Another Look

Quick Spins: 2005 Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6, 2006 Chrysler 300C

As September ends and autumn’s splendor unfolds before us in turning leaves and morning chill, an auto reviewer’s fancy normally turns to the next group of cars to be rolled out, bearing the appellation of a calendar year still months away. But unlike Costco, Stop & Shop and Linens and Things, all of which have earned the undying wrath of this reviewer for their massive displays of Christmas merchandise long before the Harvest moon shed light on the autumnal equinox, we choose to look back, not ahead, and savor some of what brought us joy, a commodity all too fleeting in this year of pain and sorrow.

It’s also a great way to catch up on my backlog of cars to be reviewed, but that’s much less poetic.

In any event, our look back on the auto year begins this week with two cars we reviewed in a previous iteration within the year previous. Both have come out with new, improved models that really are new and improved. If you didn’t listen to us the first time we told you about them, we’re giving you a second chance.

Don’t blow it.

2005 Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6

The sleek, boat-tailed baby of Chrysler’s performance fleet had already made a good impression the first time around. Based on the last version of the Mercedes SLK roadster, the Crossfire offered an American take on a relatively affordable two-seater. While the Crossfire was no all-out sports car, it came close enough while maintaining an easy drivability in Summer Street rush hour traffic to make it a more than competitive alternative to its European cousins. The design pushed it over the top, all swoops and curves and that rounded rear that evoked America’s Art Deco past while hurtling Chrysler back into a future as a world class automaker.

Perhaps the weakest point was the engine. With 215 horses coming from the 3.2 liter V-6, power was fine for the most part, but the car still looked faster than it was. Now promise has become performance. Chrysler’s Street Racing and Technology team (SRT, did you notice?) has worked its magic, and this hand-built, intercooled, supercharged 3.2 liter V-6 (that’s the 6 in SRT-6) rumbles up to a massive 330 horsepower . According to Chrysler, this first Chrysler to sport the SRT badge goes from 0 to 60 in the low five seconds (Chrysler also says it does the sprint in “about five seconds”), 0 to 100 to 0 in under 16 seconds, and brakes from 60 to 0 in approximately 115 ft.

Yahoo!

All this power is managed by an upgraded five-speed automatic transmission with AutoStick. As an aged purist, I would have preferred a fully manual option, but I have no complaints about the automatic’s performance.

The new version also comes with SRT-tuned suspension, benchmark braking system and race-bred exterior and interior refinements.

“The Crossfire SRT6 has proven itself on and off the track as one of the most pleasingly balanced performance vehicles ever produced by SRT,” said Jeff Bell, Vice President – Chrysler, Chrysler Group. “From its awesome supercharged V-6 engine — the only forced-induction powerplant offered by SRT — to its race-bred chassis, benchmark braking system and performance-oriented exterior and interior refinements, the 2006 Chrysler Crossfire SRT6 offers all-around performance in a unique package for the Chrysler brand.”

My Crossfire was, alas, the coupe (I love convertibles), but that scarcely mattered as its performance lived up to that balance the Chrysler big guys speak of. Handling and the newly-tuned suspension are clearly more aggressive than in the original Crossfire. The ride also seemed sportier and stiffer, but not uncomfortably so. Chrysler said understeer is also reduced as compared with the original Crossfire, but my memory isn’t good enough to verify that.

Inside, subtle SRT-6 embroidered headrests top supportive racing-inspired seats. The interior, like that of the original Crossfire, is classic without being boring, but the most important thing for me was that 200 mph speedometer. Being a law-abiding citizen with at least half a brain left and no track access while I had the Crossfire SRT-6, I couldn’t test the high end of that speedometer. Given the driving characteristics of the German-built Crossfire SRT-6, I have no doubt it will handle quite well at the upper end of its range. That, by the way, is an electronically limited top speed of 158 mph.

The Crossfire runs on premium gas with an EPA mileage rating of 17/25 city/highway. It starts in the mid-40’s for the coupe, about $50K for the roadster, competitive with fellow Teutonic two-seaters like the Porsche Boxster S.

In addition to the SRT-6 badging, this Crossfire also features a chin spoiler and a fixed rear spoiler that actually adds to the beauty of an already attractive design. It encapsulates what the engineers and designers at Chrysler have done with the 2005 Crossfire SRT-6 coupe – taken a good thing and made it better.

2006 Chrysler 300C

Yes, it’s still got the hemi, and it still has the street cred. The Chrysler 300C is a runaway hit by any measure, and deservedly so. Introduced in Spring 2004 as a 2005 model, the 300C instantly became known for its combination of menacing styling, interior space and luxury and rear-wheel-drive performance at a fabulous price. If ever a car were underpriced, the 300C was it, and consumers knew it. For anyone who loved driving but also loved to take their family along, this spacious sedan proved that if your heart is in your dreams, no request is too extreme.

I’m tearing up thinking how many dreams came true at Chrysler dealerships. Given the way the 300C tore off the lot, some of those dreams belonged to the dealers, the salespeople and the accountants. But who cares. The 300C was a definite win-win.

As before, the 300C is good old rear-wheel-drive, although an all-wheel-drive option is available. The engine is the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine, with cylinder deactivation for fuel economy, mated to the five-speed transmission, silky smooth and with all the power any Soprano would need to cart a whole bunch of golf bags, or anything else, in the roomy trunk and drop them off on some farm far, far away - long before anyone noticed. Even Ralphie Cifaretto could get ahead in the 300C.

Immaculate interior and exterior styling, superb handling, a comfortable yet responsive ride and that great price earned the 300C our Car of the Year award last year, and we’ve had no second thoughts.

“The beautiful styling and incredible performance of the Chrysler 300 created a package unlike any other in the marketplace,” said Jeff Bell, Vice President – Chrysler. “We are honored and proud of the recognition we have received for the Chrysler 300 and we plan to continue to delight our customers for the 2006 model year.”

Some younger customers will no doubt be delighted by the new DVD entertainment system. Back seat monitors allow the youngsters to thrill themselves playing video games, watching DVDs, listening to CDs, MP3s, Sirius satellite or just plain old radio. Mom or Dad behind the wheel will be thrilled to be able to concentrate on the driving enjoyment the 2006 300C offers.

EPA mileage is 17/25 with rear wheel drive, 17/24 with all-wheel drive. The 300C prefers mid-grade unleaded, but will accept regular.

The 2006 Chrysler 300C sedan refines the formula of the 2005 model, offering great value in an elegantly styled, luxurious, high-performance large car.

posted by Andy Mais @ 3:48 PM