Car Reviews: 1996 Chrysler LHS

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's 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its new attitude, the automaker has banished such outdated trappings as vinyl roofs,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.

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's 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.

and back. Built on the same 113.0-in. wheelbase as the Concorde, the LHS body has been

stretched by nearly 8 in., three of them added to the rear seat area, the rest

sequestered in the trunk. The LHS is a car you could use to haul around the starting

squad of NBA All-Stars. With the LHS, there is only one minor drawback to this design.

By moving the passenger compartment forward, the driver's left foot now rests a bit

awkwardly on the wheel-well hump.

The leather seats in our test vehicle were sumptuous and rich--what they used to

call the Italian look--and they provided good support. It's a nice combination--firm

enough to feel the road, with enough lateral support to keep us in place on tight

turns, but still comfortable, even after four hours behind the wheel.

While Chrysler designers have been able to abandon many of the old rules that once

defined an American luxury car, one dictum seems as immutable as an 11th Commandment:

Thou shalt not build a luxury car without wood. In this case, rather cheesy-looking

plastic woodgrain. The strips on the door and instrument panel lined up, but it seems

Chrysler paid little attention to making sure they matched visually. It's too bad, for

the result cheapens what is otherwise a rich-looking interior.

The instrument panel is simple and well laid out, with easy-to-read analog gauges.

Our test car's controls were easy to reach and switches operated with a comforting

click. High praises for the optional Infinity sound system. A CD player is a must in

an upscale car these days.

If you read many reviews, you're likely to see the letters NVH used repeatedly.

They refer to Noise, Vibration and Harshness, three areas where automotive engineers

are devoting much of their attention these days. When the LHS made its debut, it fell

a bit short, particularly on a car-to-car comparison with such Japanese competitors as

the Lexus ES300. Chrysler has spent a lot of time and money trying to silence the

interior of LHS, with noteworthy results. Interior noise levels are distinctly lower

than they were when the car came out, though it still doesn't sit at the head of the

class.

The only engine is a 3.5-liter, 24-valve V6. And indeed, it's no match for the

Northstar V8, or the Ford 4.6-liter V8 that powers the new Lincoln Continental. But

don't sell Chrysler short. At 214-horsepower, the LHS V6 is no wallflower. It's peppy

and responsive enough for all but drivers who like zero-to-60 mph times in the

7-second range. And if fuel economy matters, chalk one up for the LHS. Its V6 is far

more miserly than the V8s offered elsewhere. Particularly at this price.

Under normal driving conditions, you'll find the 4-speed, electronically

controlled automatic transmission is smooth and seamless. But shifts do become a bit

abrupt when you've got the accelerator pedal pressed to the floor.

Like the seats, the LHS tries to find a balance for its ride feel. The solution

may not satisfy everyone, particularly those used to the firmer feel and sharper

response of a BMW, but for most, there's a good compromise between comfort and

handling. There's a bit of body roll in aggressive cornering maneuvers, and we noticed

a bit of squat and dive during hard acceleration and braking.

Steering is light, but direct, and the car tracks precisely where it's aimed.

Braking is adequate, with little fade after repeated hard stops. Still, this is

one area where improvement wouldn't hurt. There is no such thing as excess braking

power.

The LHS offers traction control as an option. It's a low-speed system which means

it will only operate during initial acceleration. Still, it's a useful feature,

especially if you live in snow country.

there's no pejorative in that. Chrysler's top-line sedan helps redefine a market

segment that clearly was due for some much-needed change. If the LHS is the first in a

new era of American luxury cars, Detroit has a solid future.

The LHS is a vehicle that sets out its own rules and, with only a few exceptions,

lives up to them with style and grace. And its price, thousands below cars like the

Cadillac Seville, Lincoln Continental and even the Oldsmobile Aurora, makes it look

even better.