For 2006, the Chrysler Crossfire remains virtually unchanged, save for two new exterior colours, Oyster Gold Metallic and Machine Grey. On the SRT6, there is a body-colour windshield surround, and a redesigned badge moves from the deck lid to the fenders.
Based on the Mercedes SLK, the Crossfire first appeared in 2004. It is available as a coupe or roadster, and as the supercharged SRT6 in both body styles. The base price on the coupe has dropped $100 to $39,995.
The base engine is a 3.2-litre V6; the SRT6 is short for Street and Racing Technology (and Chrysler’s adamant about the “and”), adding a helical supercharger and water-to-air intercooler. Handling is tighter on the SRT model and a fixed rear wing replaces the speed-sensitive one on the naturally aspirated engine, but oddly, the six-speed manual transmission that’s base on the non-turbo engine isn’t available on the automatic-only forced-air version.
The coupe comes in two lines; the base model includes cloth-faced seats, CD player with four speakers, leather-wrapped wheel, tire pressure monitoring system, dual-zone climate control, power locks and windows, cruise control, variable intermittent wipers, black grille, body-coloured louvres, power mirrors, rear speed-sensitive spoiler, 18-inch painted cast aluminum wheels and body-colour windshield surround. The Coupe Limited adds stainless steel door sills, floor mats, HomeLink universal remote system, leather seats with eight-way power driver’s seat and four-way power passenger seat, Infinity Modulus stereo system, bright exhaust tips, fog lamps, gray grille, satin silver louvres and windshield surround, heated mirrors and heated windshield washer nozzles.
The regular roadster comes in a single Limited trim line, including dual-zone climate control, power windows, heated power mirrors and power locks with keyless entry, locking centre console, heated leather seats with eight-way power driver’s side and four-way power passenger, CD with six speakers, leather-wrapped wheel, tire pressure monitoring system, fog lamps, 18-inch front wheels with 19-inch rear, four-wheel-disc brakes and touring suspension. The steering wheel telescopes but does not tilt, a function that would help in the car’s tight cockpit.
On both coupe and roadster, the SRT6 package adds suede-and-leather seats, 320 km/h speedometer, chin spoiler, spoked wheels, 3.07:1 rear axle, larger brakes with ventilated rear discs, and performance suspension.
The Crossfire has never sold in large numbers; it’s beautifully styled, but it’s a tight fit inside. The first car to be built as a result of the merger of Daimler and Chrysler, its Mercedes heritage is obvious, from its sharp handling to several components. The SRT6 adds considerable horsepower, but the lack of a manual gearbox may have many enthusiasts moving over to the competition.
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