Rebirth of Chrysler

The Crossfire is the global starting point in a new line of Chrysler cars, writes motoring editor ALASTAIR SLOANE


The Chrysler Crossfire is the first joint development by DaimlerChrysler, the company formed by the 1998 pairing of Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler. Other global models will follow, wearing the American Chrysler badge but using German components.

Two of those, the Chrysler 300C and Dodge Magnum sedans, are expected to be available in right-hand-drive markets in 2005-2006. The soft-top roadster variant of the Crossfire will be available earlier.

The emphasis on overseas sales underscores the close ties that Chrysler says it has developed since the merger with its German partners.

Chrysler says it has relied on the Daimler-Benz network to boost sales in markets outside the United States and for help in purchasing and other areas.

Chrysler has also borrowed technology and expertise from Mercedes-Benz to develop the Crossfire and new rear-wheel-drive cars such as the Magnum and 300C.

"These vehicles are the flagship for the Chrysler and Dodge brands," said Ralph Gilles, the chief designer responsible for the teams that worked on both cars at the Chrysler Group's design studio in Auburn Hills, Michigan. "We wanted to make a new statement in the passenger car market."

Chrysler has struggled over the past few years. Dieter Zetsche, the Chrysler Group chief executive, says that although a drop in sales in 2003 meant the group failed to meet the objectives of a turnaround plan set out in 2001, it was looking at a modest improvement this year with the line-up of new products.

"Where we failed was on the revenue side, while we overachieved on the cost side," Zetsche said.

"The latter reflects our overall transformation towards becoming a world-class competitor in all the disciplines. In this transformation, we are on track or ahead and we are very satisfied."

Zetsche said international sales of Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep would help the company to close in on its long-term goals.

The introduction of the right-hand-drive Chrysler 300C is seen as an important new model in what Gerry Jenkins, the managing director of Chrysler Jeep Australia, calls "our rapid-fire new product offensive".

Jenkins, in New Zealand for the launch of the Crossfire, said: "Over the past 10 years, the Chrysler brand has evolved like no other. The 2004 Chrysler Crossfire fulfils the promise of the merger of two legendary automakers by creating an enterprising approach to vehicle development.

"As a result of the merger, the quality of Chrysler and Jeep products has increased at a much faster rate than publicly realised.

"Chrysler Crossfire, by combining American design with world-class German technology, draws attention to these improvements and strengthens the Chrysler brand's reputation for superior quality."

The two-seater Crossfire first appeared as a concept at the 2001 Detroit motor show. Press and public reaction to the car was so positive that a team of DaimlerChrysler engineers raided company parts bins and said they could build a production version in about two years. (39 per cent of Crossfire comes from existing technology).

Now, three years on, it looks pretty much the same as the concept, apart from the split windscreen and stacked headlights.

The coupe and upcoming roadster sits on the platform of the Mercedes-Benz SLK hard-top folding-roof convertible. That's the present SLK, not the new one due here later this year. It is built in Germany by open-top specialist Karmann, which also builds the SLK.

Chrysler says the spirit and dominant features of the original have been retained or even exaggerated.

The long, ribbed bonnet, hunkered-down roofline and sweeping rear pillars leading to the tail and the sculptured rear wings are retained, as is the body crossover line (which gives rise to the vehicle name).

An American writer, caught in the glare of "those long, lovely fenders; those tense, coiled flanks" called the Crossfire "an art deco distillation straight from the 1930s ... the image of a 1938 Talbot-Lago T150 SS, or the same year's Bugatti 57 Atlantic, even the four-passenger Chrysler Airflow CU from 1934".

The radiator grille shows off the new face of Chrysler with a chrome Chrysler-winged brandmark forming the leading edge of the bonnet. Vertical ribs in the grille align with those in the bonnet.

Simulated air-extractor louvres behind the front wheel arches hint at a powerful engine and have racecar references. So does the rear spoiler, which deploys automatically when speed rises above 90km/h. It can also be deployed manually at lower speeds via a switch on the centre console.

The Crossfire is powered by a 3.2-litre V6 Mercedes-Benz engine producing 160kW (215bhp) at 5700rpm and 310Nm of torque at 3000rpm and mated to a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic gearbox.

The all-aluminium 140kg unit powers the 1388kg Crossfire from zero to 100km/h in 6.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 242km/h (150mph). More than 90 per cent of torque is available from 2600-to-5300 rpm, and 98 per cent from 3000-to-4500 rpm.

The Crossfire uses recirculating-ball steering. Mercedes-Benz moved away from this set-up some years ago, preferring instead rack and pinion for more feel and accuracy.

But the Crossfire suspension is apparently biased more towards comfort than performance. The compromise here for purposes of grip is the staggered wheel diameters (225/40 ZR18 front and 255/35 ZR19), rare in a production car.

The dash looks minimalist and functional and the instrument layout, with its many Mercedes-Benz switches and controls, uncluttered and easy to read.

The two-seater Crossfire costs $74,900, for the manual and automatic.