Chrysler concorde

Concorde's design is rooted in 1986, when designer Kevin Verdine created the initial look for the concept of the new sedan, codenamed Navajo. The concept, however, remained a clay model. At the same time, Chrysler bought the bankrupt Lamborghini , an Italian sports car manufacturer. The redesigned Navajo design became the Lamborghini Portofino concept car, presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1987. At the auto show, the concept was rated as a design triumph, prompting Chrysler to begin work on creating a production sedan based on the concept.

The design, called the “cab forward” (cab-forward), was characterized primarily by the desire of the creators to maximize the size of the cabin. The car’s cabin is pushed forward, as it were, the windshield runs over the engine. At the same time, the rear wheels are “pulled into the corners” of the car, shifting them to the rear bumper.

Work on the chassis began in the late 80s, after the acquisition of Chrysler, another automaker, American Motors Corporation . At the same time, Chrysler took care of creating a replacement for the Dodge Dynasty and Chrysler Fifth Avenue cars. The original design of the Dodge LH was painfully reminiscent of Dynasty. The design was completely rejected by François Costin , a former vice president of development at AMC, who came to the same post at Chrysler in 1988. Kostyn launched the new design based on the Eagle Premier , also sold under the name Dodge Monaco .

From the Prime Minister were taken the longitudinal arrangement of the engine, the geometry of the front suspension, partly the braking system. The chassis acquired a flexible architecture that allowed the use of both front-and rear-wheel drive layout (which was done in the 'LH' and 'LX', respectively). Also, the engineers managed to reduce the height of the hood, facilitating engine maintenance, and reduce the turning radius of the car. The ideological inspirers of the gearbox were the automatic machines from Audi and ZF , installed at the Premier . As a result, having borrowed a lot from the Ultradrive A604 box , Chrysler engineers created the Ultradrive A606 , also known as 42LE. Running-in of the chassis of the car’s chassis was also performed at the Premieres .

Over the years, the chassis design has changed, which was reflected primarily in the Chrysler concept cars: the 1989 Chrysler Millennium and the 90th Eagle Optima .

By 1990, it became clear that a new, technically advanced car and engine needed to be matched. At that time, the only approved engine was a 3.3 liter Chrysler V6 , with two valves per cylinder and a camshaft in the collapse of the cylinder block . An increase in cylinder diameter from 93 to 96 mm. engine capacity was increased to 3.5 liters., the gas distribution mechanism was replaced by a 24-valve SOHC . So there was a new 3.5 liter. Chrysler V6 .

One of the emphasis in developing the appearance of the car was the reduction of noise in the cabin when driving at speed. As a result, due to streamlined body shapes Concorde low drag coefficient , which was rare in those years .

The first-generation Chrysler Concorde cars debuted at the 1992 Detroit International Auto Show as the 1993 model. It was presented one, quite rich, equipment worth US $ 18 341. ^[1]

Of all the sedans, the first-generation LH Concorde platforms were the closest to Eagle Vision . Concorde, however, had a more traditional look. Both cars shared almost all body panels, apparently differing mainly in the radiator grilles, rear, moldings and choice of wheels.

The Concorde radiator grill was divided into 6 sections by uprights painted in body color. The central one housed the manufacturer’s logo. On the trunk lid of the car was a lantern in the form of a strip extending from one rear light to another. The goal was to simulate a “single” taillight from wing to wing. The license plate was mounted on the rear bumper. The same taillights were installed on Eagle Vision cars, but there was no “strip” on the trunk - a license plate was attached there. At Dodge Intrepid , on the other hand, both the front and rear optics were completely different, and the radiator grille was simply missing.

Unlike the sister cars manufactured by Dodge and Eagle, Concorde side moldings were taller and had chrome (later gold-colored) inserts. If the car's moldings were painted gray, the paint reached the chrome inserts, unlike the VIsion, in which the gray stripes were noticeably narrower. The design of the rims, optionally available aluminum, with the Spiralcast pattern, was unique to Chrysler LH sedans (Concorde, LHS, New Yorker). Dodge and Eagle were equipped with "their" wheels.

The Concorde interior was almost identical to Vision, the main differences were the wood finish and the steering wheel logo (the Intrepid interior was very different). At the same time, both Concorde and Intrepid could be equipped with a front seat of a sofa type and a gear lever on the steering rack, which increased the capacity of the car to six people. For Vision, such an option was absent. Unlike Dodge and Eagle, Concorde cars have never been equipped with a gearbox with autostick function (and the corresponding instrument panel).

Expensive configurations Concorde had leather seats, steering wheel, gear knob, door inserts. Other “salon” options include ventilation of the rear seats (in 5-seater cars), a central armrest in the rear seat, electrically adjustable front seats (8 directions), personal interior lighting lamps. Power windows, central locking, an anti-lock braking system and airbags for the driver and front passenger were standard. Also, an optional traction control system , an “electronic” key and several options for audio systems from Infinity were available , with a CD or cassette player, an equalizer, and the number of speakers up to 8 pieces. The top versions of the LXi model could be distinguished by the absence of a retractable antenna (the antenna was removed under the right rear wing).

At the request of the buyer, a sliding electric sunroof could be installed on the car. Installation was done by American Sunroof (currently American Specialty Cars ). During installation, the car lost most of the ceiling console, with a garage door control button and eyeglass case installed on it. However, the on-board information system display (OTIS) and interior lighting lamps remained.

A noteworthy achievement of Chrysler Concorde was the highest mark of the Center for Automotive Safety , which the 1993 model received after hitting the wall at a speed of 56 km / h (35 mph).

Changes over the years

• 1993 : Debut Concorde extols most auto publications. This will be the only Concord production year with a 3.3 liter engine. capacity of 153 liters with. (113 kW) and a "stiff" suspension as standard. A 6-disc CD changer from Mopar (in the trunk, wired remote control) and an alarm system were optionally installed by dealers. Along with Intrepid and Vision, this was the first car to install a new 3.5-liter SOHC V6 24-valve engine . You could install a Panasonic cell phone in a car. The front seat of the sofa type and the gear lever on the steering wheel were not yet available, but were planned from the very beginning.
• 1994 : Car suspension in all trim levels reconfigured for a comfortable ride. Engine power 3.3 liters. increased by 8 liters. with. (6 kW), while fuel consumption has not changed (9/11/13 l / 100 km). There was a variant of the cabin with a front seat of a sofa type (with two armrests and cup holders) and a gear lever on the steering column. The capacity of such a salon was 6 people. Thanks to the reconfiguration of the amplifier, the steering wheel became lighter, which facilitated maneuvering in the parking lot, but worsened handling at high speeds . A competitor to Visorphone has been added to the Panasonic cell phone.

• 1995 : The transmission was updated, the keyless entry system was modified, and the “acceleration” and “cancel” cruise control buttons appeared on the steering wheel spokes. Since the end of 1995, composite front fenders have been replaced by metal, which increased the strength of the front of the car. The old logo in the form of a pentagram was replaced by a new one with a wreath (except for keyless entry trinkets and keys, the pentagram remained there). On all other Chrysler models, excluding Cirrus and Sebring , replacement was carried out in 1996. Plymouth also replaced in 1996. Dodge got rid of the pentagram back in 1993.
• 1996 : Two trim levels were introduced for Concorde: the cheap LX and the expensive LXi . Sound insulation is improved and the design is slightly modified in order to reduce noise in the car. ^[2]
• 1997 : 3.3 liter engine removed from LX .

In anticipation of the 1998 model year, Concorde went through a deep modification. The second-generation platform design was introduced in 1996 as a Chrysler LHX concept. This car had large 20-inch wheels, a dashboard in the center of the dashboard, and video cameras in the front struts that replaced the rear-view mirrors. The wheelbase was increased to 124 inches (3100 mm), which allowed to make more space for rear passengers, to establish an entertainment center and a storage compartment at the rear. The basic version of the LX was equipped with a fabric interior, leather was optionally available. In versions of the LXi and later Limited, a leather interior was immediately available.

Despite the fact that the car grew by 7.5 inches (190 mm) in length, it lost about 30 kg in weight, ^[3] which was the result of the use of aluminum in the rear suspension, bonnet, and new engines. In 1999, 3.5 liters. EGE with a capacity of 214 liters. with. received a new, all-aluminum, cylinder block. At Concorde, engine models EGJ and EGG were installed (since 2002), with a capacity of 235 and 250 liters. with. respectively. ^[4] 2.7 liter engines were also available. 200 l with. and 3.2 liters. 220 l with.

When developing the second generation of the LH platform, much attention was paid to the individuality of cars of various brands. The 1998 Concorde was significantly more different from both the Dodge Intrepid and the Chrysler 300M (the successor to the Eagle Vision) than the first-generation cars differed. Excluding the doors and the roof, Concorde had virtually no common body iron with the Intrepid and 300M. The front of the new Concorde was emphasized by a large, unusual radiator grille that slid onto the front bumper to create the impression of a “low-breathing” car. Concorde also featured curved, rounded body shapes.

Car production was discontinued in 2004, as did the Intrepid and 300M. The concorde was replaced by the Chrysler 300 , introduced at the end of 2004 (as a 2005 model). The last Chrysler Concorde rolled off the assembly line on August 28, 2004.

Changes over the years

• 1998 : Concorde redesign, second generation released. The body panels became tougher and stronger, the suspension received two-point fastenings to the body, protection against side impact appeared. ^[five]
• 1999 : The retuned suspension became softer, providing a more comfortable ride and less noise. Cabin mats have become thicker, a new net for securing cargo has appeared in the trunk. The LXi has a new CD player and Sentry Key immobilizer (it blocked the ignition when there is no key in the lock).
• 2000 : A factory sunroof is available for all models. Tuning the suspension, which has become even quieter and more comfortable. The LX version now comes with 16-inch discs, for consistency with the LXi . The latter also added a steering wheel that adapts to the speed of the car (it is easier to steer in the parking lot and the steering wheel does not lose information at a speed) and, optionally, a 4-disc CD changer in the dashboard.
• 2001 : Optional side airbags for front passengers and a 3-point seat belt for the average passenger in the rear. The “22D” option of the LX Lepere model includes alloy wheels. For the LXi model, an optional audio system from Infinity with steering wheel control is optional.
• 2002 : There was a new, now the most expensive, Limited equipment (redesigned Chrysler LHS , discontinued): 17-inch wheels, 3.5-liter engine. V6 with a capacity of 250 liters. with. (184 kW). With the new short nose “from LHS ”, the Concorde of 2002-04 became 1.4 ″ (36 mm) shorter than the models of 1998-2001. ^[6] In summer, the “Pro-Am Edition Group” option appeared for Limited equipment, which included two-color leather upholstery, special interior trim, a spare wheel on a chrome disc, a set of golf clubs with a leather and suede bag, and “Pro” nameplates -Am "on the rear windows and special grinding for the clubs in the trunk.
• 2003 : No change, except that the CD changer in the dashboard is now on 6 discs.
• 2004 : Last year, in 2005, the Chrysler 300 will replace the car.

• Chrysler.com - 2001 Chrysler Concorde, page archive on the Internet Archive