Chrysler Crossfire Reviews

The stunning Crossfire Coupe has been here for a couple of months but has made only little ripples on the local scene despite impressive credentials and sharp pricing. Crossfire's profile has taken a shot in the arm with the arrival of a drop-top roadster this week.The roadster could generate much more interest than its tin-top stablemate because it's even more of a head turner.Buyers in this segment seem to focus on convertibles more than coupes.And for a premium of only six grand, a whole new driving experience is opened to the driver and lucky passenger.Crossfire roadster sells for $75,990 putting it at the affordable end of the prestige sports car segment – thousands less than its competition but with no down side.In fact, Crossfire roadster offers more than many of its competitors – rear wheel drive, sensational dynamics, a Mercedes-Benz engine and transmission, exquisite styling and better yet, it's built in Germany.Essentially the coupe with an electric soft top, Crossfire roadster weighs a mere 36kg more than the hardtop which is a sub-1300kg car.The chassis is so rigid, minimal underbody bracing was required when the roof was hived off.There is no scuttle shake and no creaks or groans when the roadster is driven over spoon drains or out of driveways.The roof is stored in a boot bin that takes a hefty slice of luggage space but hey, who cares – travel fast, travel light in this silky smooth running sex-mobile.Spirited performance is provided by the 3.2-litre, V6 engine with 160kW/310Nm. It's the same engine we have seen in numerous Mercedes-Benz models through the past decade.Like the powertrain the chassis is shared with no other Chrysler model.Interior features are shared with Crossfire coupe and that means a full range of luxury and comfort equipment including an excellent audio system and semi automatic air conditioning, heated seats and an immobiliser.The roadster is offered in a range of striking colours including a light yellow. Interiors have a "machined" look and are all two-tone over a base grey. The cream interior is a stand out as is the orange/brown. Colour coding includes the steering wheel.But from a driver's point of view, the real attraction of this car is its ride/handling.Unlike many competitors, the Crossfire has a supple suspension capable of smoothing our horrible bumpy roads and yet, at the same time, handling is overtly sporty. That means sharp steering, flat cornering, excellent grip and powerful 300mm brakes. Huge tyres no doubt contribute to this dexterity but the overall package is impressive, aided by a range of electronic systems including stability and traction controls.The front suspension is a double wishbone arrangement and the rear is a five link system.Like the coupe, there are two transmissions available at the same price. The manual is a six speeder and the five speed auto has Autostick sequential shift.Though the auto will massively out-sell the manual, the latter is a better thing to drive on the open road. Acceleration from 0-100kmh in the manual rushes by in the low six second bracket.All this to the trumpeting tones of the dual outlet exhaust. It is one of the sweetest sounding sixes around.The electric roof deploys quickly but has a fiddly centre catch.The roadster looks sensational from all angles – fast when simply standing still.It follows no other modern styling cue but has links with Chrysler models from the 1930s and '40s.What a treat to drive and looks that scream style.

The Chrysler Crossfire incorporates typically extravagant styling demanded by American buyers with mechanicals from Mercedes-Benz.And that just about sums up the collision of cultures which is Crossfire.Buyers who like sleek, svelte European styling will not get caught in this crossfire.However, those who want a niche model which is different will consider the new car.But all that said, Crossfire is not without merit. Any car which shares the same 3.2-litre V6 engine, sequential automatic and suspension as Merc's sensational SLK has lots in its favour. And full credit to Chrysler for being different in its styling approach.The two-seat sports car was developed in the US but is built in Germany by specialist car builder Karmann.And that guarantees Crossfire is turned out with sky-high build quality.From a dynamic viewpoint, the presence of Mercedes mechanicals and chassis assures the car goes quickly and handles impeccably.The car goes from zero to 100km in a quick 6.5 seconds on its way to a claimed top speed of 242km/h. Crossfire is available with either six-speed manual or five-speed adaptive automatic – both priced at $69,990.The test car ran Merc's auto box, which means sequential gear changes are made with a nudge to the left and right, rather than the more conventional front and rear employed by other brands.Having experienced – and enjoyed – the Mercedes configuration in so many of its cars, Crossfire's east-west auto shift operation held no mysteries.Similarly, the punch from Merc's 160kW 3.2-litre engine has been savoured many times in the past, and feels and sounds like it is working in a machine bearing a silver star.The all-aluminium 18-valve unit is highly responsive and with an all-up weight of under 1400kg to haul around, the good power-to-weight ratio results in highly responsive acceleration.With a Mercedes-worked suspension keeping the body nicely in check, it is not surprising Crossfire handles extremely well.The car comes with electronic stability program (ESP), the dynamic stability system which has proved so successful on a number of European performance cars. The system takes road safety to a new level, cutting in and out without input from the driver when cornering forces threaten to generate understeer or oversteer.Coupled with anti-lock brakes and brake assist system, ESP ensures Crossfire never gets crossed up.Cornering grip is also enhanced by evenly balanced weight distribution and independent front and rear suspension.The chassis has sufficient travel to provide superior ride quality while geometry is designed to control body movement during spirited cornering. If the car were to be judged on dynamics alone, marks would be very high indeed.But while sports coupe buyers place great emphasis on pure driving pleasure, looks do play a significant part in any evaluation.Crossfire's profile is sound enough – powerful shoulders, heavy wedge side profile, long bonnet and sweeping beltline all combine for winning looks.The rear end is nicely rounded around the C-pillar for an unusual – but not unattractive – boot line which is an extension of the roof radius. Chrysler's new face is appealing and the air vents rearward of the front wheels work well.But there are just too many bends in the metalwork for the total package for work for this writer.The rib work pressed longitudinally along the bonnet is altogether far too busy.In the cabin, the centre console is painted in bright silver, which is more like an arcade game.And the less said the better about the seats, which provide little in the way of support.While the car has to be considered a genuine performance vehicle, the rear spoiler which deploys automatically when the car's speed rises above 90km/h has to be considered as bit excessive.A car has to be travelling well in excess of 90km/h before wings and things begin to impact on downforce.So while a certain section of buyers may be impressed by toys on their cars, this writer prefers cars to be pure in design and spirit – and definitely gimmick-free zones.Chrysler has been a bit of a drain and a strain on Mercedes-Benz since the amalgamation of the two car giants.But DC claims the American arm of the world's fourth largest car maker has a host of new products in the pipeline.It really is hard to be negative about a car like Crossfire, which is designed to appeal only to a niche market – roughly 200 a year in Australia.But it comes down to what works for the Americans does not necessarily make friends and influence buyers in Australia.Remember Pontiac demanded changes to our Monaro beyond branding changes, which illustrates the differing tastes. So far, Chrysler has sold 85 examples of Crossfire but it will be interesting to see how the monthly demand levels out following the fulfilment of the initial demand.In sum, great mechanicals, questionable styling.

Of the cars that have been through our garage, the Crossfire has attracted the most attention – edging out Holden's panel van and Smart's funky roadster."Does it go as good as it looks?" and "How much?" were common phrases exchanged in raised voices at intersections.I felt like making a sign, it would have been easier.Others were seen to stop in car parks to have a good look, pressing their noses up against the glass before standing back to take in the car's styling.So it has incredible street cred but does it have the performance and handling to match?If the Crossfire could talk, it would say "I wish I was a V8".Not that the 3.2-litre V6 doesn't drive those rear wheels – it does – but for a car with such appeal on the outside and a bonnet big enough to get a V8 underneath it, the bigger engine would be a nice option.Bigger exhausts would do the car justice as the pea shooters surrounded by the nice big chrome tipped pipes create a muffled noise, not the throaty sound you would expect from a sports car.The manual is the better box to choose. The clutch is a little heavy and the box a bit sloppy but the ability to rev the engine is a plus not enjoyed in the automatic, even with the tiptronic-style shifter.The six-speed box makes the most of the 160kW (at 5700rpm) and the 310Nm (at 3000rpm).The Crossfire tested had a track debut at Oran Park. No, not as a race car – it was used in the second stage of the Jim Murcott Advanced Driving Course.The Crossfire stops well but under heavy braking above 80km/h the test car pulled to the left and had a shudder through the wheel.In the understeer/oversteer tests at the track the Crossfire proved how stable it was. Despite traction control being off it was difficult to make it move off-line.Vision is a problem. The back window is narrow and rear quarter vision is poor.The Crossfire is built on the Mercedes Benz SLK platform and the Benz influence is felt throughout the interior. The leather even has the same smell.The low roof, high door sills and dark matt finish make for a cosy interior but there is still a reasonable amount of room.The glovebox is surprisingly large and the centre console bin hides the phone, wallet and keys away. Finally, a sports car with a decent boot. It is large enough to fit a trolley-load of shopping (without any riding shotgun) and an average suitcase.The chrome finish on the centre dash area is striking. The leather seats are hard but comfortable.The cup holder is clumsy to use, is in the wrong position and there is only one.There was noticeable creaking from around the door trims when the car flexed under stress and over rough roads.The Crossfire is nicely priced at $69,990 for both auto and manual, and competes directly in money terms with Nissan's 350Z.But, as far as street cred goes, there is no competition.Want to be noticed but can't quite afford a Ferrari or a Lamborghini? Then go cruising a Chrysler Crossfire. It gets attention wherever it goes.