Spyder Snares Curious Flies at NAIAS
January 4, 1998 -- When the engineers at Chrysler designed the Plymouth Pronto Spyder, a concept car unveiled at the 1998 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, they tailored it for a cost-savvy consumer who "wanted to have some fun," according to John Herlitz, vice president of production and design for Chrysler.
One of the challenges in keeping the Spyder affordable was to lower manufacturing costs yet provide quality where customers really wanted it. The result was to spend less on building materials and more on the engine and stylistic details. The Chrysler f olks accomplished this by borrowing a materials application from Spyder's cousin, the Plymouth Pronto, which was displayed at the 1997 NAIAS, and from Chrysler's Composite Concept Vehicle shown at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show.
The plastic used on these concept vehicles is called polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and is the same material used to make plastic drinking bottles that store soda or spring water. The introduction of PET technology in the automobile industry has the ab ility to reduce manufacturing costs by 80 percent, leaving a chunk of money leftover for things like … a really cool supercharged engine.
Housing a mid-mounted 2.4-liter dual overhead cam transverse engine with 225 horsepower, the car is designed to drive like an exotic sportsracer with a low center of gravity. The Spyder is also equipped with 18-inch cast aluminum wheels, 225/40R18 Goodye ar tires and a 5-speed manual transmission.
Moving away from the boxy car look, this aerodynamic convertible is modeled after classic sportscars of the 50s and 60s, incorporating chrome accents and a plastic tortoise shell steering wheel rim that is reminiscent of the wood trim on cars of yesteryea r. The Platinum Silver concept car also sported an aircraft-inspired windshield, lightweight drilled pedals, and a tubular, low-slung fuselage.
January 4, 1998 -- When the engineers at Chrysler designed the Plymouth Pronto Spyder, a concept car unveiled at the 1998 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, they tailored it for a cost-savvy consumer who "wanted to have some fun," according to John Herlitz, vice president of production and design for Chrysler.
One of the challenges in keeping the Spyder affordable was to lower manufacturing costs yet provide quality where customers really wanted it. The result was to spend less on building materials and more on the engine and stylistic details. The Chrysler f olks accomplished this by borrowing a materials application from Spyder's cousin, the Plymouth Pronto, which was displayed at the 1997 NAIAS, and from Chrysler's Composite Concept Vehicle shown at the 1997 Frankfurt Motor Show.
The plastic used on these concept vehicles is called polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and is the same material used to make plastic drinking bottles that store soda or spring water. The introduction of PET technology in the automobile industry has the ab ility to reduce manufacturing costs by 80 percent, leaving a chunk of money leftover for things like … a really cool supercharged engine.
Housing a mid-mounted 2.4-liter dual overhead cam transverse engine with 225 horsepower, the car is designed to drive like an exotic sportsracer with a low center of gravity. The Spyder is also equipped with 18-inch cast aluminum wheels, 225/40R18 Goodye ar tires and a 5-speed manual transmission.
Moving away from the boxy car look, this aerodynamic convertible is modeled after classic sportscars of the 50s and 60s, incorporating chrome accents and a plastic tortoise shell steering wheel rim that is reminiscent of the wood trim on cars of yesteryea r. The Platinum Silver concept car also sported an aircraft-inspired windshield, lightweight drilled pedals, and a tubular, low-slung fuselage.
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