The latest addition to my garage is getting back to the sort of thing I like.
Something that makes you look twice and has everybody craning their necks to see what it is.
While the masses seem to have taken the Audi TT and made it the No #1 Sports Coupe to have, and in doing so have debased its value through sheer numbers, take a look at any forecourt and you will see dozens of them for sale, it is little more than a VW in cheap Anne Summers underwear. It looks like a squashed Beetle for Gods sake! Nothing more than a badged up VW.
The Chrysler Crossfire on the other hand has taken the opposite perspective. This is essentially a Mercedes SLK, but with a lower Marque badge, hence the very much more affordable price ticket. But don't let that throw you off. The Crossfire has a style all of its own.
Overblown, overpowered and over here would be one way of describing typical British attitude to American sports cars. Traditionally cars like the Chrysler Viper, The Chevrolet Corvette and the Camero have always been big on power but low on quality and subtlety. The Brit market demands neat design, sharp driving dynamics and real world running costs. Chrysler have wised up, and probably in no small part thanks to the British designer Andrew Dyson, lead designer of transforming the Detroit concept car into the road going machine which will change the way we think about the American sports coupe.
First of all, a reality check. Fully 39% of the components are shared with the Mercedes SLK320 including the chassis, suspension and drivetrain. It's even assembled together, and very well too, at the Karmann plant in Osnabruck. So much for the American sports car angle!
The Crossfire signature design feature is the ridge that starts at the front wheel arch and then twists Mobius-like into a shoulder, finally constituting the rear wing. The car is unusually proportioned, with a long bonnet, a surprisingly upright windscreen and a fairly squat cabin perched atop the muscular body.
Powered by a 220bhp 3.2-litre V6, the Crossfire has a fair turn of speed, reaching 60mph in 6.3seconds and running straight and true at a limited max of 150mph. Mine is a 6-speed manual gearbox, but a 5-speed automatic with Tiptronic style control is also available. 19" rear alloys ensure that powered is delivered directly when it's needed, and the 18" fronts always point true, even when hard on the ABS brakes. " Dual level Traction Control also means that if the mood takes you, you can also hang the back end out and get a more realistic feel of what the car is up to. To keep the rear wheels pinned to the road, a speed activated spoiler is deployed and retracted at 62mph and 39mph respectively.
As an everyday car, its not going to appeal to the masses, being a 2 seater there is no room for the kids! The interior however is very spacious and with individual climate control for each side of the cabin, very comfortable. Fully adjustable leather, dual level heated seats increase the comfort and Infinity CD player system complete the cabin spec. As with all other Mercedes cabins, instruments and controls are all solid and easily reached/read. The boot is of a very usable size, easily fitting 2 sets of golf clubs and caddy car, but the opening is restrictive for bulky items. (Best buy a van if that's your thing)
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