2005 Chrysler Crossfire
Summary
The Chrysler Crossfire is a two-seat sports car that brings exciting styling
to the class. For 2005, Chrysler is adding a roadster for top-down motoring.
Plus, a powerful new SRT-6 model is available, both coupe and roadster body
styles. The Crossfire combines American design with German engineering. It's
based heavily on the Mercedes-Benz SLK.
Full Review 2005
Chrysler excels at design and we love the Crossfire's romantic shapes and
sleek, athletic lines. The long hood and fastback make the coupe instantly
recognizable.
Not surprisingly, the Crossfire runs like a Mercedes. The Crossfire is
relatively light at just 3060 pounds. It's performance is plenty thrilling
enough for most drivers and its rear-wheel drive gives it that classic sporty
feel. To kick it up a notch, the new Crossfire SRT-6 features a supercharged
version of the V6 rated at 330 horsepower, a huge jump from the standard
215-horsepower engine. The suspension and brakes are upgraded for spirited
driving. The big rear wing that comes on the SRT-6 models detracts from the
Crossfire's svelte styling, though.
Trims and Styling
The 2005 Chrysler Crossfire line has grown to include eight variants. The
standard Crossfire coupe ($29,045) comes with a six-speed manual transmission,
while the Crossfire Limited is available with a choice of six-speed manual
($33,745) or five-speed automatic with AutoStick ($34,820). Similarly, the
standard Crossfire Roadster ($34,085) comes with the six-speed manual, while the
Roadster Limited comes with manual ($38,045) or automatic ($39,120).
The Crossfire SRT-6 coupe ($44,820) and SRT-6 Roadster ($49,120) come
standard with the automatic.
The base coupe comes standard with power windows, speed control, dual-zone
temperature control, four-wheel anti-lock brakes with brake assist, Electronic
Stability Program (ESP), and all-speed traction control. Limited models heated
leather power seats, tire-pressure monitoring system, touring gear, heated
mirrors, fog lamps, and a universal garage door opener. Options are limited to a
navigation system ($1,200) and all-season tires ($185) in place of the standard
high-performance tires. Crossfire comes in Classic Yellow, Aero Blue, Alabaster,
Black, Blaze Red, Graphite Metallic and Sapphire Silver Blue.
The Crossfire originally appeared as a concept at the 2001 Detroit auto show,
while the roadster was revealed at the 2004 Detroit show. The Crossfire still
looks like a concept car, particularly when ordered in one of the wilder colors
like Classic Yellow.
The Chrysler Crossfire uses retro styling somewhat like the Mini Cooper, PT
Cruiser, or Beetle. Unlike those other cars, however, Crossfire is patterned
after parts of classic French Bugattis and Talbot Lagos from the elegant pre-war
period of auto design. Big-shouldered rear fenders and a stunted rear end look
sporty and classic at the same time. The roadster has a more traditional profile
than the distinctive fastback rear of the coupe, but we like both designs. It
looks good with the top up, with its short rear deck. And it looks even better
with the top down, the body colored panel behind the rear seats looking like a
classic sports car with raised humps behind each seat. Chrysler says the name
Crossfire is derived from the crossed lines of the front and rear body sections.
Interior Features
Inside the Chrysler Crossfire is the familiar Mercedes adjustable wheel and
pedal arrangement with a low seating position similar to the SLK roadster's. The
Crossfire cockpit is tight and coddling like a sports car's. Bins and cubbies
are more prolific than you'll find in the Mercedes SLK or even the top-dollar SL
two-seaters.
The Roadster has a high-quality top with a glass back light (rear windscreen)
with a defroster. To drop the top, simply pull down the handle on the windshield
header, turn the handle, which releases the convertible fabric top and lowers
the power windows, and lift the front of the top about eight inches.
First Drive 2005
The three-valve engine sounds mildly sporty. It sounds louder and more
purposeful than the same engine in various Mercedes models, but not as sweet as
a free-revving sports car engine should be. Chrysler claims the Crossfire will
accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds, and our test car felt like that
would not be a problem. We drove the Crossfire over winding mountain roads east
of San Diego, smoothly paved with lots of combinations of tight bends and fast
sweeping curves. The chassis of our Crossfire felt stiffer than the Mercedes SLK
roadsters, likely because the coupe body of the Chrysler has a structural
advantage. The Crossfire shares its floorpan with the SLK, but in the Chrysler
it's modified with extra tie bars and frame gussets that prompt Chrysler to
proclaim class-leading chassis stiffness. The Crossfire corners as flat as a
sports car. Chrysler says this is a function of the car being tuned for more
relaxed cruising than all-out sport driving. The Crossfire sports huge 225/40 by
18-inch front and 255/35 by 19-inch rear tires. The tires are relatively large
for a car that is not intended to be an uncompromised sports car, such as
Nissan's 350Z, and we suspect the Crossfire's large tires were specified for
styling appeal.
The six-speed manual gearbox, a Mercedes unit, somehow didn't seem to feel as
direct and quick shifting as we remember from previous Mercedes roadsters. We
actually preferred the Crossfire with the five-speed automatic, which worked
flawlessly and felt perfectly matched to the 3.2-liter engine. It has a
manual-shifting gate, which Chrysler calls AutoStick on its cars.
The Crossfire can stop like a sports car, a result of its large 11.8-inch
vented front and 10.9-inch solid rear rotors matched with massive tires. Like
the SLK, the Crossfire makes use of a comprehensive stability and traction
control system. When engaged, this system makes the Crossfire nearly impossible
to upset in tricky conditions.
At 60 mph a rear spoiler pops up just under the rear window, and it cuts
slightly into rear vision, but noise from the spoiler's motor was not intrusive.
The roadster is surprisingly quiet when the top up.
It doesn't offer the performance and handling of a true sports car, such as
the Nissan Z, but the Mercedes V6 offers quick throttle and the Crossfire
accelerates with force. It corners flat, its Mercedes suspension always feels
controlled and it has the latest in Mercedes anti-skid technology.
2005 Chrysler Crossfire
We really like driving the Crossfire, and we like looking at it, and those are
by far the two most important things you can say about any car.
Its manners and drivability are the best part about the Crossfire.
MotorTrend praises the new convertible option. It doesn't offer the
performance and handling of a true sports car, such as the Nissan Z, but the
Mercedes V6 offers quick throttle and the Crossfire accelerates with force. It
corners flat, its Mercedes suspension always feels controlled and it has the
latest in Mercedes anti-skid technology. For a different perspective on the
Chrysler Crossfire check out
Edmunds.com. The SRT-6 models promise dramatically increased performance and
are aimed at driving enthusiasts.