And when that road comes to an end, the coupe's 4-wheel antilock disc brakes anchor the ruffian to the tarmac in short order. Stopping is a snap thanks largely to its svelte body mass and notably large wheels. Up front Chrysler has mounted 18-inch'ers with a width of 7.5-inches to the Crossfire. Things grow even more spectacular at the rear, where Chrysler saw fit to up the wheel dimension ante to a staggering 19-inches of diameter and nine full inches of width. Shod with second generation Michelin Pilot Sport-2 run-flat tires means that there is plenty of high grade rubber meeting the road - or should I say gluing to the road.
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| The Crossfire coupe's 4-wheel antilock disc brakes anchor the ruffian to the tarmac in short order. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
With its four large contact patches the Crossfire is capable of very short, easily controlled stops. There is negligible pitch when the pedal is jumped on and braking force is easily modulated. The intervention of the antilock system presents itself at the appropriate point in the braking continuum, allowing the driver to use aggressive braking techniques without encountering unnecessary intervention. My test unit was capable of repeated hard stops with little to no appreciable brake fade. Once again, the Crossfire's scant curb weight comes to the rescue.
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| In case things get really out of hand, occupant protection is high on the list of Crossfire priorities. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
A strong braking setup is the most basic of safety systems in any car. In the case of the Crossfire, this system is augmented with an electronic stability program, which integrates single wheel brake application with throttle intervention for yaw control. Ignition plus throttle intervention performs the traction control duties. If a loss of control is unavoidable, occupant protection is high on the list of Crossfire priorities. Both occupants receive front and side airbags, although the airbags on the passenger side can be deactivated when small ones are riding shotgun.
