The Crossfire is Chrysler's smallest-ever model and first-ever sports car, and it pioneers the marque's return to rear-wheel drive. And, aside from the Plymouth-born Prowler, it's the first two-seat Chrysler since the ill-fated TC by Maserati.
Like the powertrain and brakes, the suspension is a Mercedes design as well, with upper and lower control arms up front and a multi-link setup at the rear. But the actual pieces used here are different, with unique spring heights, anti-roll bar diameters, bushings, spring rates, and shock valving.
The Crossfire won't be confused with anything in the current lineup. Andrew Dyson led the team that transformed Eric Stoddard's show car into a production-ready reality. The front-end styling is obviously changed, but Dyson was otherwise pretty faithful to the concept considering he also had to widen the boattail rear and take eight inches out of the wheelbase.
The wheelbase is only 94.5 inches, and both the front and rear overhangs are minimal. The wee dimensions are apparent inside as well. This is a true two-seater, without even vestigial rear seats.
A high bulkhead immediately aft of the front seats precludes tossing anything behind them, and there's only 7.6 cubic feet of cargo space under the rear hatch. You're cocooned inside, with a high beltline rising toward the rear, a sloping roof, and a pinched view out the back.
Combine the Crossfire's chassis with its ultra-rigid body (stiffer than that of the Porsche 911, the engineers brag) and you get a car that responds very well in hard driving. The Crossfire turns in sharply and corners flat.
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