|
Chrysler Crossfire and Pacifica
|
| The shape of things to come for Chrysler |
|
| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 22:23:05 |
| Rating |
 110 ( -16 -14.54% ) | | Author | Brian Chee |
|
|
Description:
Chrysler Pacifica and Crossfire
Making an American Statement
Writer's Notes
Crossfire & Pacifica
+ & -
Pacifica +
Cockpit
Interior
Beltline
Pacifica -
Cramped back seat
Ambiguous look
Crossfire+
Overall design
Interior styling cues
Speed wing at the back
Crossfire -
Cramped interior
Underpowered (as reported)
The feel from the inside, however, is almost cocoon-like, especially from the driver cockpit perspective. Most intriquiing is the swooping beltline. It starts at the headlights, curves upward and gracefully falls toward the back.
Comments or suggestions about this story? Send an e-mail to: editor@autobytel.com
Autobytel Inc. operates the popular automotive websites Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, Carsmart.com, and Autosite.com.
xxx
There it sat, surrounded by white china coffee cups, punch tureens and round banquet tables, tucked away deep inside a hotel ballroom near the Los Angeles International Airport.
The future of Chrysler.
An inauspicious start, to be sure. But what's on the inside is what counts - and inside that ballroom sat two new vehicles DaimlerChrysler officials hope will inject some gotta-have desire into the Chrysler line-up.
Pacifica. Crossfire. Family hauler and dreamy sports car. Day-to-day reality and route 66 dreams. Put them together and they point out the direction for DaimlerChrysler -- straight into the heart of American middle and upper-middle class families. Getting there is the tricky part, and staying there is even tougher - just ask a minivan. How they plan to do it is with a combination of Daimler engineering and Chrysler design - a powerful duo, but a risky proposition. What if Chryslers start driving too much like Mercedes, and Mercedes starts looking too much like Chrysler?
Chrysler owners would be pleased.
But few others would be - and DaimlerChrysler's efforts to build a distinctive American brand with the Chrysler nameplate would be lost. And it seems that this is the task on order for the Pacifica and the Crossfire -- define Chrysler vehicles as classic American, from the look to the way one drives down the road.
Achievement will be determined in the coming months, as the Crossfire and Pacifica get poked and prodded by automotive journalists -- then again by the motoring public. Early reviews are favorable, but the proof, as always, is when the checkbook comes out.
Pacifica
For the Pacifica, the checkbook should come out quite frequently, depending on the price. The look is fresh and subtle, the cockpit-like driver's seat is impressive and the mid-row seats are comfortable. The roofline on the back row, however, is too low for adult comfort - an inevitable compromise between maximum headroom and design.
But back to the design of the Pacifica. According to Joe Dehner, director of design, the goal of the Pacifica's design was to give it a solid appearance. "By using distinctive, protective design cues including a high beltline, a 'glass-to-body mass' proportion, and a tasteful application of chrome, we wanted to communicate a strong sense of security," said Dehner. "We wanted people to feel that they were getting into something substantial, secure and significant."
Without getting behind the wheel, it's virtually impossible to tell if Dehner accomplished his goal. The feel from the inside, however, is almost cocoon-like, especially from the driver cockpit perspective. Most intriquiing is the swooping beltline. It starts at the headlights, curves upward and gracefully falls toward the back. It's possibly the signature mark of the Pacifica, one that distinguishes it between a wagon or an SUV, and one that must be seen in person to appreciate. When it comes to defining a bold definition of America on the road, however, the Pacifica may come up a bit short. Perhaps it's too much like too many different types of vehicles. Granted, it's hard to figure a vehicle's personality when you're going 0 mph on the carpeted floor of a hotel ballroom.
Drive
3.5-liter SOHC V-6 engine from award-winning Chrysler 300M
250 horsepower, 250 lb-ft of torque
Four-speed automatic transaxle with AutoStick ®
Independent front suspension
Five-link rear suspension with load-leveling
Four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes
Power, memory adjustable pedals
Interior
Leather-trimmed seats in first and second rows with seat-mounted armrests
10-way power driver's seat
Heated first and second row seats
Second row bucket seats with fore-aft, recline, and fold-flat capabilities
Full-length, first and second row center console with storage and cup holders;
cell phone holder in first row
Six-passenger seating in three rows (2+2+2)
Second and third row individual seats fold to create flat-load floor
Third row: easy access to the 50/50 bench
Easy step-in height
Power sunroof
Power liftgate
Dual-zone automatic temperature control
Auxiliary fan for rear seat passengers
Rear cargo bin storage
In-Vehicle Technology
Integrated in-instrument cluster navigation system
DVD Rear Seat Video â„¢ entertainment system with drop-down video screen,
remote control and wireless headphones
Infinity® Intermezzo theater-style 5.1 surround sound digital audio system
UConnectâ„¢ hands-free communication system
SIRIUS satellite radio, prepped for Mopar installation
Comprehensive memory system (radio, driver seat, pedals, and exterior mirrors)
Universal garage door opener
Steering wheel-mounted controls (cruise control and radio)
Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) with programmable features
Good thing, too, because reports from initial reviews reveal the car to be slightly underpowered, a bit cramped on the interior, and not a strong competitor to vehicles such as the Nissan 350Z. We'll reserve judgement until we drive it, but until then - if the Crossfire drives as nice as it looks - watch out.
Crossfire
That checkbook might not come out too fast for the Crossfire, and that's okay. This is the pace car in the DaimlerChrysler cooperation race. As such, the Crossfire should be judged by its performance as a car - and as the first vehicle to share parts between Daimler and Chrysler.
Early reports are encouraging for the Crossfire's design. This daring, strong and inspiring design may not force other automakers to scurry about, creasing hoods - it is a low volume vehicle, after all -- but it does make a strong American statement about bold tires, sharp lines and chrome.
Good thing, too, because reports from initial reviews reveal the car to be slightly underpowered, a bit cramped on the interior, and overall not a strong competitor to vehicles such as the Nissan 350Z. We'll reserve judgement until we drive it, but until then - if the Crossfire drives as nice as it looks - watch out.
Drive
3.2-liter, 18-valve, SOHC V-6 engine
215 horsepower, 229 ft.-lb. torque
Six-speed manual transmission or optional five-speed electronically-controlled adaptive
automatic transmission with AutoStick®
Rear-wheel drive
Independent double wishbone front suspension with coil springs and gas-charged
shock absorbers
Independent five-link rear suspension with coil springs and gas-charged shock
absorbers
Speed-sensitive deployable rear spoiler at approximately 60 mph
Dual center-mounted exhaust outlets
Ultra-high performance Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires and wheels:
Front 18-inch P225/40 ZR tires, Rear 19-inch P255/35 ZR tires
Seven-spoke aluminum alloy wheels
Interior
Power eight-way heated leather driver seat
Power four-way heated leather passenger seat
Power windows with one-touch down driver and passenger controls
Telescoping steering column with leather-wrapped steering wheel
Speed control
Infinity® Modulus audio system with AM/FM/CD, and a 240 watt digital amplifier (six speakers including dual subwoofers). Sound system is based off of Infinity's Modulus home theater surround sound system
Dual-zone air conditioning
Customized Crossfire touring gear, three specially-designed luggage carriers that feature design cues from Chrysler Crossfire
Remote keyless entry with central locking (including fuel filler door)
Universal garage door opener
Safety Features
Four-wheel antilock brakes with front power 300 x 28 mm ventilated disc brakes and rear power 278 x 9 mm solid disc brakes
Electronic Stability Program which integrates single brake application and throttle intervention for yaw control, ignition and throttle intervention for wheel spin control
All-speed traction control senses drive-wheel slip and individually brakes the slipping wheel and/or reduces excess engine power until control is regained
Next-generation driver and passenger front air bags
Door-mounted thorax side air bags
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) child restraint system (with front passenger-side air bag deactivation switch)
Tire pressure monitoring system
Sentry Key® vehicle immobilizer
Security alarm system
Quad halogen projector headlamps
Tow-away protection
--Story by Brian Chee |
| Similar news: | - Brakes on at Pacifica - STEEL price rises and a strong Australian dollar drove down first-half profit at automotive parts maker Pacifica.
- Gas Price Drop Lowers CPI - Moderate news on the inflation front and a Labor Department report showing that consumer prices actually fell in July gave comfort to investors who are worried about potential price hikes.
- Cheaper gas lowers price index - Falling gasoline prices in July helped push consumer prices lower for the first time in eight months, indicating that the recent surge in inflation is subsiding.
| | Find all news similar on Chrysler Crossfire and Pacifica |
|
