2009 Detroit Auto Show – Chrysler Concept Vehicles

The fifth press conference slot at the NAIAS on Sunday belonged to Chrysler and the company made the most of it by introducing no less than four all electric vehicles and reassuring the media that it was indeed going to stick around.

Press meets the press

Before LotPro.com turns its attention to the vehicles, we must first address the current state of Chrysler which, up until a month ago, was very much up in the air (and for all we know may still be, given Cerberus lack of, shall we say, transparency up to this point).

Jim Press, vice chairman and president of Chrysler LLC was quick to point out that 2008 amounted to “two different and distinct years” for Chrysler. Even as the company found itself ahead of its profit and production goals for the first half of the year, the summer spike in gas prices coupled with the growing credit crisis pushed Chrysler into “an unprecedented period of challenge” during the second half of the year.

“We learned a helluva lot and so we’re in a stronger position for 2009,” Press emphasized. “We don’t see much growth in the market,” but the company is “confident that we will see a better year” in 2009.

That being said, here are the concept vehicles that Chrysler introduced at the show:

Chrysler 200C EV Concept

The 200C is Chrysler’s most significant concept vehicle at this year’s Detroit Auto Show. This extended range electric vehicle (EREV) is a product of Chrysler’s ENVI (the first four letters of the word “environment”) team that is responsible for the development of electric-drive vehicles within the company. Chrysler promises a 400-mile range for the 200C EV with 40 of those possible in 100 percent electric mode. The concept is based on a shortened version of Chrysler’s rear-drive platform and the interior features a “panoramic multimedia touch screen” that replaces all switches and display functions.

Dodge Circuit EV Concept

This electric-only vehicle is based on the European Lotus Europa S and represents at least one of the vehicles least likely to reach the production stage.Its specifications are impressive: The Dodge EV includes a 268 horsepower electric motor as well as an advanced lithium-ion battery. The only other component to the drive system is a controller that manages energy flow and Chrysler claims the Circuit has a range of 150 to 200 miles.

Why will the Circuit never be produced? The base price of a Europa S (if it were available here) would be upwards of $50,000 and that’s sans the high-zoot technical goodies that are required beneath its “Tangoreen”-colored fiberglass composite body in order to transform it into the eco-friendly vehicle you see at the Chrysler exhibit.

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited EV Concept

Like the 200C Concept, the Wrangler Unlimited is an extended range electric vehicle. And while many Wranglers sport the famous Jeep “Trail Rated” badge, this two-wheel drive EV probably stretches the “Go Anywhere, Do Anything” Jeep  capability motto well past its limits.

To cover their tracks, the ENVI organization has stated that it is “exploring four-wheel-drive, in-wheel electric motors to demonstrate the full reach of the Company’s advanced electric-drive technologies. When this technology is developed by ENVI, the instant high torque of the electric-drive motor and the ability to precisely control each wheel independently will result in off-road capability ideally suited for the Jeep brand.”

Jeep Patriot EV Concept

If Chrysler ever gets its act together, the Patriot would seem like the ideal vehicle to electrify. It is within an inch or so, give or take, of the Ford Escape, while enjoying many of the design cues of its more illustrious trail-ready stable mates. As an extended EV, the Patriot shares the same technical specifications of other Mopar EV’s with a maximum 40 mile range in electric-only mode and a total range of 400 miles.

Tags: 2009 detroit auto show, 200c, Chrysler, chrysler 200c ev concept, detroit auto show, Dodge, dodge circuit, Jeep, jeep patriot, jeep patriot ev, Jeep Wrangler, jeep wrangler unlimited ev, lotus, lotus europa, mopar, NAIAS