| Auburn
Hills, Mich. - When the Plymouth brand is discontinued after the 2001
model year, Prowler, the Chrysler group's head-turning two-seat hot
rod, will continue to be manufactured and sold through North American
Chrysler-Jeep® dealerships. And, beginning in January 2001, it will
be branded a Chrysler vehicle. |

Prowler
Photo: DaimlerChrysler |
|
"Without
question, Prowler has become an automotive sensation in its own
right," said Tom Gale, Executive Vice President of Product
Development and Design and General Manager of Passenger Car
Operations, DaimlerChrysler. "While Plymouth will be discontinued
after 2001, Prowler will continue to be offered as one of the most
outrageously-styled roadsters on the road today.
"Along
with the visceral Dodge Viper and the groundbreaking Chrysler PT
Cruiser, Prowler embodies our design philosophy here at the Chrysler
group," said Gale. "Whether it's a niche vehicle such as
Viper or a volume car like PT Cruiser, we want our designs to evoke a
strong, passionate emotional response. We want people to love or hate
our designs because the people who love them buy them. We don't want
to finish second on anyone's new car wish list."
Visually,
Prowler pays tribute to the rolling art of hot rods. Prowler also
embodies some of the most advanced technology and materials and has
the distinction of being North America's most aluminum-intensive
vehicle. It was only a few years ago that the idea of mass producing a
factory hot rod seemed too radical a concept for any major automaker
to undertake. Since then, however, the Chrysler group's
concept-to-reality roadster has cruised into the hearts and garages of
passionate automotive enthusiasts in North America.
Through
May of 2000, more than 5,000 Prowlers have been sold in North America.
Of those Prowlers sold, 1,744 were black, 1,345 were purple, 1,322
were red, 697 were yellow, 546 were silver, and 80 were black/red
two-tone ("Woodward Edition").
Prowler
first appeared as a concept car at the 1993 North American
International Auto Show in Detroit. Favorable response prompted the
former Chrysler Corporation to unveil a production version of Prowler
at the 1996 North American International Auto Show. Official
production began in July 1997 as a 1997 model. Prowler is manufactured
at Conner Avenue Assembly Plant in Detroit and is built alongside the
Dodge Viper production line.
(July
11, 2000) |