2004 Chrysler ME4-12 conceptThe Chrysler ME Four-Twelve is definitely not what you'd expect from the struggling Detroit automaker. The name says it all, albeit in shorthand. This is a mid-engine, quad turbo, twelve-cylinder supercar that could make Ferrari fans hide in shame.
Chrysler claims this knife-edged two-seater makes an incredible 850 horsepower at 5750 rpm (a new benchmark at 142 hp per liter). This translates into the type of numbers that left even the most hard-to-please members of the media momentarily breathless: 0-60 acceleration in 2.9 seconds, 0-100 in 6.2 seconds, and the quarter mile in about 10.6 seconds at 142 mph. Top speed is an equally awe-inspiring, although theoretical, 248 mph (400 km/h).
2004 Chrysler ME4-12 conceptCreated with the assistance of AMG, the performance arm of Chrysler's sibling division, Mercedes-Benz, the Four-Twelve's 6.0-liter V-12 is force-fed by four turbochargers with dual-core intercoolers and a very free-breathing exhaust (if the sound of the show car was any evidence). Power is delivered through a seven-speed sequential, double-clutch Ricardo transmission with quick 200-millisecond shift times. The supercar features column mounted F-1 racing-style paddle shifter with aluminum shift paddles.
Power alone isn't enough when you're operating at supercar speeds, so Creed's design team put a top priority on aerodynamics. The utmost attention was given to maximizing downforce by pressure-mapping the car's shape for high speeds. There's a front-fascia air splitter, a fully developed underbody, and a computer-controlled active rear spoiler that goes into action at 100 mph. All that generates 925 pounds of downforce at 186 mph.
Weight is another critical issue for a supercar. Carbon fiber is used extensively, providing the material for the bodywork while the composite is mated with an aluminum honeycomb for the monocoque tub. Aluminum is the material of choice for the ME Four-Twelve's crash structures, while the subframes use a chrome-moly alloy. In combination, what you get is an ultralight-weight structure that also meets all U.S. federal crash regulations.
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