Chrysler LHS: Chrysler’s luxury flagship of the 1990s

The Chrysler LHS was a full-size luxury saloon built for the 1994 to 2001 model years, with a one-year gap in 1998. It replaced the Chrysler Imperial and Fifth Avenue as the division’s flagship, shared the LH platform with the Concorde and Vision, and finished its life rebadged as the Concorde Limited.

Chrysler LHS at a glance

History of the Chrysler LHS

First generation (1994–1997)

The LHS was introduced in May 1993 for the 1994 model year as the top of the Chrysler range and the most expensive of the LH cars, which all shared a 113-inch wheelbase and were developed using Chrysler’s new computer drafting system. It was distinguished from the New Yorker by leather bucket seats instead of a bench, a floor console and shifter, five-passenger seating, the absence of chrome trim, an upgraded interior and a sportier image. Standard equipment included the 3.5-litre 24-valve V6 with 214 hp, a body-coloured grille, mirrors and trim, traction control, aluminium wheels, fog lights, eight-way power front seats, premium audio and automatic temperature control.

Year-by-year changes

For 1995, after complaints about the dimness of the 1994 headlamps, they were redesigned with a projector-style beam that was unusual at the time, and a Chrysler medallion replaced the Pentastar on the grille. In 1996 body-colour mirrors and the optional carphone were dropped, the withdrawal of the New Yorker made a front bench optional, Homelink and a hidden antenna became standard, OBD-II arrived and the antenna moved inside the rear brake lights. For 1997 the main changes were to the transmission.

Second generation and the end

After a one-year hiatus a redesigned LHS arrived for 1999 with Chrysler’s new winged emblem. With the 300M on sale, the LHS competed against traditional large luxury saloons while the shorter, sportier 300M took the performance-luxury market; the new 3.5-litre SOHC 24-valve V6 produced 253 hp at 6,400 rpm and 255 lb·ft at 3,950 rpm. In Europe the first-generation car was sold by special order between 1995 and 1999 as the New Yorker outside Britain, keeping the LHS name in the UK, with export tail lamps using amber turn signals, side repeaters, red rear fog lamps and no side running lights. Chrysler dropped the LHS after 2001 and rebadged it as the Concorde Limited, taking the Concorde’s fascias and replacing them with the LHS’s to streamline the range. The British journalist Jeremy Clarkson, who often criticised North American cars, called the first-generation LHS “by global standards, right up there with the best”.

Design and features

• Flagship equipment: leather seats, alloy wheels, traction control and automatic climate control as standard.
• 3.5-litre V6: 214 hp in the first generation, 253 hp from 1999.
• Projector headlamps: fitted from 1995 after complaints about the originals.
• Two generations: a five-seat sport-luxury car, then a more refined flagship alongside the 300M.
• European export version: sold as the New Yorker on the continent, with amber indicators and rear fog lamps.

Chrysler LHS versions

• LHS (1994–1997): the first generation with the 214 hp 3.5 V6.
• LHS (1999–2001): the redesigned car with 253 hp and the winged emblem.
• Concorde Limited (2002): the LHS rebadged with Concorde fascias replaced by its own.

The LHS shared its platform with the Chrysler Concorde, Intrepid and 300M, and it replaced the Fifth Avenue as Chrysler’s flagship. More cars are in the Chrysler collection.

Video: Chrysler LHS 1993 road test

Video by HlynurChrysler on YouTube.

Sources

• Chrysler LHS, English Wikipedia: generations, equipment, engines, European sales
• Chrysler LHS, Wikimedia Commons: photographs