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2004 Chrysler Crossfire Coupe Road Test

A Prodigal Sports Coupe is Born

Without giving away my age, I can tell you that when I first espied the rear lines of the Chrysler Crossfire I was instantly transported back to 1965 and my favorite car of that year, the Rambler Marlin. Some 39 years ago this sleek battler of Plymouths own fishy coupe, the Barracuda, caught everyones attention with its 2-door boattail fastback design.

The boattail design the Marlin featured narrowed as it met the rear bumper. And as with todays Crossfire, this design created wide shoulders that extended laterally over the rear wheels - not unlike a stretched version of todays Crossfire. And by the way, my passion for automobiles commenced at a very young age, so put the calculator away.

Now that we have verified that history repeats itself

My first glimpse of the rear lines of the Chrysler Crossfire instantly brought back memories of one of my favorite cars, the 1965 Rambler Marlin. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

(just come over and look in my closet sometime) lets examine Chryslers recent dramatic entry into the sports coupe market. So move over Audi TT and Porsche Boxster, theres a new kid in town and hes as brash as an over-caffeinated news-reporter in a cheap suit.

The Crossfire is the first all-new vehicle to emerge from the union between auto giants Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz, now known as DaimlerChrysler.

An offspring of the two companys merger, the Crossfires DNA is 39 percent Mercedes-Benz and 61 percent Chrysler. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

Think of it as the first child of a new marriage. The Crossfires DNA is 39 percent Mercedes Benz and 61 percent Chrysler - just dont ask me which auto manufacturer represents Mama and which Papa. The Crossfire shares much of its chassis and running gear with the Mercedes SLK, which is a fine roadster in its own right. Therefore Chryslers new sports car exhibits a decidedly European character, but fortunately at a decidedly American price.

In my view Chrysler has done an

Chrysler has done an outstanding job designing both the exterior and interior of the Crossfire. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

outstanding job designing both the exterior and interior of the Crossfire. Outwardly, a 1960s theme is evident thanks in part to the six splines that run the length of the hood. Three on each side of a center spine design element that runs the length of the car and is even evident in the vehicles interior. The low-slung coupe drops off abruptly at the rear where the boattail fastback design dominates the rear architecture.

As Chryslers Trevor Creed, Senior Vice President of Design said, "in addition to romantic shapes and sleek, athletic lines, we gave Chrysler

Although the interior of the Crossfire seems tight at first, theres just the right amount of room for comfort. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

Crossfire a unique new glass-to-body proportion. We made the body sides tall while minimizing glass surfaces. We wanted to give the driver the feeling of being inside the cockpit of something very special, sporty and serious."

And upon climbing or more accurately lowering oneself into the Crossfire, all of what Trevor Creed had to say becomes a reality. This is one tight fitting cockpit, at least in terms of headroom. As such the Crossfire has done more to ignite my NBA dreams than anything I could ever do on a court. This car could make Bill Gates feel tall. But after settling into the firm, supportive,

The lack of steering wheel controls and small center stack buttons made using the audio system a minor irritation. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

although somewhat flat seats and adjusting the steering wheel and mirrors, I felt as if ensconced in a well-tailored Armani suit. Theres just the right amount of room for comfort, but no excess material to wrinkle, pleat or droop.

Chrysler has fashioned a very sharp looking interior to match the Crossfires eye-catching, sculpted exterior. Front and center in the Crossfires interior - and I mean that literally - is a dynamite center-stack console unit finished in a glossy metallic surface. The glossy finish appears much more durable than a similar design theme, sans gloss, found in the Mazda6 that I recently tested. The Mazda surface was highly susceptible

The rear-wheel drive Crossfire is fitted with a 215-hp 3.2-liter, 18-valve SOHC engine. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

to scratching too. Fortunately the Crossfires version appears much more durable.

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