When you think of supercars, Chrysler probably isn’t the first name that comes to mind. Known more for minivans and mid-tier luxury than track-ready performance, the brand hasn’t exactly been pushing boundaries lately. But during a recent visit to the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles, I stumbled across a car that completely shattered my expectations: the ME Four-Twelve.
This thing rocked my world. It’s aggressive. It’s fast. And it’s absolutely unlike anything Chrysler has ever put on the street. Which begs the question: If Chrysler could build this, why didn’t they?
A Supercar in Chrysler Clothing
To be fair, the ME Four-Twelve isn’t some total departure. Look closely and you’ll spot Chrysler design cues—just stretched over a mid-engined, twin-turbo V12-powered body that looks ready to eat Ferraris for breakfast. It’s as if someone gave the design team complete creative freedom and a blank check… and they delivered.
The name says it all: “ME” for mid-engine, “Four” for the four turbochargers, and “Twelve” for the cylinders under the hood. It was powered by a 6.0-liter AMG-sourced V12 capable of 0–60 mph in under three seconds. And Chrysler brought it to the 2004 Detroit Auto Show like they meant it.
So Where Did It Go?
The ME Four-Twelve wasn’t a secret. It made headlines, got people talking, and had the numbers to back up the hype. And then? Silence. It faded into the background like a wild dream we all collectively forgot.
Maybe the timing was off. Maybe the business case didn’t pencil out. But the fact that Chrysler created something this outrageous and then let it vanish is kind of tragic. It had the potential to put the brand in the same breath as Porsche, Ferrari, or McLaren—not by replacing them, but by surprising us. By proving Chrysler could play in that league, and honestly, it kind of left me feeling a little pissed off that they wouldn’t.
A Missed Opportunity
No, it was never going to be affordable. And no, most of us wouldn’t have owned one. But that’s not the point. Imagine seeing a Chrysler badge on a car that could hold court at Monterey Car Week or turn heads at a track day. The ME Four-Twelve could have been Chrysler’s halo—a bold statement of what American performance could look like when it’s not tethered to practicality.
Instead, it sits in a museum. A reminder that somewhere along the way, someone at Chrysler said, “Let’s not.”
Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to see it at all. Like I said, it’s not like I could afford one. But to let a car like this be forgotten with time? Insulting.
You can find this car, along with several other concept cars and even more collector vehicles, at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles, California.