Trying to predict trends in the car industry is every bit as elusive as finding a hot streak in the stock market, but like so many sectors of the business world if you want to know where things are headed, just follow the money. With baby boomers just starting to hit their peak earning years, automakers are shoring up their lineups with the kinds of cars that will satisfy the growing numbers of retirees and empty nesters who finally have the money and the flexibility to buy the car of their dreams. And when it comes to cars, nothing says, "I have money to burn and no kids to cart around" like a luxury roadster.
With just two seats, minimal trunk space and a convertible top, a luxury roadster is the ultimate reward for all those years of toiling away at the office or taking care of the kids. But luxury roadsters aren't just for the newly or nearly retired, as they typically possess a combination of style and performance that makes them just as enticing to buyers who just want to have some fun behind the wheel, regardless of their age. Chrysler's new Crossfire roadster is a perfect example of a car that appeals to both parties, as it has the kind of upscale amenities that older buyers demand in addition to an eye-catching style that younger buyers can hardly resist.
Born out of the merger between Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz, the Crossfire combines German engineering with an American design to create a head-turning two-seater that's every bit as enticing as its European rivals. First introduced as a sleek hardtop coupe, the Crossfire also works well as a roadster, maintaining its unique shape while offering a cleanly styled convertible when the top is down. It employs all the same mechanicals underneath as well, so the performance is there, too, along with a slick interior that bears many of the same distinctive traits as the exterior. It's a compelling combination that certainly piqued our interest, so we set out on some of Southern California's best roads to see if it lived up to the hype. After plenty of seat time, there was no doubt that this car attracts attention like few other convertibles on the road, but when it came to satisfying our yearning for a roadster that stirs the soul with more than just looks, it was clear that the Crossfire isn't quite a Boxster beater just yet.
With nearly half of its underlying mechanical parts sourced from Mercedes' previous-generation SLK roadster, the Crossfire's tepid feel shouldn't have come as much of a surprise. The old SLK was known more for its clever folding hardtop than any innate ability to get the blood flowing on a twisty strip of blacktop. With heavy steering, a short wheelbase and a vague shifter, the SLK seemed to put up with curves in the road rather than goad you into seeking them out. The Crossfire doesn't feel nearly as curve-averse, as its tight suspension and sticky tires offer plenty of grip and minimal roll, but it still lacks the precision steering and tossable feel that makes Porsche's Boxster such a welcome partner when the road turns twisty.
Much the same can be said about the Crossfire's drivetrain, as it, too, lacks the distinctive character of the Boxster's flat six or the smooth delivery of the inline six in BMW's Z4 roadster. With 215 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, the Crossfire's 3.2-liter V6 compares favorably in terms of raw numbers, but its wheezy exhaust note and unrefined feel left us underwhelmed. Its 0-to-60-mph time of 6.8 seconds is respectable but hardly quick, although the automatic transmission no doubt added a few tenths to the time. Models equipped with a manual transmission would turn in quicker runs, but our past experiences with the Crossfire's vague six-speed gearbox made us glad we had the automatic.
In day-to-day driving, the strong midrange power of the big V6 gives the Crossfire a quicker feel than its middling numbers suggest, with plenty of off-the-line punch and a willingness to pull right to the redline without strain. Factor in the Crossfire's relatively small size and there's plenty of fun to be had threading it through tight city streets. There's a drawback to the car's nimble handling, however, as it tends to deliver an abrupt ride over broken pavement. The ultralow profile tires are probably the biggest contributor to the Crossfire's occasional jolts, but such is the price you pay for stylish wheels and a low slung stance.
On smoother, more wide-open highways, the Crossfire loses much of its skittishness and proves to be an excellent long-distance cruiser. The seats are supportive enough for long trips and they offer a surprising amount of room; even the largest members of our staff found enough space to get comfortable. It's a little snug inside with the top in place, but we did like how the soft top maintains the car's unique profile — something that can't be said of some competitors' tops.
Dropping the soft top requires you to turn a release latch while electric motors take care of the rest. The top is stored under a nicely sculpted hard shell cover, but don't expect much trunk space, as the folded top leaves just 3.6 cubic feet for storage space. Wind buffeting with the top down is minimal, giving you the option of leaving it open during all but the most inhospitable weather conditions. Add to that an extremely stiff body structure that suffers almost none of the flex that convertibles are notorious for, and the Crossfire is one of the better cars in its class when it comes to logging serious miles.
While the Crossfire uses liberal doses of Mercedes parts throughout with generally positive effects, there are a few aspects of the interior that were hit or miss in their execution. The classic analog gauges that are original to the Crossfire (in design at least) are just about perfect — clean, easy to read and devoid of any unnecessary information. The climate controls are straightforward as well, but those in our car seemed to have a mind of their own, blowing hot air when we wanted cool and vice versa. The metallic trim is solidly anchored and generally good-looking, but it reveals itself to be nothing more than silver-painted plastic upon closer inspection — not exactly what you would expect for $40,000. And finally, the top-notch stereo produces excellent sound quality, yet it's integrated with an utterly useless navigation system that couldn't help you find your house if you were parked in the garage.
Put aside such nitpicks, however, and the Crossfire's overall abilities as an upscale roadster give little reason to gripe. It delivered about what we expected — nothing more, nothing less. It's fast enough to keep pace with its peers, nimble enough to put a smile on your face through a canyon and comfortable enough to drive all day without requiring a subsequent visit to a chiropractor.
Then there's the style factor. Even among peers like the BMW Z4, Porsche Boxster and Audi TT, the Crossfire offers up a truly unique design that seems to get better with every glance. The fact that the roadster version faithfully maintains the coupe's elegant shape is all the more reason why it stands out. Not everyone on our staff warmed up to its lack of athleticism on the road, but for buyers looking for that ultimate guilty pleasure that will raise their pulse every time they open the garage door, the Crossfire roadster is hard to top.
With just two seats, minimal trunk space and a convertible top, a luxury roadster is the ultimate reward for all those years of toiling away at the office or taking care of the kids. But luxury roadsters aren't just for the newly or nearly retired, as they typically possess a combination of style and performance that makes them just as enticing to buyers who just want to have some fun behind the wheel, regardless of their age. Chrysler's new Crossfire roadster is a perfect example of a car that appeals to both parties, as it has the kind of upscale amenities that older buyers demand in addition to an eye-catching style that younger buyers can hardly resist.
Born out of the merger between Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz, the Crossfire combines German engineering with an American design to create a head-turning two-seater that's every bit as enticing as its European rivals. First introduced as a sleek hardtop coupe, the Crossfire also works well as a roadster, maintaining its unique shape while offering a cleanly styled convertible when the top is down. It employs all the same mechanicals underneath as well, so the performance is there, too, along with a slick interior that bears many of the same distinctive traits as the exterior. It's a compelling combination that certainly piqued our interest, so we set out on some of Southern California's best roads to see if it lived up to the hype. After plenty of seat time, there was no doubt that this car attracts attention like few other convertibles on the road, but when it came to satisfying our yearning for a roadster that stirs the soul with more than just looks, it was clear that the Crossfire isn't quite a Boxster beater just yet.
With nearly half of its underlying mechanical parts sourced from Mercedes' previous-generation SLK roadster, the Crossfire's tepid feel shouldn't have come as much of a surprise. The old SLK was known more for its clever folding hardtop than any innate ability to get the blood flowing on a twisty strip of blacktop. With heavy steering, a short wheelbase and a vague shifter, the SLK seemed to put up with curves in the road rather than goad you into seeking them out. The Crossfire doesn't feel nearly as curve-averse, as its tight suspension and sticky tires offer plenty of grip and minimal roll, but it still lacks the precision steering and tossable feel that makes Porsche's Boxster such a welcome partner when the road turns twisty.
Much the same can be said about the Crossfire's drivetrain, as it, too, lacks the distinctive character of the Boxster's flat six or the smooth delivery of the inline six in BMW's Z4 roadster. With 215 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, the Crossfire's 3.2-liter V6 compares favorably in terms of raw numbers, but its wheezy exhaust note and unrefined feel left us underwhelmed. Its 0-to-60-mph time of 6.8 seconds is respectable but hardly quick, although the automatic transmission no doubt added a few tenths to the time. Models equipped with a manual transmission would turn in quicker runs, but our past experiences with the Crossfire's vague six-speed gearbox made us glad we had the automatic.
In day-to-day driving, the strong midrange power of the big V6 gives the Crossfire a quicker feel than its middling numbers suggest, with plenty of off-the-line punch and a willingness to pull right to the redline without strain. Factor in the Crossfire's relatively small size and there's plenty of fun to be had threading it through tight city streets. There's a drawback to the car's nimble handling, however, as it tends to deliver an abrupt ride over broken pavement. The ultralow profile tires are probably the biggest contributor to the Crossfire's occasional jolts, but such is the price you pay for stylish wheels and a low slung stance.
On smoother, more wide-open highways, the Crossfire loses much of its skittishness and proves to be an excellent long-distance cruiser. The seats are supportive enough for long trips and they offer a surprising amount of room; even the largest members of our staff found enough space to get comfortable. It's a little snug inside with the top in place, but we did like how the soft top maintains the car's unique profile — something that can't be said of some competitors' tops.
Dropping the soft top requires you to turn a release latch while electric motors take care of the rest. The top is stored under a nicely sculpted hard shell cover, but don't expect much trunk space, as the folded top leaves just 3.6 cubic feet for storage space. Wind buffeting with the top down is minimal, giving you the option of leaving it open during all but the most inhospitable weather conditions. Add to that an extremely stiff body structure that suffers almost none of the flex that convertibles are notorious for, and the Crossfire is one of the better cars in its class when it comes to logging serious miles.
While the Crossfire uses liberal doses of Mercedes parts throughout with generally positive effects, there are a few aspects of the interior that were hit or miss in their execution. The classic analog gauges that are original to the Crossfire (in design at least) are just about perfect — clean, easy to read and devoid of any unnecessary information. The climate controls are straightforward as well, but those in our car seemed to have a mind of their own, blowing hot air when we wanted cool and vice versa. The metallic trim is solidly anchored and generally good-looking, but it reveals itself to be nothing more than silver-painted plastic upon closer inspection — not exactly what you would expect for $40,000. And finally, the top-notch stereo produces excellent sound quality, yet it's integrated with an utterly useless navigation system that couldn't help you find your house if you were parked in the garage.
Put aside such nitpicks, however, and the Crossfire's overall abilities as an upscale roadster give little reason to gripe. It delivered about what we expected — nothing more, nothing less. It's fast enough to keep pace with its peers, nimble enough to put a smile on your face through a canyon and comfortable enough to drive all day without requiring a subsequent visit to a chiropractor.
Then there's the style factor. Even among peers like the BMW Z4, Porsche Boxster and Audi TT, the Crossfire offers up a truly unique design that seems to get better with every glance. The fact that the roadster version faithfully maintains the coupe's elegant shape is all the more reason why it stands out. Not everyone on our staff warmed up to its lack of athleticism on the road, but for buyers looking for that ultimate guilty pleasure that will raise their pulse every time they open the garage door, the Crossfire roadster is hard to top.
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