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Chrysler Nassau Concept
15th January, 2007 | ||||
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Combining refinement, function and style, the Chrysler Nassau concept, which
is on display at the 2007 Detroit Motor Show explores a new expression of the
Chrysler brand. The four-door, four-passenger Chrysler Nassau luxury coupe is,
as Alan Barrington, principal exterior designer of the concept said, “a more
emotional and artistic articulation of what it means to be a Chrysler.” Though built on a full-size 3,048 mm wheelbase, the Nassau appears more
visually compact than a comparable Chrysler 300C. “Traditional exterior proportions have been enhanced with a silhouette that
recalls the classic English ‘shooting brake,’” said Barrington. “This provides
SUV-like interior volume with a lower, more roadworthy physique.” Barrington said the exterior design vocabulary is fluid and sophisticated
with special attention paid to wheel placement relative to the body surface for
a sleek, toned stance. “In order to attain a more compact appearance,” explained Barrington, “the
Nassau has deliberately concise front and rear overhangs, with the body surface
wrapped around the large 10-spoke 21-inch wheels.” Accenting the Mystic Blue Pearl colour of the body, the sill and the lower
portions of the front and rear fascias are finished in Starbright Silver. The
lower surface of the body is defined by a subtle undercut that rises slightly
toward the rear wheel. Though the arc of the roof resembles that of a coupe, the Chrysler Nassau
concept is in fact a four-door hard top with front and rear side glass that
retracts fully, revealing the absence of an above-the-belt B-pillar. The crisp
but fluid A-line that closes slightly against the rising belt is also of
particular note. “We sought to capture the effect of a classic sculpture – an artistic
approach with a shapely flowing of lines that give the impression of movement
even while standing still,” Barrington said. “The line in the profile draws down
and into the taillamp, leading the eye of the observer toward to the dramatic
back end which creates its unexpected ‘shooting brake’ appearance.” In side view, the upper portion of the rear hatch is steeply raked, with the
back light swept cleanly around to the C-pillars. The lower portion of the
tapering back light glass is pulled emphatically rearward, a treatment repeated
in the near vertical surface of the lower hatch. The flanking taillamps are
graphically the reverse of the headlamps, with the lenses getting wider as they
sweep around to the side, with the bright accent along the bottom of the lens.
Much of the lens is populated by rows of bright rectangles set in a red field,
the rectangles helping to delineate the surface of the rear quarters when the
lamps are unlit. All exterior lighting is visually distinctive with the use of
atypical textures, colours and LED technology. Fronting the long bonnet is a new interpretation of the eggcrate Chrysler
grille, rendered in chrome and satin aluminium. Bracketing the grille and
sweeping rearward nearly to the wheel openings, the long, narrowing headlamps
and their upper chrome brows combine with the rising sculptured line of the
upper fascia to subliminally evoke the uplifted wings of the Chrysler badge. The Chrysler Nassau’s lower fascia is accented by the long chrome brows of
the tapering left and right fog lamps, a detail replicated in the “repeater
lamps” of the slim, door-mounted side view mirrors. The plan view of the Nassau
highlights the dramatic swept-back curves that define both the front and rear
fascias. Stepping into the Chrysler Nassau, one enters a new world of luxury specially
designed to a younger, aspiring audience. The presiding interior theme is one of
flowing seamless sculpture composed of leathers and fabrics derived from
futuristic architectural interiors. “We looked carefully at space efficiency,” said Ben Chang, principal designer
of the Nassau’s luxurious interior. “We pushed the interior surfaces outboard to
increase the space inside while individual bucket seating provides each of the
four occupants personal space. “The look of various components inside the vehicle was inspired by the design
of contemporary cell phones, computers, iPods and MP3 players,” Chang added. “We
paid close attention to the graphics and finishes of these technologically
advanced products, seeking to make controls in the Nassau’s interior that the
driver interfaces with similar to what you’d find in the office or among
personal electronic devices. We strived to achieve a seamless interface between
your car and the rest of your electronic world.” The instrument panel is a showcase for new technologies in data display,
personal control interface and home theatre-inspired entertainment. Gear
selection is accomplished via a pod control mounted on the instrument panel
while the steering wheel incorporates auxiliary paddle shifters. “The look of the instrument cluster was based on an expensive watch, again
because we sought to create a visible connection with what people have and use,”
Chang said. While the instrument cluster has its own taut brow, the shape of the forward
portion of the instrument panel is sculpted. Housing the main cluster, the upper
surface of the panel includes a wide asymmetrical elliptical opening. The shape was inspired and reminiscent of Constantin Brancusi’s famous Bird
in Space sculptures. Brancusi, an artist based in Paris from the 1920s to the
1940s, was preoccupied by physical attributes of birds in flight, or more
specifically, the essence of flight. The theme fits perfectly with the vehicle’s
goal of giving the constant impression of smooth, slender movement. Within the housing of the instrument panel is a three-layer screen,
which allows the simultaneous display of the navigation, passenger entertainment
and vehicle function displays. As they move toward the doors, the left and right side lower portions of the
two-tone instrument panel rise upward, again subtly reprising the Chrysler wings.
Sandwiched between the upper and lower surfaces of the instrument panel are
partially-concealed horizontal vents that direct cool air into the cabin. The four handsomely-formed bucket seats are covered in cream-coloured leather,
with the suede accents in a fine bamboo texture, a theme repeated on the door
trim panels. Occupants can gaze upward through twin “Picture View” skylights,
longitudinal blue-tinted glass panels that run the length of the roof panel.
Those in the rear seats can enjoy a movie displayed on the flush video screens
incorporated into the rear-facing portion of each of the front seat headrestraints. Running fore-aft between the seats is a centre console with a satin silver
trim strip that travels from the instrument panel centre stack to the upper rear seat backs.
Set within the console are the front and rear “joy stick” controls designed to
function much like the “mouse” control of a home or office computer. Power
window switches and flush-mounted pop-up cup holders are also contained in the
console. Among the more interesting visual details within the Deep Mystic Blue and
Cream interior are the refined-yet-simple chrome accents and textures used on
the silver speaker grilles on the doors, seat back monitors, headliner and foot
pedals. Behind the passenger cabin, the surface of the boat tail-shaped cargo cover
is accented with five stainless steel accent strips, while panels in the
carpeted cargo area below offer additional storage. “With its sculptural artistry and technological sophistication, the interior
of the Chrysler Nassau is the perfect complement to its visually-arresting
exterior,” said Chang. 2007 Chrysler Nassau concept specifications Powertrain and suspension Wheels and tyres Colour scheme | |||||
ABN 47106248033 |
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