Detroit's grand tourer concepts point way to the future
By Gautam Sharma
A trio of luxury high-speed concept cars at the Detroit Motor Show provided evidence that radical grand tourers play a key role in the marketing and design strategies of many major manufacturers.
The grand touring theme was perhaps best exemplified by Aston Martin's 320-kmh-plus Vantage prototype.
The 6.0-liter V12-powered Vantage is a design concept for a totally new vehicle employing high-strength lightweight construction and a high-power, low-emissions drivetrain.
The vehicle is also said to draw heavily on advanced research being conducted by Ford Advanced Vehicle Technology (AVT) and its wealth of experience gained from participation in Formula One Grand Prix racing and other forms of motor sport.
"We believe Project Vantage reflects all the essential elements of power, performance and driver involvement in a manner which is true to the traditions of Aston Martin," said the chairman and chief executive of Aston Martin, Bob Dover.
The Vantage's body and chassis is constructed from aluminum and carbon fiber, providing it with the lightweight, structural integrity, torsional rigidity and occupant protection of a modern Formula One car.
The car also draws on Formula One technology in the area of aerodynamics, with a central venturi in the underbody creating positive down force to aid directional stability.
The Vantage's 48-valve power plant is mated to a Borg Warner six-speed manual transmission, and instantaneous cog-swapping is made possible by Formula One-style paddles which can be operated by the fingertips.
The front-engine rear-wheel-drive configuration is enveloped in an aggressive, eye-catching body penned by Scottish designer Ian Callum, whose design for the Aston Martin DB7 has won much international acclaim.
The Vantage's 19-inch wheels are shod with meaty 255 by 40 ZR19 Bridgestones at the front and 285 by 40 ZR19 tires at the rear.
Although the British road rocket is claimed to reach more than 225kmh at the end of a standing quarter-mile, the manufacturer says it is capable of returning better than 20 miles per gallon of fuel.
The Mitsubishi SST -- which stands for sophisticated, sports touring -- is a concept car of a different type, embodying a "geo-mechanical" theme aimed to create a strong styling statement.
The design incorporates elements from classic architecture, high-speed trains and even the flexed human biceps to create an image of "metal in motion".
Every design aspect of the SST is said to have a purpose.
Its ribbed sides add structural integrity while housing the side guard door beams, while a series of grilles provides cooling for the engine and brakes.
The tail lamps, rear turn signals and reverse indicators are made from neon and fluorescent lights to give them higher intensity despite their relatively small size.
In keeping with the SST's design philosophy, it is constructed of materials, such as composites and carbon fiber, which are in their rawest, purest form.
Arguably the most dramatic design element of the SST's exterior is its exaggerated wheel arches.
Housing massive 20-inch aluminum wheels, the spherically shaped quarter panels were designed to "appear as if the wheels were ball bearings being thrust through the surface".
The SST is powered by a turbocharged, four-cylinder, 155kW engine, but is designed to accept the full range of Mitsubishi Motors' engines.
Its four-speed automatic transmission can be operated conventionally, or through its sports mode and a flick of its billet aluminum shifter.
A sophisticated multilink four-wheel independent suspension is said to provide the SST with commendable ride and handling characteristics.
The car's stopping power comes via enormous racing brakes with multipiston calipers.
The Chrysler Chronos comes hot on the heels of a myriad of concept cars designed by the same manufacturer, namely, the Chrysler 300 concept car, the Atlantic, Thunderbolt and Phaeton, all of which embraced a similar theme to the Chronos.
The Chronos has dramatic proportions, with an overall length of 5217mm and a width of 1,942mm. It rides on massive 20-inch front and 21-inch rear aluminum wheels, almost half of the overall height of the car.
With the wheels situated well forward and aft and the cabin shifted rearward, the Chronos has proportions of some of the classic Virgil Exner designs of the 1950s. Exner led Chrysler design from 1949 to 1961.
"This car owes its inspiration to the 1953 Chrysler D'Elegance concept vehicle," said Chrysler's design studio chief, Jack Crain.
"That car had these proportions, but we updated the surfaces to meet the expectation of today's automotive enthusiast."
The interior, although featuring several modern design elements, creates an ambience of a bygone era. It is trimmed in leather throughout, with a wooden dash and white-faced instrumentation.
The rear-wheel-drive Chronos is motivated by a 6.0-liter, V10 engine which cranks out 257kW, providing the 1900kg car with brisk performance.
"If you're going for the flagship of the Chrysler brand, and the Chronos, clearly is, then everything must add up," Chrysler's vice-president of design, John Herlitz, said.
"The look must fit. The quality has to be appropriate. And the ride must be exhilarating. It all has to totally quench the thirst for perfection."