2010 Chrysler 300C, 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee Previewed in Viability Plan
By Zack Newmark
February 18, 2009 1:21 PM
Filed Under: American, Artist Renderings, Chrysler, Corporate/Financial, Jeep
If you take the time to go through Chrysler's entire viability plan, filed yesterday with the U.S. Treasury, you will find two renderings of upcoming vehicles. Interior and exterior mock-ups of the new 2010 Chrysler 300C and the new 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee made their way into the report.
Whether it is to convince the government of their sustainability, or a cheap marketing gimmick, or both, the pictures clearly show the direction Chrysler is taking with the two cars.
First and foremost, why are there no side mirrors on the new 300C? A somewhat essential element, they seem to have left the item off completely, not even replacing it with side-view cameras. Could missing these small details be a key reason why the company has performed so poorly in recent times?
The new 300C also looks to be losing some of its pimp calibre in the new model. Boxier headlights, a less pronounced grille, less elaboration around the fog lights, and a smoothed out front end are just a few of the details noticed. Inside, the car gets new vents, a rounded off center panel, a lot of wood trim, and a dashboard colored to match. Incidentally, the interior rendering does include side view mirrors.
Chrysler claims fuel economy improvement of 22% on the new vehicle, which puts the vehicle at 21 mpg city, and 30 mpg highway. No doubt that is partly due to streamlining the front; a benefit even if it strips the car of some of its character.
Meanwhile, we can expect to see boxy headlights again on the new Grand Cherokee, with less pronounced side mirrors (at least it has them), and a lower roofline. The front end has been smoothed out, to accomadate the new headlights. Previously, it was rippled around the round lamps. This actually gives it a bit of a better look, more akin to what a Jeep should look like. Designers either left out the gas cap, or moved it to the passenger side. Fuel economy also improves by 19%, giving the vehicle 19 mpg city, and 25 mpg highway.
Inside, the instrument panel has a major change, with the removal of the climate control system. Perhaps this means Chrysler will incorporate the system into the computerized display. A nicer looking steering wheel is included, as is a lot more wood trim. The dashboard and the top of the door liners is copper toned, giving the interior a strange tri-color look. Four colors, if you include the carpeting.
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Comments
Edited by user on February 18, 2009 at 2:44 PM
That new 300C is plain hideous. It looks like and uglified Chinese version of the current one... oh my.
The new Cherokee looks good, though: very sharp and mean, a lot less of a mommy mobile than its latest iterations. But what's about that interior design?
Sometimes it feels like all this Detroit drama is just like a reality show, with those stereotypical characters, you know... in which Ford is the hard working, all american, cute college girl next door wearing big glasses, GM is the fat, broke, unemployed mother of five running for sympathy votes and Chrysler is the wacky, cracked out, drunk ass dude doing everything possible to get people's attention.
Just like The Real Life - or The Surreal Life - the Detroit dramz is so interesting to watch for being SO wrong in SO many ways.
Such a hot mess!
Edited by user on February 18, 2009 at 6:42 PM
Not only are those rubbish looking cars, those are rubbish renderings of them. It looks like the front of a detergent box with its big yellow flashy things. The Cherokee, IMHO, looks better than the outgoing one on the outside - that said, from the headlights backwards, it has no character whatsoever. The 300C is (not the 'most awarded' anything, for starters) exactly the same, but with uglier headlights, grille and interiors. Oh yes, and no mirrors, to make it 22% more efficient, I suppose. This (and perhaps the Viper) was the only thing they ever did right, and they've ruined it.
Like bristol411s3, I urge the people of the USA to let this sham of a company fall on its fat face. Then laugh at it and throw stones.
But that is of course to be determined if these figures will be accurate.
The Jeep is not intended to be in the same segment as your beloved BMW SUVs. We Americans are a recreational sort...loads of towing and off-roading. Millions of Americans pull boats, water-craft, ATV's, etc. He also tend to tramp into the woods on a regular basis for camping, hiking, mountainbiking, and skiing. A Jeep Cherokee is the #1 vehicle in America for this segment...period. The Toyota doesn't match....plus their MPG numbers are the same.
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ahem, the germans would like a word with you americans...so would some of the japanese