Is Chrysler Nuts?

I just saw some highlights of the Detroit Auto Show and one of the featured
"all new" Chrysler products was the Aspen full size SUV? I had several
problems with this "concept" -

1) They claimed the Aspen was Chrysler's first SUV. Are they trying to
disown all the Pacifica ads? I'll admit the Pacifica is really just a
squashed mini-van, but I sure seem to recall it being advertised as an SUV.
Of course no one who actually wanted an SUV would go with in 10 miles of
that turkey. But it is a decent, if overpriced, mini-van.

2) They claim it is "full sized." Compared to what? A RAV4? It is just a
warmed over Durango. Since Dodge is constantly calling the Durango the
roomiest SUV in its class, it can't be a full sized SUV, since it is smaller
than all the real full size SUVs (Expedition, Tahoe, Suburban, Sequoia, etc)
and barely larger than an Explorer or Trailblazer. So it reality, this is
just a big mid-sized SUV.

3) Aspen??? That name was already discredited years ago when it was slapped
on those horrible mid-sized sedans. I guess Aspen is better than Volante.

4) Does the world really need a clone of the worst SUV sold in the US?
Slapping a Chrysler grille on that turkey is not going to elevate it to the
status of merely mediocre. I suppose if you want to go fast in a straight
line, the Aspen (LOL) with the hemi fits the bill. Of course in every other
way, it is a turkey.

More marketing genius from Chrysler....

At least the Challenger looks nice. I wonder if they will screw that up?

Ed

> 1) They claimed the Aspen was Chrysler's first SUV.

I guess if you define "Chrysler" strictly enough, you get to palm off
not only the Durango but the several generations of the late, lamented
Power Wagon onto Dodge.

> I'll admit the Pacifica is really just a squashed mini-van

Or perhaps what the station wagon evolved into, in a slightly more
orderly parallel universe that bypassed the SUV craze entirely.

Okay, an expensive parallel universe.

It's a handsome vehicle and looks like a real asset to some lifestyles,
but neither instinctively nor after thinking about it would I classify
the Pacifica among SUVs.


> At least the Challenger looks nice. I wonder if they will screw that up?

It sure does. I wonder if an SRT-10 variant is mechanically feasible,
since king-hell engine options were key to the Challenger/Barracuda
tradition (even if most were probably bought with a mild LA-block or a
Slant Six). Hopefully they learned a thing or two from Ford's
revival of the Thunderbird.

--Joe