The cars that are supposed to save Detroit

[dwasson]

These are the Chrysler 300 and the Ford 500--also known as the Car That's Supposed To Save Chrysler and the Car That's Supposed To Save Ford. Based entirely on the show-floor looks of these first production models, you may want to short DaimlerChrysler.


clicky clicky (http://slate.msn.com/id/2094068/)

[bigslim]

After looking at the two first hand at the autoshow I must say that I really do like the Chrysler 300. It is a fresh design. It has great features and options. I like the fact that you can get it with a big V8 and rear or all wheel drive. I has very nice creature features too. It must also be told that this car shares pieces with the Mercedes E-Class. Not bad. The Ford on the other hand looks like a warmed over Audi or VW. It looks like a bigger version of the Passet. It has nice features too and has more interior and trunk room than anything else out there. One major problem is there will only be one engine at launch time. It is a 3.5 V6 rated at only 200hp. Not enough to propel a big car like this especially if equipped with the optional all-wheel-drive. Ford needs to start with a clean piece of paper and design cars that are appealing with power. I work for Ford but in some ways I do not feel sorry for them. Ford gave up the car market years ago and now wants it back. The Superbowl game was a perfect time for Ford to advertise the 500. Instead they chose to show a $140,000 low volume car that most can't buy. If it were a new truck Ford would have been all over it. I just think cars like the Five Hundred and Freestyle and the upcoming Futura are a little too late to the party.