motor

666fast · 07-29-2004, 10:56 AM

From Detroit News:

DaimlerChrysler AG’s Chrysler Group appears to be hitting the gas on plans to build its Chrysler ME Four-Twelve super car.

“It’s more likely than not” that Chrysler will build the lightning-fast sports car, which was shown as a concept vehicle at the Detroit auto show in January, said Chrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche.

A final decision will come by the end of the year, Zetsche said, but his comments mark the most definitive word yet on the project.

A key question remains: How many should be built?

“The business case could be between seven vehicles at $1 million (a piece) or 1,000 a year,” Zetsche said in an interview. In the latter case, “we would have to be more down-to-earth with pricing.”

Chrysler created the ME Four-Twelve as a halo for the company’s eponymous brand, as the company has done with the Viper sports car for Dodge and the retro-cool Plymouth Prowler.

Unlike those vehicles, however, Chrysler will not dedicate factory space to the ME Four-Twelve, Zetsche said.

“We are in talks with partners who are interested in building it,” he said. “But it must make sense.”

The ME Four Twelve — named for its mid-engine design, four turbo chargers and 12-cylinder power plant — was the brainchild of Wolfgang Bernhard, Chrysler’s former chief operating officer.

Bernhard, who remains on DaimlerChrysler’s management board, drove the 850-horsepower ME Four-Twelve this month at Chrysler’s test track in Chelsea.

“Even though it’s not his responsibility anymore, I wanted to give him the chance to see where we were with it,” Zetsche said.

Engineers are still testing the ME Four-Twelve to back up claims that it can reach speeds of 240 mph and do 0-to-60 in under three seconds. Such performance would make the ME Four-Twelve the fastest street car in the world.

Came across this info at another forum I visit, thought you guys might be interested.
I am, I honestly didn't think Chrysler would have the cajones to actually put this beast into production. Seems like it could be happening though. Kind of wierd to think that Chrysler, of all companies, would build a supercar. I say go for it, just for shits and giggles.

Now lets wait for someone to say American car companies can't build shit and this car will suck even though noone knows much about it.