5:11pm Wednesday 19th November 2003
OVERBLOWN, overpowered and over here would be one way of describing the British attitude to American sports cars. Traditionally, cars like the Chrysler Viper, the Chevrolet Corvette and the Camaro have been big on power, but low on quality and subtlety.
We’re a market that demands neat design, sharp driving dynamics and real-world running costs. America seems to have wised up.
The Chrysler Crossfire will change the way you think about the American sports coupe. First, a reality check. Those of you who keep tabs on the global automotive industry will know that Chrysler is part of the DaimlerChrysler group. Chrysler’s chief executive and chief operating officer go by the names of Dieter Zetsche and Wolfgang Bernhard.
So, in effect, the Crossfire is about as American as curry. Fully 39 per cent of the componentry is shared with the Mercedes SLK320, including the chassis, suspension and the drivetrain. It’s even screwed together – rather well-as it happens – at the Karmann plant, in Osnabruck.
So much for the American angle! The Crossfire started life as a show car, wowing the crowds at the 2001 Detroit Motor Show, with most observers admiring designer, Eric Stoddard’s striking lines, but dismissing the Chrysler as the sort of flight of fancy that would never make production.
However, in July 2001, Chrysler’s Advanced Vehicle Engineering team, headed up by Larry Achram, received the go-ahead. The Crossfire was being fast-tracked into production.
In October of the same year, the tie-up with Karmann was finalised, and, in January 2002, the production version was shown at Detroit. Eleven months later, production versions started rolling off the lines, alongside the Mercedes CLK cabriolet and VW Beetle drop-tops that Karmann also manufacture. Powered by a 217bhp, 3.2-litre V6, the Crossfire has a fair turn of speed, making 60mph in 6.3 seconds, and running straight and true at an indicated maximum of 150mph. Buyers get to choose between a six-speed manual transmission, or a five-speed automatic, with tiptronic style control.
Chrysler has worked at tuning the acoustic characteristics of the engine, to generate more drama than the urbane SLK320 ever managed. With a combination of entertaining engine notes, cracks and bangs from the exhaust when you lift off, plenty of wind roar and tyre thrum, the Crossfire feels very alive.
Although the steering isn’t class leading – the turning circle may well be visible from space - the Crossfire just grips and goes through corners that would have many rivals raggedly probing the edges of the handling envelopes.
The constraints dictated by the compact SLK chassis mean the Crossfire isn’t the most spacious coupe around.
Having said that, the front seats have a huge range of adjustment.
The boot can most charitably be described as token, the meagre 215-litre capacity being accompanied by a stratospheric loading lip, a sliver of an opening aperture and the added problem of heat being transmitted via the exhaust system.
The fascia is well executed, with three chrome-ringed dials straight ahead of the driver, an attractive steering wheel and a high-quality of fit and finish. Standard equipment includes four airbags, heated and power operated leather seats, electric windows and mirrors, central locking and a 240watt Infinity CD stereo, with two subwoofers and six tweeters.
Chrysler aims to shift 20,000 Crossfires a year. I think they’re being unduly cautious. As a fusion of Mercedes engineering and American design flair, the Crossfire is quite unlike anything else. As an outright sports car, it comes up a little shy, but as a convertable coupe, it can’t fail.
For prices, call Marlborough, on 020 8568 1414.
By Andy Enright
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