The '99 Concorde noses into view with a grille to rival any of the most avante European designs. The sloping cowl sweeps into a steeply raked windshield. The visual impression is one of kinetic motion. The word, "sculpture," quickly comes to mind. The body features a bare minimum of snap-on cladding. Instead, there is great nuance to the sheet metal, which rolls and undulates like a work of art.The massive, oversized grille is Jaguar-esque. Above it sits the Chrysler division's retro-looking winged emblem. Large, kidney-shaped headlights are jewel-like in appearance, but show that not only can form follow function, but function can follow form. On our first night drive, we discovered Concorde's new quad beams provide brilliant illumination as well as a classy styling touch. And we're pleased to report Chrysler has dealt with two other nagging problems. The new Concorde's windshield wipers are far more effective, as is the defroster, which proved particularly welcome during a nasty blizzard that swept through the American heartland last winter. Concorde is actually one of three new sedans bearing the Chrysler brand. The upscale LHS shares Concorde's basic shape, but adds a range of luxury touches. The downsized 300M is the sportiest car of the bunch, with a higher-performance powertrain and suspension package. But for many buyers, the Concorde is likely to hit the mark. It offers a seemingly perfect mix of performance, handling and roominess. Space remains one of its biggest advantages, and not just in the passenger compartment. There's a cavernous 18.7 cubic feet of trunk space, up from the 16.6 cubic feet in last year's model. But the numbers don't tell the whole story. In the original Concorde, the trunk's gooseneck hinge swung into the cargo compartment, crushing anything in its way. The new hinge folds cleanly out of the way.
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