The Chrysler Crossfire was a two-seat rear-wheel-drive sports car sold from 2004 to 2008 and built in Germany by Karmann. Conceived during the DaimlerChrysler merger, it used the Mercedes-Benz R170 platform and shared around 80% of its components with the first-generation SLK.
Chrysler Crossfire at a glance
| Production | 2004–2008 model years |
|---|---|
| Built by | Karmann, Germany |
| Platform | Mercedes-Benz R170, shared with the first SLK |
| Layout | front engine, rear-wheel drive, two seats |
| Engine | Mercedes-Benz M112 3.2 L SOHC V6, 215 hp, 229 lb·ft |
| SRT-6 engine | supercharged M112 built by AMG |
| Transmissions | six-speed manual; five-speed automatic |
| Wheels | 18-inch front, 19-inch rear |
| Tyres | 225/40R18 front, 255/35R19 rear |
| First production car | 3 February 2003 |
| Concept debut | 2001 North American International Auto Show |
History of the Chrysler Crossfire
A concept born of two companies
The Crossfire began in 2001 as a concept car styled by Eric Stoddard, presented at the North American International Auto Show, and was refined by Andrew Dyson before production started in 2003 for the 2004 model year. The name refers to two character lines running from front to rear along the body sides that cross below the mirrors on the doors, and it also stands for the collaboration of Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz. Conceived as a two-seat halo car for Chrysler, the project aimed to use available components on a two-seat roadster chassis, with about 39% of parts shared with Mercedes-Benz vehicles; Chrysler dealers had to invest in special tools, equipment and parts to sell it.
Design
The car had a wide stance on 19-inch rear and 18-inch front wheels, and its boat-tail rear reminded several journalists of the 1965–1967 AMC Marlin. Chrysler said the design took inspiration from the 1930s Art Deco period and buildings such as the Chrysler Building, while Motor Trend cited Bugattis and Talbot-Lagos of the same era. The objective was a plush, refined European-edged sports car rather than a “boy racer”, meant to give the brand a touch of class.
Mechanical design
Chrysler executed the interior and exterior styling, but the wheelbase, track, engine, transmission, chassis structure and suspension came from the R170 platform: the engine bay is virtually identical to the Mercedes-Benz SLK320, SLK seats bolt straight in, and the dashboard layout and instruments are similar. The standard engine was Mercedes’ 3.2-litre M112 V6 with 215 hp and 229 lb·ft, with a six-speed manual as standard and a five-speed automatic as an option. The SRT-6 used a supercharged M112 built by AMG and came only with the five-speed automatic, as AMG cars of the era did. The six-speed manual is a variant of the Mercedes NSG-370, and the automatic belongs to the 722.6 family; cars with the automatic had better official fuel economy because of their gear ratios. Steering was the R170’s recirculating-ball system, the front suspension was unequal-length double wishbone and the rear a five-link arrangement. The first production Crossfire was assembled on 3 February 2003 and driven off the line in Germany by Chrysler Group’s chief operating officer Wolfgang Bernhard.
Design and features
- Mercedes SLK underneath: platform, engines, transmissions and suspension came from the R170.
- 3.2-litre V6: 215 hp and 229 lb·ft from Mercedes’ M112 engine.
- SRT-6: an AMG-built supercharged version with the five-speed automatic only.
- Boat-tail styling: a tapering tail that recalled the AMC Marlin of the 1960s.
- Mixed wheel sizes: 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels as standard.
Chrysler Crossfire versions
- Coupe (2004–2008): the fixed-roof two-seater.
- Roadster: the convertible with a power-retractable cloth roof.
- Limited: the better-equipped trim level.
- SRT-6: the supercharged AMG-engined performance model.
The Crossfire shared its Mercedes engineering with no other Chrysler, but its styling language fed the Airflite concept and later the Chrysler 300. More cars are in the Chrysler collection.
Video: Die PS Profis checken ein Chrysler Crossfire
Video by ANDYWISCHEROPP on YouTube.
Sources
- Chrysler Crossfire, English Wikipedia: design, platform, engines, equipment
- Chrysler Crossfire, Wikimedia Commons: photographs
