Review Car

2011 Chrysler Crossfire

The 2011 Chrysler Crossfire is the sports coupe of the future and is American dream machine come true. The Viper, Prowler and PT Cruiser all began as well-received concepts. Wisely (especially in the case of the ultra-hot-selling Cruiser), Chrysler wasted little time in hustling these gleaming visions of things to come into showrooms. Which of the marquee’s concepts is next in line to be recast as a production vehicle? That honor belongs to The 2011 Chrysler Crossfire. The rear-wheel-drive coupe first debuted as a well-received concept at the 2001 North American International Auto Show in Detroit; at the 2002 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, a finalized production version was shown.

Dreams are, of course, subjective, but the Crossfire certainly has the looks to fit the bill of someone’s futuristic fantasy. The vehicle’s lines successfully wed classic European sport-coupe elegance with American performance-car spunk. The car is low-slung, with a sculpted countenance. A long hood, metallic-finished side air louvers, pumped-up fenders and a tapered rear mark its distinctive profile.

Wide shoulders top 18-inch front wheels; the rear wheels are slightly larger, measuring 19 inches. Chrysler boasts that the Crossfire has a unique new glass-to-body proportion, with tall body sides and diminished glass surfaces. To help make sure you never forget who this baby’s daddy is, Chrysler has helpfully plastered its winged badge atop The 2011 Chrysler Crossfire’s hood; the logo spans the entire length of the car’s chrome grille. Six grooves snaking rakishly across the length of the hood announce that yes, this is a car with performance aspirations. In back, The 2011 Chrysler Crossfire boasts a retractable spoiler, which springs into action once the vehicle reaches 50 miles per hour.

Within its cabin, The 2011 Chrysler Crossfire’s design cues are sophisticated and decidedly upscale. Two-tone leather swathes the seats; Chrysler’s badge is embossed into both headrests. Chrysler deviates from the norm by placing the car’s ignition switch on its instrument panel, instead of its steering column. Gauges are clean and precise, with white-on-black numbering, and metallic and chrome accents. The 2011 Chrysler Crossfire is powered by a Mercedes-sourced 3.2-liter 18-valve SOHC V6 engine, which kicks out 215 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed electronically controlled automatic tranny puts the power to the road. Should the driver get over his head, a stability control system is offered to help prevent dangerous skids and spins.

The 2011 Chrysler Crossfire also features an independent double wishbone front suspension with coil springs; out back is an independent five-link suspension with coil springs. Its stirring appearance should help win The 2011 Chrysler Crossfire an audience. But it won’t come cheap; pricing has yet to be announced, but the fact that the Crossfire will be built using a significant percentage of Mercedes-quality components means that it’s likely to clock in as a big-ticket purchase. The Crossfire will be built in Germany and will go on sale in mid-2003; Chrysler expects to produce 20,000 units worldwide for the 2003 calendar year, with 85 percent of that number going to U.S. markets.