Chrysler Crossfire as the classic of tomorrow
In the crossfire
Chrysler Crossfire
© press-inform – the press office
With the Chrysler Crossofire, the Americans created a very attractive sports car for almost everyone around two decades ago. Under the crisp US dress there was the technology of the Mercedes SLK of the R170 series.
Daimler and Chrysler were one after the wedding in heaven, when it was time to push new cars to the individual markets. Chrysler should benefit from the premium technology of the Swabians as soon as possible and the Daimler guys should come up with completely new quantities. The American volume segment was only part of the plan, because the former Chrysler Group, consisting of Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep, was to be firmly positioned in the minds of new customers without star ambitions in Europe as well. So it was decided to add a technical twin to the lady’s retractable roof roadster of the Mercedes SLK (R 170 series) with the Chrysler Crossfire. Much more masculine, with a lot of steam and lots of US charm. Produced by the body and convertible specialists from Karmann in Osnabrück.
From the outside, the two models were more different than ever with similar technology, but inside it looked completely different. Here the Chrysler fans looked at the same interior, controls and displays as in the more elegant Mercedes SLK. The only difference was the steering wheel and the silver coloration of the switches and center console. For many, the Chrysler Crossover was too close to the Mercedes SLK – far too close – despite its visual hot rod borrowings and the passenger cell sitting far on the rear axle. Jürgen Hubbert, in the 1990s and early 2000s for many the personified epitome of Mercedes-Benz, said during the production period of the Mercedes SLK and Chrysler Crossfire, which lasted from 2003 to 2007, that there should not have been such a visible and technical closeness wouldn’t give again.
No question about it, especially with many Mercedes managers, the 4.06 meter long Chrysler Crossfire was an unloved child despite its self-confident appearance and the German production site. With many a sports car fan it looked completely different, because the pithy front, the beefy rear with thick cheeks and the corresponding slippers were a real show and a benevolent paradox for the softly washed report vehicle of the Chrysler PT Cruiser. If the Crossfire was initially only planned as a coupé, it was quickly decided that a roadster should also be created. Because of the open Mercedes SLK, all the body reinforcements were already there and because of the high-performance AMG variants, nothing stood in the way of a career as a high-performance Crossfire SRT-6, both open and closed. In contrast to the open Swabian, the Crossfire Roadster was on the road with an electric cloth cap and no folding roof. Here, the otherwise 260-liter cargo space was reduced to a manageable 105 to 184 liters. Inside, too, it was emphasized tight and tightly dimensioned.
Axles, engine, platform and drive of the Chrysler Crossofire were completely identical to the Mercedes SLK 320. Initially there was only a 3.2 liter naturally aspirated V6 engine (M112) with 160 kW / 218 PS / 310 Nm and a six-speed manual gearbox as well as an automatic transmission. With a slight delay, there was a particularly sharp sports version for the Crossfire Coupé and Roadster from 2004 onwards. The Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6 was powered by a 3.2 liter V6 engine with supercharging from AMG, which whimpered more beefy than ever under load and delivered an impressive 246 kW / 335 PS / 420 Nm. So that the overstrained hind legs with their powerful 19-inch rollers could even conjure up the performance halfway on the ground, the SRT-6 got a rather attractive wing system instead of the extending spoiler, which provided the necessary downforce on the rear axle. Officially, the speed limit was 255 km / h, but many of the few SRT-6 models have been on the road without electronic reins over the years and thus run around 290 km / h.
The range of Chrysler Crossfire models is not opulent, but despite the short production time and the corresponding production figures of around 75,000 vehicles, enough to be spoiled for choice. The most common is the Crossfire Coupé with the normal 3.2-liter V6, 218 hp and five-speed automatic. Roadsters and the particularly sporty SRT-6 models with AMG technology are rarer. The standard equipment of the Crossfire models is largely complete. Most models have electric leather seats, air conditioning and a sound system. At the time, however, a navigation screen was just as unavailable as xenon light. Well-preserved models with barely more than 100,000 kilometers start well below 10,000 euros. The hot SRT variants with the slightly throttled AMG compressor cost open and closed from 2006 with less than 100,000 kilometers and with a traceable history barely more than 15,000 euros. With its incomparable US design and solid Daimler technology, the Crossfire has what it takes to become a classic of tomorrow – for manageable costs.