Plymouth Pronto Spyder
Encyclopedia
The Plymouth Pronto Spyder was a 2-door roadster
concept car
revealed in 1998. It never went into production, partly because of the discontinuation of the Plymouth
brand, but largely because it was meant as a rolling test of styling and mechanical concepts.
The car was fitted with a mid-mounted
, turbocharged
, 2.4 L, 225 hp, 4 cylinder engine, later used in the Chrysler PT Cruiser
, and a five speed manual transmission
. It was designed to mimic the feel of more exotic Europe
an roadsters, but partly by using lightweight recycled materials (largely polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, covering a steel chassis) in its construction, cost much less; the vehicle weighed 2700 lb (1,225 kg). The interior was also a styling test-bed for color (it was spray-painted red) and instrumentation arrangements.
Aside from the engine, the plastic tortoise-shell steering wheel rim was later used on the Chrysler 300C
. To be produced, the concept would have needed to meet safety regulations, have better body stiffness (the A-pillar would need revision), suspension travel clearance for the wheelhouse, and rear-view mirrors, among other changes.
Roadster
A roadster is a two-seat open car with emphasis on sporty handling and without a fixed roof or side weather protection. Strictly speaking a roadster with wind-up windows is a convertible but as true roadsters are no longer made the distinction is now irrelevant...
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....
revealed in 1998. It never went into production, partly because of the discontinuation of the Plymouth
Plymouth (automobile)
Plymouth was a marque of automobile based in the United States, produced by the Chrysler Corporation and its successor DaimlerChrysler.-Origins:...
brand, but largely because it was meant as a rolling test of styling and mechanical concepts.
The car was fitted with a mid-mounted
MR layout
In automotive design, a RMR or Rear Mid-engine, Rear-wheel drive layout is one in which the rear wheels are driven by an engine placed just in front of them, behind the passenger compartment. In contrast to the rear-engined RR layout, the center of mass of the engine is in front of the rear axle...
, turbocharged
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
, 2.4 L, 225 hp, 4 cylinder engine, later used in the Chrysler PT Cruiser
Chrysler PT Cruiser
The Chrysler PT Cruiser is a retro styled compact automobile launched by Chrysler as a 5-door hatchback in early 2000 and as a 2-door convertible in early 2005 ....
, and a five speed manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
. It was designed to mimic the feel of more exotic Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an roadsters, but partly by using lightweight recycled materials (largely polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, covering a steel chassis) in its construction, cost much less; the vehicle weighed 2700 lb (1,225 kg). The interior was also a styling test-bed for color (it was spray-painted red) and instrumentation arrangements.
Aside from the engine, the plastic tortoise-shell steering wheel rim was later used on the Chrysler 300C
Chrysler 300C
The Chrysler Corporation has used the designation Chrysler 300C to refer to two different vehicles, which are described in separate articles.* The 1957 Chrysler 300C, that year's version of the Chrysler 300 "letter series"; a large, high-performance luxury coupe sold in very limited numbers.* The...
. To be produced, the concept would have needed to meet safety regulations, have better body stiffness (the A-pillar would need revision), suspension travel clearance for the wheelhouse, and rear-view mirrors, among other changes.