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As the auto industry reviews its future under what certainly will be tougher Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, cycle plans at each company are being scrutinized. What is happening is that some vehicles are being deferred as studies are carried out to determine if their fuel efficiency can be improved. Those that will definitely damage CAFE are being put on the chopping block if acceptable offsets cannot be found. On July 17, 2007 Chrysler Group announced that the Chrysler Imperial is being scrapped.

Thank Heavens The Emperor is Dead
This is one of the few benefits that can be expected from the more stringent CAFE standards. The Imperial, first seen during the 2006 Auto Show season has to be one of the most contrived, unattractive concepts shown in years. It goes into the “what were they thinking” category and we wondered if it was just a cruel joke.
Based on the Chrysler rear wheel drive platform the Imperial would have been assembled at Chrysler’s Brampton Assembly Plant along with the Chrysler 300, Dodge Magnum and Dodge Charger. Chrysler states that the Brampton change-over for the 300/Magnum/Charger would continue moving forward just without the Imperial.
With Different Styling, Imperial Could Have Been a Reasonable Line Extention
Our complaint with Imperial is that it is ugly. It is an example of Chrysler styling having run amok following the “merger of equals” with Daimler-Benz. These are the same folks, you know, that have given us the ungainly Jeep Commander. The best styling coming out of Chrysler since the “acquisition” have been the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum. Neither the Charger or the Imperial shared the same spark. We hope that with Tom Gale – Chrysler’s former design boss – joining Cerberus as an advisor, that Chrysler can find its design mojo once again.