yet most importantly they're unabashedly American. Chrysler is different than Lincoln, however, in that it's more art deco. Instead, what the Nassau represents is an American brand doing its best to be European, and I don't think that this is a direction Chrysler should go. Still, pointing Chrysler down the Nassau's road must be tempting, as it's a good looking car that is bound to get positive attention from the media and showgoers alike. Decisions, decisions...

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