Following its thundering ME Four-Twelve concept, Chrysler will unveil a low-slung Hemi V8-powered grand tourer at the upcoming Detroit Show.
Following its thundering ME Four-Twelve concept, Chrysler will unveil a low-slung Hemi V8-powered grand tourer at the upcoming Detroit Show.
CARtoday.com in August quoted Chrysler chief executive Dieter Zetsche as saying that the US manufacturer would “more likely than not” put its 2004 Detroit Motor Show smash hit – the ME Four-Twelve supercar – into production.
At the heart of the rear-wheel drive, mid-engine ME is an all-aluminium, quad-turbo, six-litre V12 engine. With electronic sequential multipoint fuel injection and a 9.0:1 compression ratio, the AMG-developed engine delivers 634 kW at 5 750 r/min, with 1 150 N.m of torque between 2 500 and 4 500 r/min. (Click here for more).
But according to , Chrysler has something equally flashy in store for the next Detroit Motor Show. The car pictured here has provisionally been dubbed the Firepower (Chrysler does not own the name and will need a new one before the show opens) and is based on the iconic V10-engined Viper’s architecture. However, it uses the 6,1-litre Hemi V8 (producing 313 kW and 570 N.m of torque) first fitted to the 300C SRT-8 bruiser cruiser.
Chrysler officials say there are plans to put the “Firepower” into production, but envision the car occupying the space between the Crossfire and the ME412 in Chrysler’s portfolio.
Although the car is based on the Viper, and Chrysler’s senior vice president for design Trevor Creed named the Chevrolet Corvette as a key competitor (again, in theory) – “Firepower” is envisioned as more of grand tourer than outright sports car and has more compliant suspension and five-speed automatic transmission.
The car has been fitted with 14-inch Brembos and will be shod with 275/35 R19 tyres up front and 335/30 R20 at the rear. In addition, Chrysler estimates the car would polish off the zero to 100 km/h dash in 4,5 seconds and reach a top speed of just under 300 km/h, the report said.