Chrysler Crossfire Review
Published: 11th January 2005
Chrysler Crossfire
How It Drove - Performance
The 3.2-litre V6 engine powering the Chrysler Crossfire is manufactured at Daimler Chrysler’s V-engine plant in Untertuerkheim, Germany. It is fitted with Chrysler Group’s own design of air-intake and exhaust systems to best fit the available space as well as give the car its own unique intake/exhaust soundtrack.
The Crossfire's all-aluminium, SOHC, 3.2-litre, V6, 18-valve engine produces 215 bhp and 229 lb ft of torque. It is designed to deliver high torque across a broad band of engine speeds which enables it to accelerate from 0-to-62 mph in just 6.5 seconds and continue to a top speed of 155mph.
The engine is light, responsive, smooth-revving and ultra-reliable, the 90-degree power unit promises to deliver sparkling performance in the 1,665kg Crossfire.
Maximum torque is generated at just 3,000 rpm, over 90 percent of maximum torque is available from 2,600-to-5,300 rpm, and 98 percent is available from 3,000 to 4,500 rpm.
The combination of engine power, balanced weight distribution, suspension design and generous tyre sizes enables the Crossfire to deliver sensational performance on straight or winding roads.
We enjoyed every cubic centre centimetre (or should that be inch) of the 3199 cc engine, it is a proven unit seen in other Daimler Chrysler products. The engine pulls strongly and smoothly through the rev range and although it doesn't have the verbal grunt of a V8 engine Chrysler have tuned the acoustics so that you can enjoy the engine’s vocal note.
We obtained circa 24 mpg from our enthusiastic right feet, which we thought was not too bad, especially when the power is on tap through an automatic gearbox. Chrysler’s 0-62 mph time of 6.5 seconds seems realistic - one word of caution the V6 engine delivers the power so smoothly and quietly that you could easily find yourself above the speed limit.
The five speed automatic gearbox is intuitive to use, and allows you to turn the transmission into a sequential manual gearbox. You can simply tap the gear stick lever the right to change up or to the left to change down, simple and effective - the instrument cluster displays the gear you are in. We would prefer the sequential box to work in the other plane, i.e. knock it up and down.
A high-performance version of the Chrysler Crossfire - the SRT-6 - will arrive in the UK in April featuring a supercharged 3.2 V6 engine. For more information [ click here ]
How It Drove - Ride/Handling
Overall grip is very good, in fact impressive, it could certainly hold its own on twisting ‘B’ roads. On dry roads we found it hard to induce anything but a slight grumble from the tyres but should you put the car out of line, the Crossfire is protected by traction control and electronic stability programme, which if you prefer can be switched off.
The standard power steering is a re-circulating ball system. The steering ratio is 16.7:1 and the system requires 3.1 turns of the steering wheel from lock-to-lock. A hydraulic damper eliminates undesirable yaw motions and enhances straight-ahead steering feel for Crossfire drivers on the motorway. We feel it is unfortunate that they did not use a rack and pinion set up which tends to give better feel and interpretation to the driver, but the steering weight is good.
