23 Bold Chrysler Concept Cars That Turned Heads
Back in college, I saw a Chrysler concept on display at an auto show that looked like it had time-traveled straight out of a sci-fi comic.
It had scissor doors, a turbine-like rear, and a dashboard that glowed like a spaceship’s control panel.
People gathered around it like it was about to lift off. Chrysler’s show cars have always had that effect.
The wild, unpredictable designs that made jaws drop even if they never made it to the showroom floor.
1. Chrysler Atlantic
Jaws dropped when the Atlantic rolled onto the stage at the 1995 Detroit Auto Show.
Inspired by the legendary Bugatti Atlantique, this concept blended 1930s elegance with modern engineering in a way that made vintage car lovers swoon.
Under its elongated hood lurked a straight-eight engine created by joining two Neon four-cylinders.
The Atlantic’s sweeping fenders, boat-tail rear, and impossibly elegant proportions made it an instant classic that still appears in “concepts we wish were built” lists decades later.
2. Chrysler ME Four-Twelve
Roaring to life at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show, the ME Four-Twelve wasn’t just fast on paper—it was a functional supercar that could’ve rivaled Ferrari and Lamborghini.
Its name cleverly encoded its configuration: Mid-Engine, Four turbochargers, Twelve cylinders.
Packing a Mercedes-sourced 6.0L V12 that generated a blistering 850 horsepower, this beast claimed to hit 60 mph in 2.9 seconds.
Carbon fiber everything and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission completed the package before budget realities unfortunately terminated the project.
3. Chrysler Chronos
Luxury oozed from every curve of the 1998 Chronos, a concept that channeled the spirit of Chrysler’s iconic 300 letter series from the 1950s.
Named after the Greek god of time, this beauty made horologists and car enthusiasts alike check their pulses.
Powered by a massive 6.0-liter V10 engine, the Chronos featured a hand-crafted interior with a clock-inspired gauge cluster. Its most striking feature?
That impossibly long hood paired with a short rear deck created proportions that seemed to bend the rules of automotive design.
4. Chrysler Firepower
Muscular yet refined, the 2005 Firepower concept bridged the gap between Chrysler’s luxury aspirations and Dodge’s performance heritage.
Based on the Viper’s platform but tamed for grand touring, this copper-colored beauty packed a 6.1-liter HEMI V8 pushing 425 horsepower.
Glass panels in the roof created an airy cabin experience while the sweeping fastback profile gave it a distinctly European GT vibe.
Chrysler even claimed it could sprint to 60 mph in under 4.5 seconds—impressive for a car designed more for cross-country cruising than track days.
5. Chrysler Phaeton
Opulence on wheels! The 1997 Phaeton concept revived the glamorous four-door convertible body style that had vanished decades earlier.
With suicide rear doors and no B-pillar, this concept offered unmatched entry elegance for all four passengers.
The Phaeton’s massive 5.4-liter V12 engine signaled serious luxury intentions. Inside, occupants were treated to a nautical-themed cabin with boat-deck wood flooring and hand-finished leather everything.
This yacht-inspired land cruiser proved Chrysler could dream bigger than almost anyone else in Detroit.
6. Chrysler Portofino
Before minivans became cool (and then uncool, and now cool again), the 1987 Portofino concept showed a completely different approach to carrying six people in style.
With scissor doors that opened like a Lamborghini’s, this concept was part Italian exotic, part family sedan.
Named after the Italian resort town, the Portofino featured a cab-forward design that would later influence Chrysler’s production cars of the 1990s.
Its most remarkable feature? The rear doors were hinged at the back, creating a pillarless opening that made climbing into the third row almost graceful.
7. Chrysler 300 Hemi C
Muscles flexing in the sunshine! The 2000 300 Hemi C concept answered a question nobody knew they wanted answered: “What if we took our most powerful sedan and chopped the roof off?”
Painted in a scorching copper hue, this convertible concept packed a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 delivering 353 horsepower to the rear wheels.
The interior featured a unique four-bucket-seat arrangement with a full-length center console.
While Chrysler never put it into production, this concept laid groundwork for the successful 300C sedan that would arrive years later.
8. Chrysler Nassau
Part luxury sedan, part wagon, and all attitude – the 2007 Nassau concept defied categorization while turning heads at the Detroit Auto Show.
European shooting brake styling gave this concept a distinctly upscale presence that Chrysler hadn’t explored before.
Underneath its sleek bodywork sat the same 425-hp 6.1-liter HEMI V8 that powered the 300C SRT8.
The interior was equally revolutionary, featuring four bucket seats and a flowing center console that ran the entire length of the cabin.
Blue LED ambient lighting completed the futuristic luxury vibe that sadly never reached production.
9. Chrysler Airflite
Sleek as a bullet and just as striking, the 2003 Airflite concept blended sedan practicality with coupe aesthetics in a package that looked ready for takeoff.
Its most distinctive feature was the dramatic single-piece glass canopy that arched from windshield to rear window.
Underneath this glass bubble, the interior featured a spine-like center console inspired by the Chrysler PT Cruiser.
The Airflite’s aerodynamic teardrop shape wasn’t just for show—it represented Chrysler’s exploration of efficient design principles that would influence future models like the Crossfire and 300C.
10. Chrysler EcoVoyager
Before Tesla made electric cars cool, the 2008 EcoVoyager concept showcased Chrysler’s vision for sustainable luxury transportation.
Hydrogen fuel cells powered this sleek people-mover, promising 300 miles of range with zero emissions except pure water.
The one-box design maximized interior space while maintaining an aerodynamic profile. Inside, a minimalist cabin featured a floating instrument panel and reconfigurable seating.
Most innovative was the drivetrain—electric motors at each wheel eliminated the need for a traditional engine compartment, allowing for that distinctive stubby-nosed profile.
11. Chrysler Imperial (2006)
Grandeur made a comeback with the 2006 Imperial concept, a massive luxury sedan designed to recapture Chrysler’s glory days of building America’s finest automobiles.
Longer than a Rolls-Royce Phantom and dripping with presence, this behemoth rode on a stretched 300C platform.
The suicide rear doors opened to reveal an interior that resembled a high-end Manhattan apartment more than a car cabin.
Egg-crate grille, slab sides, and a formal roofline echoed Imperial models from the 1960s. Even the 22-inch wheels seemed proportionally appropriate on this land yacht that unfortunately never sailed into production.
12. Chrysler Pronto
Small but mighty, the 1997 Pronto concept proved Chrysler could think beyond big sedans and minivans.
This compact hatchback brought European sensibilities to American roads with its two-tone paint scheme and perky proportions.
Power came from a frugal 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, but the real innovation was inside. Flexible seating configurations and removable rear seats created SUV-like utility in a tiny footprint.
The Pronto’s clever design eventually evolved into the PT Cruiser production car, which became one of Chrysler’s biggest sales successes of the early 2000s.
13. Chrysler Halcyon
The Chrysler Halcyon is like a sci-fi dream car brought to life—refined, silent, and seriously futuristic.
Unveiled in 2024, this electric concept cruises on innovation with wild doors, a glass canopy, and zero-emissions swagger.
It’s Chrysler’s bold leap into tomorrow, packed with autonomous tech and sustainable flair. Think spaceship meets road trip.
The Halcyon isn’t just a concept—it’s a stylish promise that the future of driving might actually be fun, smart, and surprisingly cool.
14. Chrysler Pronto Spyder
Mid-engine thrills on a beer budget? The 1998 Pronto Spyder concept promised exactly that with its peppy 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine mounted behind the seats.
Painted in eye-searing yellow, this affordable roadster concept showed that Chrysler could do fun without breaking the bank.
The removable hardtop and roll bars gave it a distinctly sporty character. Inside, body-colored panels and minimalist instrumentation kept things simple and driver-focused.
Though it never reached production under the Chrysler badge, its spirit lived on in the Dodge-branded Razor concept that came years later.
15. Chrysler Java
Boxy became beautiful with the 1999 Java concept, a tall, narrow city car that packed surprising interior space into a tiny footprint.
Looking like it rolled straight out of a European capital, this quirky concept measured shorter than a Mini Cooper but offered nearly minivan-like interior volume.
Clever touches abounded, from the single rear door for easy access to the sliding drawer under the rear seat for hidden storage.
The Java’s most innovative feature was its reconfigurable interior that could transform from four-seat commuter to two-seat delivery vehicle in seconds—perfect for urban multitaskers.
16. Chrysler Citadel
Revolutionary for its time, the 1999 Citadel concept combined SUV versatility with sedan comfort while hiding a secret under its skin: one of the first hybrid powertrains from an American manufacturer.
A 3.5-liter V6 engine worked alongside an electric motor to deliver both power and efficiency.
The sloping rear greenhouse and distinctive wheel arches gave it a sporty profile despite its practical nature.
Inside, the Citadel featured a reconfigurable cargo area and third-row jump seats that folded flat. This prescient concept predicted the crossover boom years before the segment exploded in popularity.
17. Chrysler Thunderbolt
Flash back to 1940 when the original Thunderbolt concept dropped jaws with its fully retractable hardtop and envelope-pushing aerodynamics.
Only five were built, making it one of the rarest and most valuable Chrysler concepts ever created.
The sleek, pontoon-style fenders completely enclosed the wheels—radical for the era. Its brushed aluminum bodywork gleamed like liquid mercury under showroom lights.
The Thunderbolt’s most magical feature was that disappearing hardtop, which slid away into the trunk decades before modern convertible hardtops became common.
18. Chrysler Falcon
Virgil Exner’s beautiful 1955 Falcon concept showed an alternate universe where Chrysler competed directly with Corvette and Thunderbird in the sports car market.
With a fiberglass body and 276-cubic-inch HEMI V8, this roadster had the performance to match its stunning looks.
The long hood and short deck proportions created a classic sports car profile. Wire wheels and that distinctive egg-crate grille added touches of elegance to the performance package.
Sadly, only one Falcon was built before Chrysler decided to focus on larger vehicles—leaving us to wonder what might have been.
19. Chrysler Flight Sweep
Tailfins reached their zenith with the 1955 Flight Sweep concepts, which came in both I and II versions that showcased the most dramatic fins ever attached to an automobile.
These jet-age masterpieces perfectly captured America’s aerospace obsession during the height of the Cold War.
The Flight Sweep II, with its cantilevered roof and wraparound windshield, looked particularly futuristic. Chrome details and that distinctive Forward Look styling made these concepts instant classics.
Many of their design elements eventually appeared on production Chryslers, though with slightly less dramatic proportions.
20. Chrysler Newport (Dual Cowl Phaeton)
Glamour on wheels arrived in 1941 with the Newport Dual Cowl Phaeton concept, a vehicle so special it paced the Indianapolis 500 that year.
Only six were built, blending American luxury with European coach-building traditions in spectacular fashion.
The “dual cowl” referred to the second dashboard and windshield for rear passengers—a feature borrowed from ultra-luxury cars of the 1930s.
Power came from a straight-eight engine producing 143 horsepower. Movie star Walter P. Chrysler Jr. owned one, cementing its status as the ultimate expression of pre-war automotive glamour.
21. Chrysler Norseman
Tragedy surrounds the 1956 Norseman concept—perhaps the most innovative Chrysler ever created, yet one that no public audience ever saw.
This revolutionary vehicle sank with the SS Andrea Doria ocean liner while being transported from Italy to America for its planned debut.
Built by Ghia in Italy, the Norseman featured a cantilevered roof with no A-pillars and a unique fastback design.
Its most groundbreaking feature was the way the rear window could slide forward under the roof for ventilation. The one-of-a-kind concept remains at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean to this day.
22. Chrysler Millennium
As the year 2000 approached, Chrysler unveiled the aptly-named Millennium concept to showcase their vision for luxury sedans in the new century.
This sleek, cab-forward design featured doors that opened from the center—no B-pillar in sight—creating a dramatic entrance for all passengers.
The Millennium’s most distinctive feature was its windshield that extended seamlessly into the roof as one continuous piece of glass.
Inside, a minimalist dashboard used reconfigurable displays instead of traditional gauges. Though never produced, elements of its design philosophy influenced Chrysler’s LH platform sedans.
23. Chrysler ETV-1
Long before Tesla made electric cars cool, the 1979 Chrysler ETV-1 (Electric Test Vehicle) was silently revolutionizing automotive technology.
Developed in partnership with General Electric, this slippery sedan achieved a then-remarkable drag coefficient of just 0.25—better than many modern cars.
Lead-acid batteries powered an advanced DC motor that could push the ETV-1 to 65 mph with a range of about 100 miles. The wedge-shaped body and flush glass surfaces looked decades ahead of their time.
This pioneering EV established engineering principles that would eventually make their way into production electric vehicles decades later.