2008 Chrysler Crossfire

Chrysler first introduced the Crossfire in 2001, and then introduced a shapely new low-slung sports coupe for 2004. For 2008 the Crossfire gets a tire pressure monitoring system as standard equipment. This stylish sports car competes with the BMW Z4, Mercedes CLK-Class and Audi TT. When the Chrysler Crossfire concept was first introduced at the 2001 North American International Auto Show, there was genuine interest and excitement from both the motoring press and the public. Here was the first tantalizing fruit of the DaimlerChrysler merger that would combine German engineering and American style. A production model was announced, and the first Crossfires started to appear a few years later. The Chrysler Crossfire combines American design with German engineering. Underneath there are a lot of Mercedes parts, including the V6 engine, multilink suspension, and steering. It's based heavily on the first generation Mercedes-Benz SLK. The Crossfire's bodysides are relatively tall, but glass surfaces are minimal. The Crossfire is available as both a coupe and a convertible. Either a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic gearbox teams with a 215-horsepower, 3.2-liter V-6. 2008 was the Crossfire's final model year of production.

2008 Crossfire Design

 The Chrysler Crossfire uses retro styling but is also patterned after parts of classic French Bugattis and Talbot Lagos from the elegant pre-war period of auto design. The Crossfire's styling includes both lines and curves. A center spine runs the full length of the coupe and serves as a dominant design feature. A signature winged Chrysler badge up front spans the upper width of the chrome grille. The headlights have circular elements that carve their way into the car's face. Six grooves run the full length of the long hood. Side air louvers highlight the bodysides. The rear wheels are 19 inches in diameter, while the front ones measure 18 inches. Wide rear fenders end in large, sculpted taillights and dual exhaust pipes. A tapered boat-tail shape highlights the rear end, which emphasizes the large rear wheels, tires and fender. A retractable spoiler activates when the Crossfire reaches 60 mph. Although the base trim was dropped for 2008, previous models offered an optional Special Edition package (2006 and '07 model years) that included Inferno Red Crystal Pearl Coat exterior paint, Dark Slate Gray cloth seats, SRT-6-style cast-aluminum wheels, a black windshield surround and satin silver door handles and side louvers.

Inside the Crossfire

Leather upholstery was standard in 2004, when only one well-equipped trim level was offered, but starting in 2005 the Crossfire was offered in base and Limited trims, and the base car came with cloth upholstery and a limited roster of standard equipment. The Crossfire holds two; a metallic center console flows from the top of the instrument panel through the center of the car. The Crossfire is available in coupe and convertible models. It includes leather-trimmed high-back bucket seats. 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 seats are firm, comfortable and supportive. The instruments are classic and easy to read. Switches for the power windows are on the center console, less convenient than having them on the doors; they feature auto-down but not auto-up. The Crossfire cockpit is tight; it is reminiscent of the SLK.  There are plenty of storage areas with bins and cubbies. The white-on-black gauges have a chrome trim ring. The coupe offers 7.6 cubic feet of cargo space; it's deep and can swallow a fair amount of stuff, but the opening is relatively small and precludes big boxes. The roadster offers 6.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the top up, less with the top down; accessing the roadster's trunk is very easy. No key is needed to open the trunk when the Crossfire is unlocked, which is convenient.

Chrysler Crossfire Handling

 The Crossfire has excellent manners and drivability. Although it doesn't offer the performance of a true sports car, it does exhibit quick throttle and accelerates with force. The six-speed manual gearbox, a Mercedes unit, doesn't seem to feel as direct and quick shifting as previous Mercedes powered roadsters. The Crossfire with the five-speed automatic works flawlessly and is well matched to the 3.2-liter engine. The automatic has an adaptive function, which learns how you drive by measuring how quickly you apply the accelerator in each gear. It has a manual-shifting gate, which Chrysler calls AutoStick on its cars. The vehicle's ride quality can seem harsh, but the brakes are sensitive and responsive. 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. It's the first time the Mercedes system has been used on a Chrysler. 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 sporty exhaust note is still audible while on the highway. The roadster is surprisingly quiet when the top up. Rearward visibility from both the coupe and Roadster is limited to a narrow slit in the rearview mirror, but the outside mirrors are generously sized.

Powering the Crossfire

The Crossfire for 2008 is powered by a 3.2-liter V-6 and generates 215 hp and 229 pounds-feet of torque. Either a six-speed manual gearbox or an adaptive AutoStick five-speed automatic transmission can be installed. The sole powertrain is suitable for this vehicle; it offers decent acceleration and passing abilities.

Conclusions

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. Side-impact airbags, a tire pressure monitoring system, all-disc antilock brakes and an electronic stability system are standard. Chrysler updated the car's airbags for 2007, adding knee airbags for the driver and passenger, making the driver's front airbag a multi-stage deployment one and adding an occupant-sensing passenger airbag. The Chrysler Crossfire was available only in coupe form when it debuted in 2004, with a convertible model arriving the next year. The short-lived 2005-'06 Crossfire SRT-6 model boasted a sport-tuned suspension and a fire-breathing, supercharged 330-hp engine that came only with a five-speed automatic. Its exterior design always turned heads, but the aged platform and unimpressive driving dynamics were major drawbacks. The Crossfire's slow sales could also be attributed to an interior that didn't look as rich as the car's exterior styling would suggest. There was also the cramped Crossfire's utter lack of utility. It's still an attractive vehicle to behold, but the Crossfire was simply outclassed by other vehicles in terms of luxury, brand cachet and performance. For further research, read a 2008 Crossfire review from Edmunds.com.