What Is It?
Dodge Nitro Concept
What's Special About It?
Looking for all the world like a production-ready model, the Dodge Nitro concept vehicle poured onto the stage from a gigantic opened bottle of hot sauce. One of Chicago's finest mariachi bands — good band — played its heart out, while DaimlerChrysler design chief Trevor Creed resisted the urge to announce that the midsize four-door SUV was going into production.
Creed did acknowledge that Dodge needed something to fit in below the Durango, but stopped short of anything but "Wait and see…" when pressed. He did allow that his philosophy of concept car design was to show "almost exactly" what the production version would look like.
The Nitro concept exterior fits like an Anodized Red glove over the Jeep Liberty 4x4 platform, and incorporates the Jeep's 3.7-liter V6 engine. Its design pushes the 20-inch wheels out to shorten front and rear overhang. Chrysler is a master of doing future-retro, and the Nitro's shape is a good example of that balancing act of styling.
Inside, the SUV is voluminous. Two rows of seating allow 6-footers to easily sit behind other 6-footers with good room for both knees and noggins. And behind the second-row bench seat, there's 32.3 cubic feet of storage room.
So how far is the Nitro from an assembly line? Trevor Creed won't say. But he already knows that a V8 won't fit. And he insists that if production does occur, a version just like the concept version — 20-inch wheels and all, minus the Candy Apple paint job — will be included.
What's Edmunds' Take?
Q: When is a concept car, not a concept car?
A: Today. At the Chicago auto show.
If this piece doesn't appear in Dodge showrooms within the next year or so — pretty much as you see it here — I'll eat the press kit. Is the Nitro stunning? No. Is it cool and do-able? You bet. — Richard Homan
Dodge Nitro Concept
What's Special About It?
Looking for all the world like a production-ready model, the Dodge Nitro concept vehicle poured onto the stage from a gigantic opened bottle of hot sauce. One of Chicago's finest mariachi bands — good band — played its heart out, while DaimlerChrysler design chief Trevor Creed resisted the urge to announce that the midsize four-door SUV was going into production.
Creed did acknowledge that Dodge needed something to fit in below the Durango, but stopped short of anything but "Wait and see…" when pressed. He did allow that his philosophy of concept car design was to show "almost exactly" what the production version would look like.
The Nitro concept exterior fits like an Anodized Red glove over the Jeep Liberty 4x4 platform, and incorporates the Jeep's 3.7-liter V6 engine. Its design pushes the 20-inch wheels out to shorten front and rear overhang. Chrysler is a master of doing future-retro, and the Nitro's shape is a good example of that balancing act of styling.
Inside, the SUV is voluminous. Two rows of seating allow 6-footers to easily sit behind other 6-footers with good room for both knees and noggins. And behind the second-row bench seat, there's 32.3 cubic feet of storage room.
So how far is the Nitro from an assembly line? Trevor Creed won't say. But he already knows that a V8 won't fit. And he insists that if production does occur, a version just like the concept version — 20-inch wheels and all, minus the Candy Apple paint job — will be included.
What's Edmunds' Take?
Q: When is a concept car, not a concept car?
A: Today. At the Chicago auto show.
If this piece doesn't appear in Dodge showrooms within the next year or so — pretty much as you see it here — I'll eat the press kit. Is the Nitro stunning? No. Is it cool and do-able? You bet. — Richard Homan
Add A Comment »