2001 Chrysler Prowler Walkaround Review at Automotive.com
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2001 Chrysler Prowler Review: Exterior

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2001 Chrysler Prowler Review

A car on parade in its own driveway.
Walkaround
First came the concept car that turned slowly under spotlights at the 1993 Detroit auto show, stunning every journalist into statue rigidity - mouth agape, eyes misting. Then three years later the car emerged in its eggplant hue with its eggplant-shaped rear hip line - curvaceous and enorm with 20-inch rear wheels - contrasting in delightful incongruity to the airily light front end with motorcycle fenders capping 17-inch wheels and a brash bumper that admits it wouldn't be there on a real hot rod (but looks fine obeying street rules). This is the car that was to be a halo car for Plymouth - an image-enhancer like the Viper was to Dodge. Unfortunately, Cheshire-cat like, the grin outlasted the body. With Plymouth gone the Prowler is now a Chrysler adoptee.

Image-enhancement is still the car's strong suit - the image of the driver. Prowler remains as eye grabbing as ever. Shouts of "I love your car" trail it through restaurant parking lots. It evokes thumbs up and smiles from every age group, every gender. (Though it skews heavily male among purchasers.) The Prowler evokes the emotions and entertains the eye at every angle. Its enduring appeal depends on the fact that it is not just a bright idea and a smart design but that it is well executed. Detail is attended to, fit and finish are admirable. Sleekly sophisticated with its flattened wedge shape, voluptuous curves and unique color schemes, the Prowler is nonetheless a most affable machine. Indeed, if you didn't climb into its lap first it might climb into yours.

Colors! In some ways Chrysler is more like the Franklin Mint than a carmaker with this car. Collectability is a real consideration, and the choice and timing of color options is a teaser to craving. The first year's purple (I called it "aubergine") led to a singing yellow in mid 1999. Then came a lipstick red and a black. (And two-tone red and black for a special Woodward Dream Cruise edition.) For 2000 silver was the new color. That was joined around Halloween with a deep orange, sort of like a Jack O'Lantern flashed with candle fire (the color of our test car). Also new for 2001 is a two-tone black and silver metallic called Black Tie Edition, as entertaining as a lounge magician. A special Mulholland Drive edition is a deep sapphire Pearlcoat blue with light blue hand striping and a dark blue top. Sounds edible, doesn't it? True collectors, of course, want one of each. Next Page



2001 Chrysler Prowler