You can associate Chrysler with a variety of vehicles: the “Letter Series” 300s, K-cars, minivans, and retrofuturistic models. Supercars do not make that list, but at the 2004 Detroit Auto Show, it looked as if Chrysler might enter that realm of performance and exclusivity with the ME Four-Twelve.
At the time, Chrysler was part of DaimlerChrysler and offered the Sebring sedan, coupe, and convertible; throwback PT Cruiser; Mercedes-Benz SLK-based Crossfire; and, of course, the Town & Country minivan. The usual purveyors of supercars, Ferrari and Lamborghini, had previously released the Enzo and Murciélago, respectively. The Bugatti Veyron was a year away.
That’s not to say that DaimlerChrysler’s American models were completely milquetoast — the previous year, it had stunned everyone with its Viper V-10-powered Dodge Tomahawk motorcycle. And the ME Four-Twelve was in so many ways an absolute head-turner. More than 20 years later, it still is.
Despite the badge on the nose, the ME Four-Twelve had legit supercar components. Its fighter jet-like body was made out of carbon fiber and draped over a carbon fiber and aluminum honeycomb monocoque.
In a press release, Chrysler said, “The suspension is comprised 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.” Behind the 19×10-inch front and 20×12.5-inch rear cast aluminum wheels were lightweight carbon ceramic brakes.
The cockpit featured a flat-bottom steering wheel, carbon fiber seats covered in leather, automatic climate control, and a premium sound system, all under a glass roof.
But no supercar is truly super without the right engine. Thanks to AMG, the ME Four-Twelve had it: a 6.0-liter quad-turbo V-12 with 850 horsepower at 5,750 rpm and 850 lb-ft of torque between 2,500 and 4,500 rpm. Even the ME Four-Twelve’s transmission was exotic: a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) built by Ricardo. Chrysler’s projections and modeling showed that its creation was capable of 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds, 0-100 mph in 6.2 seconds, a 10.6-second quarter mile at 142 mph, and a top speed of 248 mph.
Hmmm … a quad-turbo V-12? Sounds like the kind of firepower that Bugatti put in its EB110 hypercar of the 1990s. A Ricardo seven-speed DCT is exactly what the 1,001-horsepower Bugatti Veyron used to hit its similar top speed of 253 mph.
Clearly, the Chrysler ME Four-Twelve never made it into production. Instead, it joined the dramatic V-16-powered 2003 Cadillac Sixteen as an American automotive “What If …?”
