The Chrysler Crossfire is a rear-wheel drive sports car marketed by Chrysler as both coupé and roadster and was built for Chrysler by Karmann of Germany for model years 2003-2007. Developed during the union of Daimler and Chrysler, the two-seater is based on the R170 platform and shares 80% of its components with Mercedes-Benz SLK320. Having initially arrived in 2001 as a concept car styled by Eric Stoddard, the Chrysler was with further refined by Andrew Dyson before production began in 2003.
The name "Crossfire" refers to the two character lines that run from front to rear along the body sides — crossing each other midway through the door panel. Conceived during the period of Chrysler's ownership by Daimler-Benz, the name also refers to the collaboration of the two companies. The Crossfire's fastback roof and broad rear fenders made for a rear end design that prompted automotive journalists and writers to compare the new car to American Motors' 1965–1967 Marlin. The "distinctive boat-tail rear end that reminds more than one observer of the old Rambler Marlin." For example, Rob Rothwell wrote "...when I first espied the rear lines of the Chrysler Crossfire I was instantly transported back to 1965 and my favorite car of that year, the Rambler Marlin." Motor Trend also compared the "provocative boattail theme" of the 2004 Crossfire's sheetmetal to that of the AMC Marlin. The handling characteristics of the Crossfire were compared by one British journalist to "a detuned 1967 AMC Marlin with locked-solid suspension."
Chrysler executed the interior and exterior styling, all other elements of the car such as wheelbase, track, engine, transmission, chassis structure, suspension components, are shared with R170 platform. An example of this is the engine bay of the Crossfire, which is virtually identical to the Mercedes-Benz SLK320 on the R170 platform. The seats from an Mercedes-Benz SLK320 would bolt directly into the Crossfire chassis. The dashboard layout, control panels, and instruments are also similar to those on the Mercedes-Benz SLK320. The standard transmission is a 6-speed manual with an optional 5-speed automatic. Base (Standard) and Limited models, originally sold beginning in the 2004 model year, are equipped with a Mercedes-Benz 3.2 L, 18-valve, SOHC V6 engine which produces 215 hp (160 kW) and 229 pound-feet (310 N·m) of torque. The 6-speed transmission on the Chrysler Crossfire is a variant of the NSG-370. The 5-speed automatic transmission in the Crossfire (known as 5G-Tronic) is Mercedes sourced and a variant of the 722.6 family. The automatic achieves a better EPA fuel efficiency rating over the 6MT, mostly due to the difference in gear ratios. Unlike most sport cars of its time, the Crossfire does not use a rack and pinion steering system; instead, it utilizes a recirculating ball system. Front suspension is double wishbone with 5 point multi link in the rear. The first production Crossfire was driven off the assembly line on 3 February 2003, by Chrysler Group's COO Wolfgang Bernhard in Germany.