Test drive Chrysler Crossfire 2003 - 2006 compartment

Crossroads

We tested Chrysler Crossfire (cross -fire). The machine, which, according to manufacturers, is 39% of the Mercedes, and the rest of Chrysler. This is such a stylish compartment with a sloping ass in the spirit of American cars of the 30-40s, from which the anti-wing is automatically or forcibly extended from time to time. A very sweet detail: you stand at a traffic light and put forward, as if playing with muscles. And after the traffic light, no one else attacks you. It so happened that we also met in Moscow a rare bird of the young racer Roman Rusinov, a recent winner of the race of 1000 km Le Mana, and asked us to ride on Crossfire, and simultaneously talk about our sports affairs. In general, this is a test, and interviews, and just interesting.
At one time you went to Mercedes Slk and Audi TT. How would you determine the place of Crossfire regarding these machines?
If you compare only monopoly machines, then I would put Chrysler between them. It surpasses the front -wheel drive TT, but even with the Mercedes motor Crossfire is still not Mercedes. To compare Chrysler with an all -wheel drive Tethahi, it makes no sense that keeps the road much more confident, and with a new engine three and two shows the best dynamics. Emotionally, of course, Crossfire clogs both TT and SLK. A new original design concept. Outwardly, the car, indeed, does not look like anything. But we get behind the wheel and understand that this is some kind of pseudo-Mercedes, repeating the same SLK in detail. Planting, buttons, pens, speakers of the audio system, the size and chubby of the steering wheel, even the glove box, all the same as on SLK, only made cheaper, and sometimes very cheap, such as the central console made of plastic, painted for metal, Or a joystick of mirror adjustment on the central tunnel. This is a detail from SLK, invented precisely under his interior. Therefore, among the Kraisler plastic, it looks foreign. On a Mercedes, a sports line of finishing would have involved either polished metal or carbon fiber. If the Chrysler was the task of reducing costs, get much cheaper, even a pseudo-mass, which could compete at a price with TT, then save, it seems to me, would not be better on plastic, but on separate climate adjustment: there is no sense Two halves of the cabin to warm up or cool in different ways, since it itself is small and a certain average temperature is quickly formed in it. Here is the motor from SLK 3.2, and the box, and the chassis. The question is, how will this machine behave, if its development and refinement was conducted, if not by hands, then under the control of the Mercedes? Of course, her behavior is not particularly different from SLK. This is pleasing, because the Mercedes Roger is still one of the best cars in its light class.
 
And what is Crossfire clearly inferior to SLK?
Although these machines are built on the same units, they are still different. SLK is a cave-bat, two bodies in one, but at the same time a tiny luggage compartment. Crossfire has a rather roomy trunk, but there is not even a hatch in the roof. In the summer the sun will come, but it will not be. So compare Crossfire will have to be exactly with the Audi TT compartment. The price range is the same. Only Chrysler’s motor is almost twice as voluminous.
 
See: chrysler volume 3.2 l, and the return is only 215 liters. With. Audi has a larger return on a liter.
The designers just wanted to get a not quite ferocious wheelbarrow, without a tear. The sound is very pleasant, bass, confident. Power is limited artificially. In any case, with modern technologies from three liters, 300 forces can be removed without damage to the motor resource. But the number is 215 l. With. Someone liked it more. Maybe this is due to tax affairs in Europe. It doesn't seem to me that Crossfire is not enough. And someone will have even more opportunities for engine tuning.
 
What confused you most in the car?
Nothing. Except for visibility back. In general, I rarely look in the mirrors 12 times per race. But on the road ... Crossfire has very wide racks, they are very wide dead areas, as in victory. It is good that no one will risk rolling up with a setup under such a car. Nevertheless, reversing on Crossfire percent at 50 percent is blindly.
 
At the expense of visibility and tackles. The GT pilots complained that in Le Mane you on your low sports prototypes rolled under the door where the side mirrors did not see you, and they had to carefully and waste time so as not to crush you. Was there a fear that GT (Porsche, they are iron) can move to you in half?
I knew that riders in bodies really did not see us. And I knew that contact with Porsche for a prototype could turn into a serious accident. But this is a sport. This is a race in which the car is very different in weight and speed. In the end, this is work.
 
Small Le Man was your first sport propotype race?
Yes. I get used to the car in a maximum in half a day. It's not a question. SportPprototype is almost the same formula, only harder, with closed wheels and other aerodynamics. And controlled as a formula. The main thing is to prevent slipping. If it goes to the skid, it is already useless to catch.
 
You don't go on the ice so often. But Chrysler is more adapted for slipping than a racing car. Your sensations from its controllability ...
You can’t name what we went on Kraisler on all -season tires, ice or snow. This is a slush. Moscow dirty slush. If we, even in this weather, turn off the ESP, then the car with a short base, plus rear -wheel drive, plus a large torque, immediately breaks down and strives to twist in a spiral. These are the problems of all cars of this class. On SLK 55AMG, I had the same problems. I did not want to take risks in the city, on the road, and I again connected ESP. The car immediately became stable in the course, perfectly controlled. I do not give up the idea that Crossfire is SLK.
 
I specifically clarified you awarded in Le Mane 10 minutes earlier than the crew of Alexei Vasiliev. Was it in my head that you are the first guy from Russia, who entered this famous podium?
In fact, it was not important for me then. It is just the result of the work that the team carried out on tests and in the race.
 
You, not chasing in Russia, consider yourself a Russian racer?
I always speak under the Russian flag. My license is French. To get a Russian license in the RAF, you need to bring so many papers ... very large red tape. Then there are enough examples when Russian pilots spent half his life on escaping, leaving the Russian ring to world races, to world routes, to professional sports. And the best years for a career went to this. And then, the lack of conditions for professional growth will hardly become a consolation and justification for himself. The same Finnish guys who get to F1 at the age of 20, already at 16 leave to drive west. I spent this season in the European F3000 championship. These are the same cars as in the World Cup (in which Viktor Maslov was chasing), but not new, but last year. Therefore, the costs are noticeably less. Most races pass all on the same tracks as the world F3000 and F1.
 
But you didn't get this championship in F3000 ...
I did not reach. There were many technical problems with the Italian team for which I spoke. Something constantly burned and broke. Even seat belts! On the race in Donnington, my straps spontaneously unfastened, and I drove the car, pressing them to my body so that the marshals would not see and disqualify for driving without belts. This was the last straw in a bowl of patience, and I decided to stop the performance in the championship. Although he could really finish the season in second place.
 
Nevertheless, you were noticed and you became the only official pilot of state sports. Prior to this, there were no official pilots in the country as, for example, official tennis players or hockey players. Official sports need the highest achievements. And apparently, it is you who will be launched in F1 ...
For this, you still need a sponsor. We will not say now how someone is going, who is how fast. Thousands of fast pilots all over the world. However, units of 20 riders make their way in F1, not counting test pillets. And these are not always the winners of some championships and episodes. It can be both the third and the fifth pilots in the series, but those who bring money with them. More than examples: in all F1 teams that took places below the fourth in 2003 (except Toyota), at least one place of prize pilot is sold, and both in minardi. We can only come to F1 if we have a serious Russian sponsor, or a world company interested in the Russian market more than, say, in French, German or Spanish. And state sports acts as a non -financial guarantor.
 
What kind of financial support can state sports be provided if everything that is required now in races is a lot of money?
He lobbies my progress. Vyacheslav Alexandrovich Fetisov helps me a lot in negotiations with teams.
 
With which?
This is a secret so far. We will speak frankly, it is impossible to get into the top command from the first season. Kimi Raikkonen did not immediately come to McLaren. Remain Jordan, Sauber, Bar and Jaguar.
 
Two thousand fourth has come for a year ...
I tested in the CAGOR team in the Supernissan formula, from which Frank Montani and Heke Kovalen two test pilots Renault F1 have come out in recent years. But the contract has not yet been signed and I do not even know which team I will speak for. But the fact that it will be the Supernissan formula is for sure. I think that it is higher than F3000 only because there are many pilots who have passed through F1. Yes, cars are not as powerful as in the three thousandth, but in aerodynamics and behavior they are very similar to F1 car. I will study on it. This is an absolutely logical step. It is possible that already this season I will spend one or two races in F1.
 
We did not misheard?
Everything is possible and depends only on the sponsor. In 2003, several new pilots performed in F1 for Minardi and Jordan. This requires only money and free space in the team. And there are such places! But you also need such a thing as a superlice, which gives the right to go to the starting lattice F1 ... To obtain a superlice, you need to have an international license A, a certain test roll and 107% of the leader time. I already have a license for third place in the English championship Formula Palmer. It remains to roll, like three years ago Raikkonen ...
Roll and look for a sponsor. We wish you good luck!
 

Source: Cars