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D1 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, October 20, 1999 i Are You Going onaTtip? 4, 4121 M o rtis Dr. _ CAA Authorized Inspection Centres 12345 Fairview S t. C A L LF O RA N A P P C X N T M E K T i 6 3 2 -8 1 5 1 6 3 4 -4 2 1 1 An O akville Beaver Advertising Feature To advertise in this section call 845-3824 D aim lerChrysler unveils a feast o f concept cars This time it was a feast for the senses and not just the eyes. After years of going to Detroit and see ing all those mouth-watering Chrysler (oops DaimlerChrysler) concept cars, most of us have come away having been pleased by what we saw, but wondering what these sho.wcars would be like to drive in the real world. Chrysler has become the undisputed leader of taking concept cars and turning them into the real thing. Where other makers show wild lines, screaming paint jobs, and outlandishly big tires, Chrysler does all that and then puts the cars on the market. The Prowler with its 20-inch rear wheels, the Viper with a V10 engine, and now the PT Cruiser prove that Chrysler puts its hardware where its showcar mouth is. Through dint of non-stop badgering of head office in Auburn Hill, Mich., Chrysler Canada's PR staff pulled off something of a coupe recently and fenagled not one or two but seven of its best for a ride and drive. For the first time on Canadian soil, jour nalists were given a loop through CNE to try these cars on for size. In terms of people pulling power, the Chrysler Atlantic was one of the first and still one of the best remembered Chrysler concepts. Somewhere between a TalbotLago and a Bugatti T57 Atlantique, the Atlantic has lines that could only have been inspired by the French school. Under the hood is a straight eight-cylinder engine with twincams pro ducing an estimated 325 hp. The interior is fitted in mauve and beige leathers with four, "watch face" gauges. With 21-inch tires at the front and 22-inchers at the back, suspension travel is limited under those slipper-like fenders. And the deep basso burble of the twin exhausts at idle cannot be described. The Atlantic is a true concept car that will never be seriously produced but I gotta tell you, this is the vehicle I want to drive to my high school reunion. Also in the probably never category is the Chrysler Dual Cowl Pheaton. With 5.4litre, 425 hp V12 engine and turned out in mixtures of beige, caramel and sand colors, the massiveness of this car might have seemed out of the question for production until the Daimler Maybach and now the in the Chrysler big car lineup. And speaking of people movers, it was Chrysler that created the minivan in 1983 and continues to be the minivan benchmark for the industry. Now everyone knows a minivan is for hauling bodies, but there are those who want something more, be it speed or comfort, and Chrysler has both avenues covered. The Dodge Sport R/T is a seven-seater with an attitude. Starting with the Viper red paint job and the Viper air scoops on the hood, the R/T looks like a hot rod and it is. Instead of the normal V6, R/Tstuffs in a 3.5-litre V6 producing 225 hp and 250 ft/lb of torque. Handling and stability have been markedly advanced thanks to 18-inch wheels and performance tires. With sportscar interior, this is a minivan that can mix it on the slalom course. Now I would never encourage racing, especially on the highway, but I couldn't help thinking what a great support series it would be to IndyCar if there was an all minivan series with Dodge Caravans run ning nose to tail. People have affinity with their cars and what better way to put a little spice into the life of every Caravan owner than to be rooting for a hero he/she can identify with. The Chrysler Pacifica takes luxury to a new level outdoing even the most opulent ly-equipped stretch limo. Outwardly, the scalloped headlamp treatment is bor rowed from the Chrysler Concorde along with the big Ferrari egg-crate style grille and these two elements really make this van look like it's a step up. But behind the driver and front pas senger seats are aircraft-style first-class leather armchairs. Directly overhead is a skylight running the length of the ceiling. On each side are air craft style storage bins. I can tell you that if I had my choice in going to the DaimlerChrysler Caravan RT airport in a limo or used in another showcar, the Chrysler EPIC the Pacifica, the latter would win hands electric minivan. The motors add 70 more down. hp. In terms of performance, it accelerates Because the Citadel is primarily a rearfrom 0-60 mph in 17 seconds and has a wheel drive car, Chrysler's "cab forward" architecture can be used to make a four- range of 80-100 miles. If you want to buy door wagon that is a full 192 inches long one, the U.S. suggested list price is with a wheelbase of 125 inches. That $38,700. Now chances of the Pacifica being pro makes it about the size of a Chrysler Concorde sedan. But with 18.7 cu. ft. of duced are slim, but then the special vehicle rear cargo space it's about the same as a operation on Conner Ave. in Detroit that Dodge Caravan minivan that has 18.8 cu.ft. currently builds Viper and Prowler is going to need a replacement someday. So of cargo room behind the rear seats. While the hybrid-hybrid technology is a Pacifica is possible. Also possible is the R/T that could help step in the right direction in terms of the flesh out Chrysler's minivan model lineup environment, it's still several years away now that the Plymouth Voyager has been from mainline production. The shape, however is going to appear dropped. But if I was a betting man I'd bet that in showrooms in some form hopefully as about a year from now one of the hottest next LH wagon that would make a nice fit vehicles on the road will be the Jeepster. ROBINSON JIM Road Worthy DaimlerChrysler Atlantic DaimlerChrysler Pacifica Bugatti EB-218 came along. Still very much a prototype, no one was allowed to ride in the back seat because of tire rub by the 22-inch wheels against the close-fitting body work. Too bad because being a dual cowl Pheaton, back seat pas sengers get their own windshield, speedo and tach, not to mention stereo sound and an amply stocked bar. Home Jeeves! Next up and looking like it is ready to be in Jeep showrooms tomorrow is the Jeepster concept of two years ago. Jeepster, like Atlantic and Phaeton, is retro in that it was inspired by the short lived 1950 Willys Jeepster Convertible. Under the skin it is mechanically the same as the current Jeep Grand Cherokee down to the 4.7-litre V8 and full-time viscous coupled transfer case. Around the CNE, the Jeepster felt and drove like, well, a Jeep. Inside four-point safety belts and huge dials and gauges made for a very rugged, outdoorsy feeling. Finished in intense red and contrasting dark blue fenders, there is no question this vehicle stands out It can't be much longer before the new board of DaimlerChrysler gives this spunky sport ster the go ahead. Most interesting to me in terms of futureteck was the Chrysler Citadel, but not because it looks and rides like a 300M, nor that it has the cargo room and the lines of one of my all-time favorite station wagons, the Reliant Scimitar. The Citadel is a "hybrid-hybrid" that uses a gasoline engine to power the rear wheels and electricity to power the front wheels. The engine is a 3.5-litre V6 right out of the 300M producing the same 253 hp and driving the rear wheels. At the front there are two Seimens electric motors as YOUR CHOICE YOUR CHOICE $0 DOWN $0 DOWN $ 607" $2500 DOWN $ 5621 2 $2500 DOWN $4 8 559 passenger seating, rear air leather seats, CO player, ABS brakes, & much more. 2 0 0 0 DODGE CARAVAN V 6 ,7 passenger, power windows & locks, tilt, cruise, AM/FM/cassette, air. The m ost versatile minivan. $3500 DOWN $246" The ultimate Jeep that combines comfort in a stylish package. Fully loaded, 26K pkg., leather interior, AM/FM/cassette/CD, power sunroof, memory setting & more. CHEROKEE $ 5311 0 $3500 DOWN $ $3500 DOWN 5004 9 $ 4549 7 LEASES BASED ON 20,400 KMS/YEAR, PLUS TAXES, LICENSE, FREIGHT & ADMINISTRATION. T h e p la c e w m » Becalt fioiits A c c w rfts tf Test to te a s e o r buy s in c e 1 9 6 1 G lenleven C H R Y S L E R · D O C h ry sler D G E · J E E P - 2388 R oyal W indsor D r ., O akville 9 05 845-7575