AUTOM

Chrysler tests

Prototypes help with production line decisions

IF YOU want a glimpse of what’s coming up from
America’s third largest automaker, Chrysler, look no fur-
ther than the concept cars that Chrysler displays in various

auto shows.

Before the introduction of the
LH sedans, for example, Chrysler
showed off its cab-forward design
philosophy in the Lamborghini
Portofino, Chrysler Millennium,
and Eagle Optima concept cars.

Both the Dodge Viper and
Stealth sports cars were preceded
by auto show-bound prototypes
that closely resembled the produc-
tion models.

This coming fall, Chrysler will
introduce two models with a
strong resemblance to the concept
models that were shown in the
Detroit Auto Show a few years
back: tae Dodge Neon sub-com-
pact and Dodge Ram ‘T-300 truck.

The Neon — which is expected
to make some competitors quite
nervous with its low price and
dual airbags — has the cute front
took with a pair of round
headlights that was the prominent
look of the Neon concept car. The
production Neon, unlike the con-
cept version, won’t be powered by
a two-stroke engine.

The Ram truck’s distinct, 18-
wheeler appearance will no doubt
stir up the public when it goes on

. Sale as a 1994 model.

This past winter, Chrysler in-
troduced more attention-getting
concept vehicles in the North
American auto shows. One of
them, the Dodge Viper GTS
coupe, is now being considered
seriously for production. It is

basically a hardtop version of the
V10-powered killer convertible al-
ready on the market.

The other concept sports car

’ was the wild, hot-rod-like
‘Plymouth Prowler — featuring
exposed wheels and design ideas
not seen in any current production
cars.

The Prowler is undergoing a
marketing and engineering study
for possible production. If it does
make it through the approval pro-
cess, expect the car to appear in |
the market in basically the same
shape and style as the concent *
versicn — something Chrysler is
getting very good at doing.

In most cases, these hand-
crafted prototype vehicles are
shown to the public a year to

Local body shop has been

| accused of creating happy
‘customers. “Service was
excellent, second to
none.’’ As stated by Mr.
Al White of Halifax St.,
Burnaby, “I’ve referred
everyone I’ve talked to.’’

Maaco Auto Painting of
945 West Ist Street of
North Vancouver has not
yet responded to the
charges.

Mr. Forslund of Princess
Ave., North Vancouver
claims to have received
“Tremendous. value, I
really got my dollar’s
worth:”’

Investigation of these and
similar charges are

OVERDRIVE

three years before becorning, if at
all, available for sale.

The one-off running prototypes
can cost upwards of a quarter of a
million dollars or more to make.

Although Chrysler does not
have the big budget of a General
Motors or a Ford, it has been
more aggressive in turning show
concept vehicles to »roduction
models. This may be partly due to
the faci inat Chrysler has been
careful in the selection of concept
cars for the international auto
shows.

Instead of displaying out-of-
this-world vehicles that had little
chance of receiving an OK. stamp
from the management, Chrysler
concentrated on produc-
tion-possible concept vehicles that
had already spent some time in
the engineering shop.

Another concept vehicle that
may reach preduction, if not in its
entirety, is the electric-powered
Dodge EPIC concept minivan.

According to industry sources,
the next-generation Dodge Cara-
van/Plymouth Voyager twins are
expected to have many design cues
taken from the Epic concept vehi-
cle when they hit the streets in a
few years. (EPIC stands for Elec-
tric Power Inter-urban Com-
muter.)

Although the EPIC minivan
does not break major ground in

presently underway.
Repercussions from these
allegations may lead to an
epidemic of happy
customers due to a recent
announcement by Maaco,
promoting its most
popular paint service —
The Supreme for only
$499.95.

Local agencies are
monitoring the location of
Maaco Auto Painting &
Collision on West Ist St.
during its hours of opera-
tion, 7:30am to 6:00pm
weekdays, and now open
Saturdays 10:00am _ to
3:00pm. :

PH: 984-4111

arket

terms of styling, it does have a
very clean, smart look to it-

The front windshield is angled
aggressively, somewhat like the
Chevrolet Lumina APV minivan,
with blacked-out windshield
pillars for a more blend-in look.
The whole front section is quite
low in comparison to today’s
minivans, which improves visibili-
ty and brings the driving position
closer to that of a passenger car.

According to Chrysler, the
cab-forward design was applied to
EPIC to produce an efficient
cabin with a functional appear-
ance. The front headlights have
been replaced by a row of high in-
tensity lights that appear as a
sharp slit just above the smoothly
integrated bumper.

The interior incorporates easy-
to-manipulate cockpit-style in-
strumentation and controls. The
rear part of the van easily con-
verts into a cargo storage space by
folding the rear seat away. The
seat actually folds right into the
floor space to produce a flat floor
area.

The interior and exterior design
ideas may very well appear in the
next version of the Caravan/
Voyager, but EPIC’s source of
power, a 54-kilowatt direct-cur-
rent motor powered by nickel iron
batteries, may not.

Other innovative engineering
features include an automatic
watering system for the batteries
and an on-board charging system
to minimize the recharging pro-
cess.

We won’t know for a couple of
years how much of the EPIC’s
aggressive design will end up in
the new generation of minivans,
but we do know one thing: the
greater the positive reaction to
these concept vehicles from the
public, the higher the chance that
a particular model will réceive the

Photo submitted

THE EPIC'S front headlights have been replaced by a row of
high-intensity lights that appear as a sharp slit Just above the

smoothly integrated bumper.

go-ahead from the management
for production.

So if you like what you see,
don’t sit around just admiring the

beautifully made concept vehicles.

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