Could the Crossfire Come Back

Kinja'd!!! "Patrick Nichols" (pnichols)
07/08/2015 at 16:37 • Filed to: Fantasylopnik

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So on my drive in this morning I was stuck behind a Crossfire and I have to admit I really do like the back end of it. I’m also the guy that likes how the back of the Morgan Aero 8.

But anyways it got me thinking, could the Crossfire make a comeback as Chrysler nor Dodge have a sporty coupe (Challenger is a muscle car and Viper is an old supercar really)? Let’s take a look at the parts bin they could dig in to...

Chassis: Alfa Romeo Giulia

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Use this as your basic underpinnings. Shorten up the interior space and you can probably mount the engine further back for a front-mid setup. I think the Crossfire should be a smaller, cheaper Corvette with a bit more brute force than finesse.

Base Engine: 3.6L V6

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Take the 3.6 out of the 300 and either make it a twin turbo or supercharge it. I’m sure the parts exist.

Pair this with your choice of 6-speed manual or the 8-speed auto with paddle shifters.

Should be roughly 350 hp.

Price this version between $38-43k

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SRT Engine: 5.7L V8 Hemi

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Next Step up would be the V8 model and just leave it NA. This would be the volume seller.

Again offer this with the choice of either manual or auto.

Should be ~550 hp.

Price ~$50-55k.

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Hellcat Version: 6.2L V8 Hemi (because of course)

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Should be 700+ hp and priced ~$70k.

Interior Trim Levels

Only offer it in three trim levels:

Basic Cloth Interior (only offered on the V6 model).

Leather Seats and soft touch interior (only offered on the V6 and SRT)

Recaros and alcanatra interior (available on SRT and standard on hellcat)

All together they should be simple interiors with a few gadgets to keep the masses happy. I have no problem with cheap hard plastics in the most basic. A head’s up display in the performance interior would be nice. Inevitably there will have to be a touchscreen, though Android Auto and CarPlay could fix this. HVAC controls should be analog and keep everything very simple.

Body Styles

Only offer it in hardtop and targa (targa on V6 and SRT only).

Exterior Looks

Take the front end styling from the Firepower Concept car from 2005 that would be a vast improvement over the original:

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It doesn’t look too dated and they could update it to look more like an Audi grill.

Keep the active aero spoiler on the back but make it a little beefier as the previous was a bit wimpy. On the hellcat version put a wide-body kit on it to keep the larger width rear wheels contained and an aggressive front splitter.

Bonus:

Offer a limited edition race ready version that would have a stripped interior besides two buckets with full harness. Have it come pre-caged and fitted with a endurance fuel tank. Get rid of the active aero in favor of a fixed wing. No A/C, no stereo, etc. Boost the horsepower to ~800 and offer it only with a race oriented paddle shifting 8-speed. Offer this version only in some classic Mopar paint schemes.

What Do You Think?

Personally I’d buy a base model wait 10 years to pick an SRT up and mod it for auto-X/track days...


DISCUSSION (18)


Kinja'd!!! ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Patrick Nichols
07/08/2015 at 16:44

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Nevermind.


Kinja'd!!! RallyWrench > Patrick Nichols
07/08/2015 at 16:45

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I had one in the shop a couple of days ago, since they’re basically an SLK underneath. I do kind of like the way they look. An update could do well, I think.


Kinja'd!!! Patrick Nichols > RallyWrench
07/08/2015 at 16:50

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If you look at their line-up they don’t have an affordable coupe anywhere too. I was actually really surprised when I went to the Chrysler website and only found the 200, 300, and T&C. Seems like they have the parts lying around I think it could fit in well just above the upcoming fiat spyder.


Kinja'd!!! TheHondaBro > Patrick Nichols
07/08/2015 at 16:56

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#MilkyBait


Kinja'd!!! Supercharged > Patrick Nichols
07/08/2015 at 16:57

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In a different dimension I want my nickname to be Hellcat Crossfire.


Kinja'd!!! Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > Patrick Nichols
07/08/2015 at 17:05

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I like the idea, but I think your engine/power figures are a bit odd.

Base: NA Pentastar: 320HP

R/T: NA 5.7 or 6.4 Hemi: 400 or 500HP

SRT:NA 6.4 Hemi or Supercharged 6.2:500 or 707HP

A 200HP jump is pretty extreme and honestly a 5.7 at 400HP anf the NA 6.4 as the top motor would make more sense.


Kinja'd!!! JustAnotherG6 > Patrick Nichols
07/08/2015 at 17:10

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IIRC the 3.6 l Pentastar is already putting out 300 hp N/A... in minivans.


Kinja'd!!! punkgoose17 > Patrick Nichols
07/08/2015 at 17:33

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The parts are there. I don’t think the business case is there.


Kinja'd!!! LongbowMkII > Patrick Nichols
07/08/2015 at 17:33

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Chrysler parts bin specials have only been proud successes.


Kinja'd!!! Patrick Nichols > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch
07/08/2015 at 18:41

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I just ball parked the figures and didn't do a ton of research but yeah 700 hp might be enough haha


Kinja'd!!! Patrick Nichols > punkgoose17
07/08/2015 at 18:42

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A man can dream damnit


Kinja'd!!! Patrick Nichols > JustAnotherG6
07/08/2015 at 18:43

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As I mentioned to someone else I didn't do a ton of research but somewhere in the 350-400 hp range for the base would be nice


Kinja'd!!! Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > Patrick Nichols
07/08/2015 at 18:43

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Yeah, I love the idea of a forced induction Pentastar V6. I’d guesstimate like 400HP though.


Kinja'd!!! punkgoose17 > Patrick Nichols
07/08/2015 at 22:47

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I like the Crossfire and your dream. Chrysler does need more models too, but I think they need a 100 sedan the size of a Plymouth Espresso, and something boxy and stylish.


Kinja'd!!! William Rand > Patrick Nichols
08/13/2015 at 13:07

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About the Crossfire, I don’t know, but you seem to know cars, and I have a “House MD” sort of question. I have a 1991 Corvette that’s draining the battery. I live in Mexico now, and there don’t seem to be any specialists nearby. In the USA, I had a Datsun 280ZX, and I often left it sitting for three weeks when I went traveling on vacation. It always started easily when I came back, even with a year old battery. My Corvette ran fine for the first few months. Now it won’t start after two days idle, even with a new battery. When I bought it, I had a couple of things updated, but the only electrical change was to have the dash guage cluster replaced by an auto electrician with a newer 1994 panel. That didn’t seem to affect anything, functionally speaking. A couple of mechanics here looked at it, but no real help. Nothing seems to be running when I shut off the ignition. When I jump the battery, it runs normally. I could use some insight. Any ideas?


Kinja'd!!! Patrick Nichols > William Rand
08/13/2015 at 13:39

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Might want to look for any posts on Oppo from C4 owners, but my first guess would be the alternator isn’t working or some hidden electrical problems.


Kinja'd!!! William Rand > Patrick Nichols
08/25/2015 at 16:26

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The alternator was the first thing I tried. I had it rebuilt (They do that here, rather than buying new stuff), and it checks out okay. A friend of mine thinks it might be something with the ignition switch. I might just buy a horse.


Kinja'd!!! GOLFIN22 > Patrick Nichols
07/10/2017 at 10:44

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I’d love of Chrysler would do something like this, the style is definitely still there and with just a few changes I think they could make some money. But Chrysler has been very conservative about their future cars and I don’t know of they’d take the risk on making another crossfire