Chrysler Concorde

Overview

The Chrysler Concorde was a large four-door, fullsize, front wheel drive sedan produced by Chrysler from 1993 to 2004. It replaced the Chrysler Fifth Avenue on the lineup. One of Chrysler's 3 original LH-cars, it was related to the Dodge Intrepid and the Eagle Vision. It was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1993 and 1994.

Design

The design was based on the 1987 concept Lamborghini Portofino. The Portofino was heralded as a design triumph, setting in motion Chrysler's decision to produce a production sedan with the Portofino's revolutionary design, called "cab-forward". The cab-forward design was characterized by the long, low-slung windshield and relatively short overhangs. The wheels where effectively pushed to the corners of the car, creating a much larger passenger cabin than the contemporaries of the time.

Generations

The first generation of the Concorde debuted at the 1992 North American International Auto Show in Detroit as a 1993 model. The first generation lasted until 1997; the Concorde was redesigned for 1998. The Concorde Limited, which was 4" longer than the standard Concorde, debuted in 2002 to replace the nearly identical Chrysler LHS. The Concorde, along with the Intrepid, saw its last year of production in 2004. The Chrysler 300M (which replaced the Eagle Vision in 1999) was also discontinued that year. The Chrysler 300 (along with the 300M) replaced the Concorde in 2004 as a 2005 model.

Year-to-year changes

First generation

• 1994: For this year, the touring suspension became standard. Also, base engines gained 8 hp, and a 3-seat front bench seat became available. Power steering added more assist, to reduce turning effort for parking but deliver greater feel at higher speeds.
• 1995: Not much changed this year except for a modification to the optional remote keyless entry system and the addition of a cancel feature to the cruise control.
• 1996: There were little changes for 1996, however, extra sound insulation and revised structural engineering promised to make the Concorde quieter.
• 1997: The only major change for this year was that on the base LX model, the 3.3 L V6 was dropped as the standard engine.