DETROIT — The Chrysler Group is telling suppliers it has a new plan under which its controversial Imperial concept may see production in calendar-year 2010.

The surprise is the donor vehicle that Chrysler wants to use as the foundation for the production Imperial — the next-generation R-Class. Both vehicles, according to suppliers, would likely reach dealerships as 2011 models.

The Imperial concept, unveiled at the Detroit auto show in January, was huge. It rode on an ample 123-inch wheelbase and measured 214 inches long overall — considerably larger than any sedan Chrysler now builds, including the 300C.

The six-passenger R-Class, in comparison, measures 203 inches long, with a wheelbase of 126.6 inches. The current platform can accommodate a wide range of engines, including V6 and V8 diesels, as well as five-, six- and seven-speed automatic transmissions. The chassis is designed for rear- and all-wheel-drive applications.

Chrysler also is considering other platforms for a possible production version of the Imperial, including the LX/LY chassis that underpins the 300C. That platform, too, can accommodate both rear- and all-wheel drive, as well as V6 and V8 engines.

The Imperial concept featured a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 and a Mercedes five-speed automatic.

What this means to you: The future Imperial could share underbody pieces with the big Mercedes people mover.

Source: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...cleId=109446#2

 

Cool....they got 4 years to fix that POS design.

 

magneto, don't hold back, tell us how you really feel!

 

It's too high and narrow.....and IMO looks too much like a Bentley or Rolls ( though the interior is stunning ) . The classic Imperials were all L-O-N-G, low, wide machines.

( Not that it matters much, but here was my favorite of all the Imperials....the 1967 )
http://www.duricy.com/~imperialist/g...allery67b.html

 

2010? That seems so far away... will anybody care by then?

It seems like car styling is de-volving back to the 50s... tall profiles, big grilles, big fenders, tons of chrome.
I like the cars of the Fifties, but if I wanted one I'd buy a '51 Ford Business Coupe (one of my dream cars).

 

Man, you are being too kind. I have grown to give designs time to sink in but this thing really looks like they designed it be ugly and then hit it with a stick. I have never warmed up to the 300C, I like the Magnum, and am AC/DC on the Charger but a little success has gone to their heads IMO. I guess if their demographic likes it they will do OK but it isn't for me. No matter how sweet it drives or well priced it is. Sure makes the new S class look perfect, maybe that was DC's intention. Yeecchh!

 

If that were to drop tomorrow on in 2020 it would SELL!!

 

2010? Hopefully that car be the new street sweeper for the Sanatation Department.

 

In all fairness I don't see ANY other american companies trying anything as new, agressive, and darring as that.

 

Well it's aggressive... but derivative.

 

Don' t really care, no pretend Rolls Royce for me . . .

 

I would love to see SRT-10 version of this, so that, that car can get lost from my sight quickly.

 

A new report by “The Auto Writer” Matthew Keegan reiterates a recent Edmunds report that Chrysler Imperial Concept will be built as a production car in 2010, as a 2011 model. The report also says the car could be priced as high as $60,000, compared to the Chrysler 300C, which maxes out at $42,000. Moreover, Keegan said that the production Imperial is likely to retain its 214-inch length and 123-inch wheelbase. The larger dimensions require a great deal of modification to the 300C platform, which has contributed to the long wait time.

source : leftlanenews

 

So it's probably going to be the flagship. I wouldn't want this ugly thing representing who my company is. Of course, with Chrysler, it doesn't really matter at this point; can't get much worse.

 

It stands too tall - looks like a 4x4 Rolls Royce to me. All it needs now is a brush guard.