A New Lower Price and Mega Power Spice Up Chrysler's Sports Car
Chrysler has always been an innovator. It introduced 4-wheel hydraulic brakes, standard all-steel bodies, rubber engine mounts to stop vibration, electronic ignition, on-board computers, AC alternators instead of DC generators, necessary to keep the electrical current flowing even at idle, mass produced unit bodies that were designed by use of computers, and much more.
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| The Crossfire, with its Mercedes-Benz SLK roots, definitely stands out from the crowd. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
And now, due to its unique relationship with the original innovator, Mercedes-Benz, that continues to be one of Europes most respected brands, the winged badge commands a respect over its domestic peers. The Crossfire might be the ultimate expression of this symbiotic union, and it stands out in a crowd of sameness with elegant yet dynamic styling.
It's impressively constructed too, owed much to its Mercedes-Benz SLK roots. Actually, almost forty percent of the car directly descends from the German roadster, including its 3.2-L engine, 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission with AutoStick manual-mode, steering column, much of the car's interior and its chassis components.
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| The unveiling of a new 2005 base Crossfire for $39,995, makes it much more affordable than any premium quality rival. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Such information makes the specially packaged 2005 model base-priced at a mere $39,995 even more spectacular. The entry-level Crossfire nixes a few cosmetic details, such as leather seats, silver finished exterior accents, and fog lamps, but all the high-quality interior appointments, entertaining performance and art deco meets techno styling is carried over.
The example presented to the media in Laguna Beach, California earlier this week was finished in black, with what was previously a silver windshield surround and bright metal side strakes now monochromatic. It's a stylish package that received a positive response from the majority in attendance.