Chrysler ME Four-Twelve
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article or section contains information about a concept automobile.
It is likely to contain information of a speculative nature, though such must be attributed to relevant sources. Concept cars, by definition, rarely become production models, and any given specifications may change significantly as development progresses.
|
 |
| ME Four-Twelve | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Chrysler |
| Parent company | DaimlerChrysler |
| Production | 1 |
| Class | Sports car |
| Body style(s) | 2-door coupé |
| Layout | Mid-engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Engine(s) | 6.0 L / 364.9 ci quad-turbocharged V12 |
| Transmission(s) | 7-speed Ricardo-built semi-automatic |
| Wheelbase | 2794 mm (110 in) |
| Length | 4542 mm (178.8 in) |
| Width | 1999 mm (78.7 in) |
| Height | 1140 mm (44.9 in) |
| Curb weight | 1310 kg (2888.1 lb) |
The ME Four-Twelve was a concept car DaimlerChrysler produced under the Chrysler brand in 2004, impressive also for taking less than one year for design and development. The peculiar name is rooted in the Mid-Engine with Four turbochargers on a Twelve-cylinder engine. The car bears more than a passing resemblance to the Ford GT90 in both appearance and mechanics. While the declared top speed was faster than the McLaren F1 (400 km/h or 248 mph), the car was never actually produced, probably due to tensions with Mercedes-Benz, so it couldn't receive the title of fastest production car. That title now rests with the SSC Aero.
Chrysler initially stated that the ME Four-Twelve was a prototype intended to lead to production. They later put a temporary stop to the project after several protests from the SLR division of Mercedes-Benz. However, as of fall of 2005, Chrysler reportedly announced that the project was again "under active consideration" for continued development. Interestingly enough, the car did in fact pass government crash test and safety ratings, despite the fact that it was never actually produced.
Contents |
[edit] Specifications
[edit] Chassis, suspension, steering, and components
The ME Four-Twelve is based on a monocoque tub made out of carbon fiber and an aluminum honeycomb. The monocoque tub means the majority of the car is constructed from a single shell, which makes it very strong and reduces flex. Much of the body is also constructed of carbon fiber. It also features aluminum crush zones that make the car very safe. The engine is mounted to a sub-frame constructed of chrome-moly, a steel alloy made of chromium and molybdenum originally developed for use in high-temperature environments within power plants. The car boasts a 0.358 drag coefficient.
The suspension of the ME is made up of double wishbones, aluminum control arms, horizontally-opposed coil-over dampers with electronically controlled compression and rebound tuning, stainless-steel push rods and a blade configured anti-roll bar. The steering is made up of a modern power-assisted rack-and-pinion unit and has an overall ratio of 16:1 with 2.4 turns lock-to-lock. This results in a turning circle of 36.0 feet (11.0 m).
The super Chrysler features 15.0 in. (38.1 cm) vented carbon ceramic front and rear brake rotors each clamped by six-piston mono-block calipers. It also has 19x10 in. front and 20x12.5 in. rear cast aluminum wheels, shod in huge 265/35ZR-19 and 335/30ZR-20 tires, respectively.
A feature not widely seen but used on the ME Four-Twelve is an active rear spoiler. It can deploy rearward up to 100 mm to provide 925 lb-f of downforce at 186 mph (299 km/h) while still retaining its drag coefficient.
[edit] Engine and transmission
The ME Four-Twelve has a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. Here, Chrysler has employed an A.M.G-built 60° V12 displacing 6.0 liters (5,980 cc / 364.9 ci) and sporting four turbochargers squeezing out air at 20 PSI. It features a single overhead cam, 3 valves per cylinder, a 9.0:1 compression ratio, a dry-sump lubrication system, and an electronic, sequential, multipoint fuel-injection system. It develops 850 horsepower (634 kW) at 5,750 rpm and 850 lb·ft (1,152 N·m). of torque (1152 Nm) between 2,500 and 4,500 rpm, allowing it to reach the 142 hp (106 kW)-per-liter mark and featuring a 6,800 rpm redline. The engine also sports an impressive heavy-duty cooling system, although perhaps not quite up to Veyron standards.
For the best possible uncompromised performance, the ME Four-Twelve uses a 7-speed Ricardo-built double wet-clutch transmission that was built and tuned specifically for this car. The transmission is capable of completing shifts in about 200 milliseconds.
| Gear | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Final Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ratio | -.--:1 | -.--:1 | -.--:1 | -.-:1 | -.--:1 | -.--:1 | -.--:1 | 2.55:1 |
[edit] Performance
The car has high performance numbers to back up its other impressive statistics. These include a 0-60 mph time of 2.9 seconds, 0-100 of 6.2 seconds, a 1/4 mile time of 10.6 seconds @ 142 mph (229 km/h), and a top speed of 248 mph (399 km/h) (although also claimed is 256 mph (412 km/h).
[edit] Other Appearances
The Chrysler Me Four-Twelve is featured in Test Drive Unlimited for PC, PS2 and Xbox 360 as a bonus unlock car. It also appears in Forza Motorsport as an S Class car, Forza Motorsport 2 for the Xbox 360 as a U (Unlimited) Class car and in Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition.
Also, this car is seen in Ludacris's "moneymaker" music video.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
