Chrysler ME Four-Twelve Exotic Prototype

Nothing is more frustrating in all of autodom than a car like the Chrysler ME Four-Twelve prototype.

Presented at the Detroit auto show to gauge the market potential for a "halo" Chrysler that could sticker for more than a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, the ME Four-Twelve is a bigger surprise than the 2003 Dodge Tomahawk V-10 motorcycle and recalls the Cadillac Cien concept of 2002. The ME's frustration quotient comes from the fact that DaimlerChrysler can produce this car in ultra-low volumes--but only if it gets enough orders.

With modern mid-engine supercar styling and a seriously impressive 850 horsepower and 850 pound-feet of torque, who's going to say, "Nah, don't bother"?

Chrysler ME Four-Twelve prototype Interior concept

And yet, Chrysler needs rich people to prove their interest with hard cash. This may not be easy, as ultra-exoticville is a rarified segment of the marketplace into which this brand has never before traveled. Chrysler will try to make inroads into SLR/Carrera GT/Enzo territory with high-tech hardware, good performance numbers, and a striking design.

The ME has the kind of high-tech purposeful look necessary to convince buyers it's the real deal, along with its familiar Chrysler nose and Crossfire-esque hood strakes. Its Mercedes AMG-built quad-turbo 5980cc V-12 makes a best-in-class (and what a class) 142 horsepower per liter. This aluminum powerplant features dry-sump oiling, an intercooler for each turbo, 20 psi of boost, and a 6800-rpm redline. Power is delivered to the rear wheels via a Ricardo seven-speed F1-style paddle-shift manual gearbox, with a double-disc wet clutch and a final-drive ratio of 2.55:1.