I'm surprised I'm even making this thread, but I have to discuss this. Have people seen the auto show pictures of the Chrysler Imperial concept car? I mean, I don't even know what to think; brazen I guess is the word that comes to mind... but do I fault Chrysler for that or not?
Let's backtrack a year or two to the debut of the new Chrysler 300. One of the first things that came to mind, after 'I like this car's styling,' was - this reminds me of a Bentley in appearance. Now, I'll reiterate that I liked the styling, and I felt comfortable enough giving Chrysler a pass on the 'theft' because frankly I felt they were simply harkening back to their roots so to speak.
But now, with the Imperial concept, I don't know what to think. It'd be one thing if it still looked like the 300, but it honestly seems to go out of it's way to mimic the Phantom.
I didn't start this thread for affirmation of my suspicions... rather, what do you think are the effects of these cars on the auto industry should the Imperial end up produced? Will the appeal of the present Arnage and Phantom be diminished, the traditional buyers knowing there are these 'mockeries' running about? Does the Imperial result in a backlash effecting the 300 as well if both vehicles become associated as 'poseur' vehicles?
I mean I almost have to wonder if Chryslers parent, Daimler/Mercedes, maybe even encouraged these design qeues to ruffle the feathers of Bentley/VW and Rolls/BMW; Mercedes' own Maybach essentially being the only competetitor to those two in the super high-end sedan segment. Granted that conspiracy theory may be going out there a little...
Any thoughts though on how these vehicles will sit in the eyes of Bentley/Rolls corporate, and with the respective owners of those vehicles? It may not hurt them, but it certainly can't help.
And beyond that, what're your thoughts on the vehicles themselves (300 and Imperial), taken outside of the context of comparison to the other companies I mentioned?
Let's backtrack a year or two to the debut of the new Chrysler 300. One of the first things that came to mind, after 'I like this car's styling,' was - this reminds me of a Bentley in appearance. Now, I'll reiterate that I liked the styling, and I felt comfortable enough giving Chrysler a pass on the 'theft' because frankly I felt they were simply harkening back to their roots so to speak.
But now, with the Imperial concept, I don't know what to think. It'd be one thing if it still looked like the 300, but it honestly seems to go out of it's way to mimic the Phantom.
I didn't start this thread for affirmation of my suspicions... rather, what do you think are the effects of these cars on the auto industry should the Imperial end up produced? Will the appeal of the present Arnage and Phantom be diminished, the traditional buyers knowing there are these 'mockeries' running about? Does the Imperial result in a backlash effecting the 300 as well if both vehicles become associated as 'poseur' vehicles?
I mean I almost have to wonder if Chryslers parent, Daimler/Mercedes, maybe even encouraged these design qeues to ruffle the feathers of Bentley/VW and Rolls/BMW; Mercedes' own Maybach essentially being the only competetitor to those two in the super high-end sedan segment. Granted that conspiracy theory may be going out there a little...
Any thoughts though on how these vehicles will sit in the eyes of Bentley/Rolls corporate, and with the respective owners of those vehicles? It may not hurt them, but it certainly can't help.
And beyond that, what're your thoughts on the vehicles themselves (300 and Imperial), taken outside of the context of comparison to the other companies I mentioned?
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