Chrysler Crossfire set to meet its maker
After five years of stagnant sales, Chrysler may finally be killing off its latest attempt at a sports coupe. According to AutoTelegraaf, production of the Crossfire is likely to end sometime this summer, due in part by the model's slow sales, as well as the production contract with Karmann ending after a five-year term.
Based off the previous generation Mercedes SLK, the hardtop and convertible have continued to be produced since the car's introduction, however, production of the SRT-6 variant ceased over a year ago. The execution of the Crossfire leaves a small hole in Chrysler's lineup, but its doubtful, considering all the uncertainty surrounding the automaker, that Chrysler will have the resources to focus on a successor.
[Source: AutoTelegraaf.nl via Winding Road]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jim Ayres 4:03PM (4/03/2007)
It's time. A great looking car until you got to the back, where it magically transformed into the ugliest car on the road.
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66coronet 4:43PM (4/03/2007)
Maybe a chrysler version of the dodge demon concept.
Something affordable.
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carlos 4:15PM (4/03/2007)
I think its time. The crossfire's had a good run, and it was a good halo car for Chrysler even if it didn't sell well. Crossfire, I bid you farewell, and godspeed on your journey into the afterlife. *tear*
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Rick Lyon 4:27PM (4/03/2007)
So Chrysler will have to fill the gap with another bad design that is overpriced in a hurry!
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David 4:20PM (4/03/2007)
I never understood the look of this car. It's essentially styled like a (decent looking) sedan from the front bumber to the windshield, like a sports coupe from the windshield to the rear wheel arches and like god only knows what after that. Basically three different designs trying to co-exist on a wheelbase that's too short (so the SLK two-seater would be much, much shorter than the SL two-seater for Mercedes purposes), with wheels that were waaay too big for the car and some plastic bits stuck on that were supposed to look like vents. No wonder it's rarely seen and it won't be missed.
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SSBR 4:22PM (4/03/2007)
Finally... one down and now one more to go (the new Sebring). This was one of the worst sports cars ever produced. Bad handling, reliability problems and over priced msrp was the problem with this car. Out the door, this car was about $38k. And with a larger engine, your almost hitting $50k. No wonder Mr. Benz wants to cut ties with Chrysler.
http://www.rolesor.com
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Michael Karesh 4:25PM (4/03/2007)
They were still making these? Have any newer than the 2005 MY reached U.S. dealers?
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Nick Caruso 4:31PM (4/03/2007)
I have one (a 2005 Roadster) and I have to tell you it is the most underrated auto I've ever driven. I love my car and am sorry that Chrysler isn't going to make them, but, on the other hand, it just makes my car that much more unique!
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Bryan 4:31PM (4/03/2007)
I think its a cool car. Overpriced, yeah, but it sure beats a Nissan 350 Z anyday. I see this as a collectors item in the future. Bye bye Crossfire!
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George Heindel 4:40PM (4/03/2007)
WATCH THE MARKET VALUE "TANK" ON THESE LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE THESE DAYS!!! NO RESALE VALUE !!!
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Richard Warren 6:00PM (4/03/2007)
Bye bye
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Chet 4:40PM (4/03/2007)
Successor? This car has been dead for years. It was hot for about five minutes, until somebody drove one.
Dodge has Viper and (soon) Challenger. Chrysler needs a large sedan as a halo, not a poufy coupe.
Just please don't let it be that awful New Yorker concept.
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Generic Critic 5:18PM (4/03/2007)
Fun car, poor coupe/top-up rearward visibility. Press car I had while working as a journalist got more attention that the 911TT, Continental GT, Z06 etc.
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Chris 5:18PM (4/03/2007)
Top Gear said it best: 'Looks like a dog taking a poo'
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Paul Y 4:58PM (4/03/2007)
To me the Crossfire always resembled a Nash/AMC Rambler Marlin (particularly from behind), except with all the cool sucked out.
http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/2859/amc6501acu8.jpg
There's one I see around here now and then, and I actually sort of like the looks of it, but given what the car actually is, it really does sound like most folk won't miss it at all.
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spencermfi 5:03PM (4/03/2007)
I still LOVE the front end and HATE the back end.
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wally 5:03PM (4/03/2007)
#4 It was benz design!!!!!
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KT 9:39AM (4/04/2007)
Chrysler dealer once told me in reference to selling a Crossfire, "It's the only thing harder to get rid of than the clap."
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AMcA 5:43PM (4/03/2007)
The back end of that car was one of the prettiest shapes ever. Made the Audi TT, obviously its inspiration, really look like a dog taking a poo.
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GatorLCA 6:03PM (4/03/2007)
@ #4...obviously you've never owned the car because there are no reliability issues so far with my Crossfire or the many Crossfires within the community. Alas you probably have never driven the car as well so how would you know about bad handling. Do some research or back up your statements with some fact (i.e personal experience) before spamming the blog with useless comments.
Also, I find it funny that on your site you claim a CLK320 as your top picks for cars when it shares the same engine as the Crossfire but yet cause it's a Benz it probably doesn't have reliability issues, no?
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