When is a Chrysler; not?

[moparmagiclives]

Be interesting to see if those relationships continue for very long as the platforms Daimler was involved with start rotating out in favor of Fiat-based platforms.

I've had alot of people ask about the cummins dzl because of this worry.... Help us all if Fiat can get one that will pass emmissions..

[sak]

Back when daimler owned chrysler, Mercedes was producing cars similar to this..

True hardtop, slick styling, but none of this found its way to the chrysler products. They really dropped the ball when they made the charger into a four door sedan. Not even a good looking four door in my opinion. They should take notes from Audi, who knows how to make a sedan look good.

[moparmagiclives]

Back when daimler owned chrysler, Mercedes was producing cars similar to this..

Sure looks alot like a hard top sebring convert too me....The only thing that bothers me about the Cummins/Chrysler deal is the new slash and burn suits from Fiat...never know with people like that.

[Chuck Most]

I've noticed cars taking truck styling cues, too. Years ago, it was the other way around. Now Dodge cars have the cross-bar grille like the Ram pickups (well, Challenger excluded), Chevy cars have the truck-hand-me-down fat chrome bar with giant gold Bow Tie (except for the 'Vette and Camaro), and, well, Ford cars and trucks both have those ridiculous chrome grins(except the Mustang), but I'm not sure which line had that first. I mean, was there a consumer study somewhere that said people wanted to buy cars that looked like trucks?

[Harry P.]

I've noticed cars taking truck styling cues, too. Years ago, it was the other way around. Now Dodge cars have the cross-bar grille like the Ram pickups (well, Challenger excluded), Chevy cars have the truck-hand-me-down fat chrome bar with giant gold Bow Tie (except for the 'Vette and Camaro), and, well, Ford cars and trucks both have those ridiculous chrome grins(except the Mustang), but I'm not sure which line had that first. I mean, was there a consumer study somewhere that said people wanted to buy cars that looked like trucks?

If there was, they sure didn't ask me!!!

[Harry P.]

I wonder if the truck styling cues mean "safety" in consumers' minds? As in sturdier, stronger, etc.

A lot of consumers, especially women, seem to think that they're "safer" in an SUV-type vehicle because they are sitting up higher. (I never understood that belief, but whatever. People aparently believe it for some reason). So maybe the "urban assault vehicle" styling trend of current Chrysler cars is due in part to consumer perceptions of what makes a car "safe." (Disregarding, of course, the nut that holds the wheel!)

Then again, maybe Chrysler designers just don't know ugly when they see it!

[Jon Cole]

Or maybe, just maybe, not everyone thinks your described "Urban Assault Styling" is all bad? I mean, if every vehicle was designed with the same exact design cues as they did 30+ years ago, whoud that be.. progress? You must progress, there is no denying it. Change is inevitable. Safety sells... nowadays. Fed regs require better passenger protection, thus a more "cocooning". That is progress... you can welcome it, or, it can run you over!

[Joe Handley]

Speaking of Chrysler design... am I the only one who thinks their vehicles have been getting uglier and uglier? The old Avenger from the late '90s looked light years better than the current version. Same with the 300. Lately all of Chrysler's cars (except maybe the Challenger) have this lumpy/boxy/bulgy/hard-angle look.

Is this "progress?" Not to my eye:

1997 Avenger

2010 Avenger:

I used to be a real fan of Chrysler styling. Not any more...

I don't know Harry, I actually prefer the new Avenger. It's more pleasing to my eye, and I tend to prefer the 80's and 90's styling to the wannabe truck garbage that's out now.

I do seem to remember that Daimler felt that the trucks were Chrysler's strong suit and wanted it's passenger cars to capitalize on that as well.....then a few years later we get something that looked like a cross between "THE CAR", a M-Body New Yorker, and a modern Rolls Royce/Bentley

[Joe Handley]

i'm not really a fan at all of current styling like Mark mentioned, the big slab sides and glass areas are the biggest problems. it's interesting too, to look at how much glass space is actually clear and see through! it's not alot. while the Challenger is a pretty slab sided beast for some reason to me the Camaro comes across as being more so, could be it's chopped roofline that makes it appear worse though. in that segment the Mustang is hands down the best looking and proportioned of them all.

it's also pretty bad when the most interesting to look at cars and trucks on the road are the wacky Nissan Cube's and those door stopper looking Euro Ford panel trucks.

I think that's why cars like the PT Cruisers, HHR, the new Fiesta, and the above look better to me, they're completely different than most other stuff on the road today.