Motor Trend: 2004 Chrysler Crossfire

The Chrysler Group has announced that production of the all-new 2004 Chrysler Crossfire is underway. Chrysler Group Chief Operating Officer Wolfgang Bernhard marked the occasion Monday by driving the first Chrysler Crossfire off the assembly line in Germany. Members of the Crossfire engineering team were also on hand to celebrate the occasion.

The Crossfire is being built in Osnabrueck, Germany, in conjunction with Karmann, a long-time DaimlerChrysler partner with more than 100 years of manufacturing experience.

"Today, we celebrate the production launch of the Chrysler Crossfire, a vehicle that combines stunning American design with proven German engineering," said Wolfgang Bernhard. "In just twenty-four months, this vehicle went from a pure concept to the vehicle we are building today, because of the dedicated efforts at DaimlerChrysler to find the best synergies for all of our products."

Chrysler Crossfire was developed after a concept version of the car was revealed at the 2001 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. A production version was unveiled one year later at the 2002 Los Angeles Auto Show. This production announcement makes the Crossfire one of the fastest concept-to-reality decisions in the auto industry.

Chrysler Group raced the Crossfire to market, preserving key aspects of the concept vehicle, while identifying Mercedes-Benz components to be used in production. For example, the sleek design, wheelbase and center exhaust system were maintained from the original Crossfire concept, and powertrain and axle components are shared from Mercedes-Benz.

"The Crossfire represents the future of the Chrysler Brand, with proven quality and technology packaged in a stunning wrapper," stated Bernhard.

Chrysler Group has the capacity to build approximately 20,000 units, of which 15 percent will be earmarked for international markets. The Company expects to produce 11,000 units this year. Chrysler Crossfire will be available mid-summer 2003.