- Sports Coupe of the Future Elevates Chrysler Brand, Combines Stunning American Design with Proven German Engineering
- Route 66 Meets the Autobahn
America's classic Route 66 and Germany's legendary Autobahn are two of the most famous roads in the world. This year, drivers will be able to merge on to either in Chrysler's all-new 2004 Crossfire, a sports coupe that combines American design with German engineering.
"Chrysler Crossfire symbolizes what this merger is all about," said Dieter Zetsche, President and CEO of the Chrysler Group. "It's a great example of what we call disciplined pizzazz, or the ability to bring a got-to-have-it vehicle with top quality to market quickly and profitably by working together, combining strengths, and effectively leveraging our resources. Chrysler Crossfire is the icon of the Chrysler brand as it incorporates proven quality and technology in a stunning wrapper."
"Chrysler Crossfire is the sports coupe of the future; it's a dream machine come true," said Wolfgang Bernhard, Chief Operating Officer of the Chrysler Group. "Following in the footsteps of Dodge Viper and Chrysler PT Cruiser, it's a great concept-to-reality story that combines head-turning design with world-class engineering."
Chrysler Crossfire was developed in just 24 months after a concept version of the car was revealed at the 2001 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. A production version was unveiled one year later at the 2002 Los Angeles Auto Show. Crossfire goes on sale in mid-summer of 2003, as a 2004 model.
"The initial public response to our Chrysler Crossfire concept vehicle was overwhelming," said Larry Achram, Vice President, Advance Vehicle Engineering. "Once we stablished a solid business case for bringing this car to market, we worked closely with our colleagues in Germany to move the car swiftly from concept to reality."
The 2004 Chrysler Crossfire is a low-slung, two seat sports coupe with a sculptured appearance. Under its hood is a 3.2-liter 90-degree V-6, 18-valve SOHC engine available with a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission.
In early 2003, Chrysler began building Crossfire in Germany, in conjunction with Karmann, a long-time Chrysler partner with more than 100 years of manufacturing experience. Founded in 1901, Karmann is one of the world's leading full-service suppliers to the automotive industry.
Following are at-a-glance features in the all-new 2004 Chrysler Crossfire:
Performance Features
- 3.2-liter, 18-valve, SOHC V-6 engine
- 215 horsepower, 229 ft.-lb. torque
- Six-speed manual transmission or optional five-speed electronically-controlled adaptive automatic transmission with AutoStick®
- Rear-wheel-drive
- Independent double wishbone front suspension with coil springs and gas-charged shock absorbers
- Independent five-link rear suspension with coil springs and gas-charged shock absorbers
- Speed-sensitive deployable rear spoiler at approximately 60 mph
- Dual center-mounted exhaust outlets
- Ultra-high performance Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires and wheels:
Front 18-inch P225/40 ZR tires, Rear 19-inch P255/35 ZR tires
- Seven-spoke aluminum alloy wheels