08 Jan 07
Although it's built on the same platform as the 300C, the proportions of the Nassau make it look more compact, with the silhouette of the car and the positioning of the wheels at the corners and short overhangs giving it the appearance of a classic British shooting brake. A posh hatchback from a US carmaker: who'd have thought it?
The coupe-like arc of the roof helps to give that sense of movement, even when stationary, that many of the best car designs have. The roof also features two longitudinal blue-tinted transparent panels, which, along with side windows that are unencumbered by a B-pillar, give a sense of light to the cabin.
Inside, the four individual seats are covered in luxurious fabrics - cream-coloured leather with suede accents - with the rear passengers having video screens and speakers in the front headrests to help them while away the travelling time.
The instrument panel - said by Chrysler to have been inspired by artist Constantin Brancusi's Bird in Space sculptures - has been designed to appeal to a younger aspirational audience, with elements inspired by mobile phones, expensive watches, computers and, yes, MP3 players (for which read iPod - the car industry should start paying Apple designer Jonathan Ive a commission, his influence is so omnipresent at the moment). There's also lots of blue backlighting, which complements the colours of the interior materials perfectly.
The powertrain is pretty special, too: a 6.1-litre Hemi developed by the specialist SRT (Street Racing Technology) team that is said to push out 425bhp and generate 420lb-ft of torque that will give a 0-60mph time of five seconds.
The Nassau is a pretty good-looking concept, with a different shape for a US car, but we can't help feeling that Chrysler is unlikely to find a big enough market for it - which is a bit of a shame.
