We must admit to jury tampering when it comes to the
Chrysler LHS. Our first
excursion occurred with Chrysler President Bob Lutz behind the wheel, bobbing and
weaving along the twisted asphalt that threads the hills surrounding California's Napa
Valley.
Traditional American luxury cars aren't supposed to handle like that. The LHS
proved taut and sure-footed, even when charging a corner at twice the posted speed.
It is hard to imagine this as the heir to the old Chrysler Imperial, which wallowed
like a land yacht at every opportunity.
The LHS can trace more direct roots to Chrysler's large sedans--Dodge Intrepid,
Eagle Vision and Chrysler Concorde, collectively dubbed the LH models. They helped
rewrite the book on automotive styling with their sleek, "cab-forward" shapes, and
their exceptionally rigid chassis. The emphasis is on man, not machinery. With LH
models, such as the Concorde, that means a full-size interior in a midsize body. With
the LHS, well, you're talking roominess on the order of a limousine.
The LHS made its first, striking appearance at the January 1992 Detroit auto show
in concept car form. It resurfaced a little more than a year later in production trim,
carrying two separate designations. The base New Yorker version was designed for those
more comfortable with a traditional Detroit ride, soft and relatively floaty. The
upscale LHS was meant to appeal to those who understand the appeal of firmer-riding
European makes, such as BMW and Mercedes. Much to Chrysler's surprise, most buyers
started opting for the more expensive LHS, prompting the automaker to abandon the
once-revered New Yorker nameplate for 1996.
Chrysler's flagship sedan has a rich and formal appearance, but in keeping with
its new attitude, the automaker has banished such outdated trappings as vinyl roofs,
opera windows and wire wheels. Gone too is the front bench seat. In line with its
European inspiration, the LHS is a true 5-seater, a break with domestic tradition that
should disappoint few.
Does the LHS deliver what its looks promise? Here's what we found.
There are those who will lament the disappearance of Detroit's old luxury look.
Gone are the hard, angular lines, the bustle-back trunks and etched opera windows. If
the Imperial defined this post-war generation, the LHS is the car for the New Age.
This is still an American car, no mistaking that, but the LHS is a handsome sedan that
can stand proud at the country club parked next to a procession of luxury imports.
That is all the more of an achievement when you consider other recent attempts by
Detroit to create a new luxury look.
The LHS is long and wide and visually well-balanced. The moldings and door handles
are flush and modern-looking. The aggressive rake of the windshield gives this sedan
an almost sporty feel, but the overall look is refined and elegant.
If God is in the details, the most subtle refinements are what truly define the
success or failure of an automobile. The switch to larger, 16-in. wheels is one of
those details. Another is the car's curving C-pillar--the LHS's rear window frame--which
provides a rich, formal look. Unfortunately, that feature combined with a high rear
parcel shelf, also reduce rear visibility, one of the sedan's few real weaknesses.
