Chrysler to Produce a 2-Seat Roadster

[larry4pyro]

Chrysler announced today that they will join the roadster club with the Dodge Demon. But it's going to be front-wheel drive! Read more at:

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=59529

Larry4pyro

[marlboromike]

At least they did not let that styling go to waste...that car looks great in person...photos do not do it justice. Too bad about front wheel drive...maybe they will change their mind.

[Sunny Ragtop]

Somebody tell me the pro/cons of front vs rear wheel drive.

EXCLUDING: Snow driving for front wheel drive & fun burn outs of rear wheel drive.

[Texas Red Line]

Nice cup holders. Can't see the trunk space though.

[MidniteBlues]

What was scary was the youtube video of a Chinese car made by Chery (who ever they are) post#21. That dummy in the drivers seat is a dead dummy..

So Chrysler is gonna make these cars in China? Go from the concept RWD to a Chinese made FWD? AND, to top it off, they want to compete against GM's dynamic duo? Please give me a break... I don't care what they sell this thing as.. I would not buy one, nor after seeing the front end quarter crash test.. Would you let your wife, daughter or son drive this death trap? Even the air bag won't have a chance as the dash crushes you and the bag to death.. Like was said on that forum, might as well NOT build the thing..

[SkyNV]

I just came upon this concept solstice... Maybe it's been posted already I wasn't sure and found it interesting.

http://www.foxnews.com/photoessay/0,...93,00.html#8_0

[marlboromike]

Originally Posted by MidniteBlues

What was scary was the youtube video of a Chinese car made by Chery (who ever they are) post#21. That dummy in the drivers seat is a dead dummy..

So Chrysler is gonna make these cars in China? Go from the concept RWD to a Chinese made FWD? AND, to top it off, they want to compete against GM's dynamic duo? Please give me a break... I don't care what they sell this thing as.. I would not buy one, nor after seeing the front end quarter crash test.. Would you let your wife, daughter or son drive this death trap? Even the air bag won't have a chance as the dash crushes you and the bag to death.. Like was said on that forum, might as well NOT build the thing..

Definitely let the wife use it as a daily driver...who else is with me?

[MidniteBlues]

Originally Posted by SkyNV

I just came upon this concept solstice... Maybe it's been posted already I wasn't sure and found it interesting.

http://www.foxnews.com/photoessay/0,...93,00.html#8_0

Yup, saw that on an tv thingie. Only problem is, it's a 1 person roadster.. Where does your wife or girlfriend ride? Besides, doesn't move me and looks sorta awkward don't ya think

[Celt03]

Originally Posted by marlboromike

Definitely let the wife use it as a daily driver...who else is with me?

The Chery Amulet is Chinese but is produced for the Russia market.
MM, are ya thinking of heading to Russia for your next family vacation ?

[oakfarm]

Chrysler designers have no imagination. They use that front end on every dodge car & truck.
Put it on the back cause it's butt ugly.

[ihawk95]

Originally Posted by oakfarm

Chrysler designers have no imagination. They use that front end on every dodge car & truck.
Put it on the back cause it's butt ugly.

I'd probably really like how this car looks if it wasn't for the terrible front end! It's just wrong on this car IMO. Of course the thing is named "Demon" so maybe that's why.

Dodge must figure they're gonna be desparate to sell these if they are putting FWD on them to lower the cost. Won't be half as fun!

[lorennerol]

It looks like a cheap knockoff of the 350z, which I guess it is. There is nothing on the road <$100k that beats the looks of the Sky, in my opinion.

The real question is, will the Chery Demon come with a kit to test for lead in the interior materials and paint??

[DS9Yanks]

Originally Posted by SkyNV

I just came upon this concept solstice... Maybe it's been posted already I wasn't sure and found it interesting.

Breaking News | Latest News | Current News - FOXNews.com

It's Anakin Skywalker's Solstice!

[MRSSKY]

Originally Posted by oakfarm

Chrysler designers have no imagination. They use that front end on every dodge car & truck.
Put it on the back cause it's butt ugly.

After Mr. Bob L. left Chry.......things just haven't been the same there!

Glad he join the G.M. team....

m.

[Ghost-Sky]

I wouldn't buy one for two reasons. 1-its made in China and 2-its FWD, not on a roadster. Good job Chrysler!
My wife owns a Chrysler, a 300 and its RWD.

[TBlueMax]

Originally Posted by Sunny Ragtop

Somebody tell me the pro/cons of front vs rear wheel drive.

EXCLUDING: Snow driving for front wheel drive & fun burn outs of rear wheel drive.

The biggest trade-offs of FWD vs. RWD [aside from those you mention] are packaging and weight distribution. RWD typically eats more interior room but provides better weight distribution. FWD, the opposite.

[MRSSKY]

I would think being it is FWD, like the "Caliber, there would be a substantial amount of road noise....

m.

[jus2shy]

For the FWD vs RWD argument, it's just the handling dynamics are different between the cars. Push a FWD in a corner and you just start going wide. Push the throttle in a RWD while in a corner and you're asking to spin/drift. For the daily put put around town, it makes no difference, but I like being able to push my car and it still remains neutral in the turns vs. overloading the front tires and understeering wide.

[Bogie]

Originally Posted by Sunny Ragtop

Somebody tell me the pro/cons of front vs rear wheel drive.

Say you're headed into a turn and experience under steer (turning the front wheels, but the car isn't turning). With RWD you can induce over steer (losing grip on the rear wheels) by accelerating. This will swing the rear around, helping point the vehicle in the desired turn direction. It's often referred to as "steering with throttle". Even without the understeer, pro drivers can play with the throttle to make the rear of the car do stuff that cannot be done on a front wheel drive car.

Oversteer is good if you know what you're doing and can use it properly (you seldom, if ever, need it on the road in everyday driving), but it's bad if you get into oversteer and don't know what you're doing. In general, it is easier for a basic driver to detect and correct understeer. Oversteer, if not detected and corrected quickly and properly, will kill you. Furthermore, the shorter the wheel base (roadsters have short wheelbases) the more quickly oversteer gets out of hand. Here is what happens when you oversteer in a SKY and fail to catch it in time:

YouTube - Sky Spin

For safety reasons, most cars are designed to understeer before they oversteer because (as noted in previous paragraph) basic drivers can recover easier from understeer. Even our SKYs have a wee bit of understeer...unless...of course, you're accelerating in the turn, which will put you in an oversteer situation (tires can grip for a turn or grip to accelerate, they don't do both), which is one reason it's a good idea not to accelerate through a turn in every day driving...but I digress.

Our SKY RLs have Electronic Stability Control (ESC) that detect oversteer and understeer. When detected, the computer jumps in and automatically applies brakes (and retards throttle) to help prevent things from getting out of control. In the YouTube video above, the driver that spins out had disabled ESC. Of course, if you're a professional driver racing on a course, and need to "throttle steer", the ESC will jump in and mess you up by not letting you do it. That's why the we can turn off ESC or set the system for competitive mode. This allows pro drivers to swing the rear around...if they know what they're doing.

As for the Dodge Demon, if they go with FWD, it will probably be considered a "safer" on-road car, but will take some hits when it comes to track day.