Chrysler Airflite
Encyclopedia
The Chrysler
Airflite was a concept car
created by the American
car manufacturer, DaimlerChrysler
. It was first introduced at the 2003 Geneva Auto Show. The Airflite's looks are a combination of a sporty design, stylish looks, and some of the design cues from another one of Chrysler
's cars, the Crossfire
.
, which was used on the Chrysler 300
. The Airflite is powered by a 90° V6 engine. The rest of the Airflite's engine power and torque is still unknown to the public.
The major styling approach of the Airflite that typically seen on a sporty two-door coupé
model; however, it has the practicality and function of a four-door sedan.
The Airflite blends the design of the Chrysler Crossfire and Pacifica
in its exterior design. Most of the looks of the Airflite (mainly the front and rear) were based on the Crossfire. The seven-spoke road wheel design is based on the Crossfire, as is the satin trimmed windshield.
The interior of the Airflite is very spacious and upscale. A dominant center spine connects the interior from the dashboard all the way to the back. The floor is stepped up behind the rear seats to create a raised cargo area.
Major styling cues from the Airflite eventually made it into the 2007 Chrysler Sebring
sedan.
(unitized) construction of a car made by Nash Motors
(a company that merged with Hudson Motors
to form American Motors
(AMC), which was acquired by Chrysler in 1987). The Nash "Airflyte" was introduced in 1949, featuring a roomy interior and an advanced design. Unusual for the time, its aerodynamic
shape was developed in a wind tunnel
to reduce the car's drag
coefficient, which resulted in the new Nash Airflyte having a smooth, wide, and low body.
Chrysler (division)
Chrysler is the flagship brand of Chrysler Group LLC, named after founder Walter P. Chrysler.-Overview:The Chrysler brand was originally a premium luxury position competing with Cadillac and Lincoln, owned respectively by Chrysler Group's Detroit rivals, General Motors and Ford Motor Company...
Airflite was a concept car
Concept car
A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....
created by the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
car manufacturer, DaimlerChrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
. It was first introduced at the 2003 Geneva Auto Show. The Airflite's looks are a combination of a sporty design, stylish looks, and some of the design cues from another one of Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
's cars, the Crossfire
Chrysler Crossfire
The Chrysler Crossfire is a rear-wheel drive sports car marketed by Chrysler as both coupé and roadster and was built for Chrysler by Karmann of Germany.-Design:...
.
Design
The Airflite was based on a shortened version of Chrysler's LX platformChrysler LX platform
The LX platform is Chrysler's full-size rear wheel drive automobile platform for the mid part of the first decade of the 21st century. The LX was developed in America from the previous Chrysler LH platform, which had been designed to allow it to be easily upgraded to rear and all-wheel drive...
, which was used on the Chrysler 300
Chrysler 300
The Chrysler 300 is a full-size upscale car first shown at the 2003 New York Auto Show as a concept car. Sales in the U.S. began in the spring of 2004 as an early 2005 model year car. Designed by Ralph Gilles, the new 300 was built as a high-end sedan while the SRT-8 model was designed to be the...
. The Airflite is powered by a 90° V6 engine. The rest of the Airflite's engine power and torque is still unknown to the public.
The major styling approach of the Airflite that typically seen on a sporty two-door coupé
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
model; however, it has the practicality and function of a four-door sedan.
The Airflite blends the design of the Chrysler Crossfire and Pacifica
Chrysler Pacifica
The Chrysler Pacifica is a mid-size crossover wagon produced by Chrysler from 2003 to 2007, for the model years 2004 to 2008.The Pacifica was the first jointly engineered product of the 1998 Chrysler-DaimlerBenz "merger of equals."...
in its exterior design. Most of the looks of the Airflite (mainly the front and rear) were based on the Crossfire. The seven-spoke road wheel design is based on the Crossfire, as is the satin trimmed windshield.
The interior of the Airflite is very spacious and upscale. A dominant center spine connects the interior from the dashboard all the way to the back. The floor is stepped up behind the rear seats to create a raised cargo area.
Major styling cues from the Airflite eventually made it into the 2007 Chrysler Sebring
Chrysler Sebring
The Chrysler Sebring is a line of mid-size cars that was sold by Chrysler from 1995 to 2010.The Sebring came in three generations. The first, from 1995 to 2000, was available first only as a coupe and starting in 1996 as a convertible. The two body designs did not share many components nor any...
sedan.
Original Airflyte
Airflite is a variation of Airflyte, which described the functional styling and monocoqueMonocoque
Monocoque is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin, as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin or coachwork...
(unitized) construction of a car made by Nash Motors
Nash Motors
Also see: Kelvinator and American Motors CorporationNash Motors was an automobile manufacturer based in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in the United States from 1916 to 1938. From 1938 to 1954, Nash was the automotive division of the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation...
(a company that merged with Hudson Motors
Hudson Motor Car Company
The Hudson Motor Car Company made Hudson and other brand automobiles in Detroit, Michigan, from 1909 to 1954. In 1954, Hudson merged with Nash-Kelvinator Corporation to form American Motors. The Hudson name was continued through the 1957 model year, after which it was dropped.- Company strategy...
to form American Motors
American Motors
American Motors Corporation was an American automobile company formed by the 1954 merger of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car Company. At the time, it was the largest corporate merger in U.S. history.George W...
(AMC), which was acquired by Chrysler in 1987). The Nash "Airflyte" was introduced in 1949, featuring a roomy interior and an advanced design. Unusual for the time, its aerodynamic
Automotive aerodynamics
Automotive aerodynamics is the study of the aerodynamics of road vehicles. The main concerns of automotive aerodynamics are reducing drag , reducing wind noise, minimizing noise emission, and preventing undesired lift forces and other causes of aerodynamic instability at high speeds...
shape was developed in a wind tunnel
Wind tunnel
A wind tunnel is a research tool used in aerodynamic research to study the effects of air moving past solid objects.-Theory of operation:Wind tunnels were first proposed as a means of studying vehicles in free flight...
to reduce the car's drag
Drag (physics)
In fluid dynamics, drag refers to forces which act on a solid object in the direction of the relative fluid flow velocity...
coefficient, which resulted in the new Nash Airflyte having a smooth, wide, and low body.