When AMG Met SRT: The Chrysler Crossfire SRT-6 was German Performance & American Swagger

• June 23, 2021
• Story By
  Mike Garrett

With as fast the auto industry moves, the days of Daimler Chrysler feel like ancient times, but there are still traces of that corporate partnership found in FCA—and now Stellantis vehicles.

One of the most well known is the rear design suspension of the current Dodge Challenger which dates all the way back to the Mercedes Benz E Class of the 1990s. One of the most interesting products though, to come out of the Daimler Chrysler marriage was a luxury-oriented two-seater called the Chrysler Crossfire.

Mercedes SLK Roots

The Crossfire debuted for the 2004 model year, built in Germany and available in both coupe and roadster form. Beneath its stylish, fastback exterior was a platform it shared with the previous generation Mercedes Benz SLK.

Hot Rod Power

And while the standard Crossfire’s Mercedes-sourced naturally aspirated V6 engine gave the car decent performance, the hot rod version arrived for the 2005 model year with the Crossfire SRT-6.

Not surprisingly, the SRT version of the Crossfire borrowed heavily from Mercedes’ high performance AMG division. It was powered by a supercharged 3.2L V6 engine similar to the one in the Mercedes SLK 32 AMG. The only transmission was a five-speed automatic.

The blown V6 made 330hp and 310 pound feet of torque, and it could get the Crossfire SRT-6 to 60 miles per hour in about five seconds flat.

SRT Upgrades

Elsewhere, the SRT version of the Crossfire got other performance upgrades, including larger wheels, bigger brakes, and new suspension parts—almost all of which were again borrowed from AMG.

The result was a German performance car in an American suit. And while the Crossfire SRT-6 delivered strong performance and handling, its was criticized for its rough ride and lack of a manual transmission option.

Short Lived

The Crossfire SRT-6 would only be sold for two model years, and the Crossfire itself would be discontinued during the 2008 model year. By 2009 the Diamler Chrysler era was over with the German company divesting its stake.

Current Value

Always a rare sight on the streets, the price of a Crossfire SRT-6 today ranges between about $12,000 and $30,000 depending on condition and mileage, and the nicer examples have actually retained their value quite well.

While it’s hard to say what’s going to happen to the value of speciality cars from the mid to late 2000s, there’s no denying the Crossfire SRT-6’s uniqueness. And even today it still has a striking, modern look to it.

In today’s age of SRT Hellcats and Demons, a little SRT-badged, German-built luxury roadster feels quaint, and whether or not the Crossfire SRT-6 ever becomes a beloved classic, it will always stand as one of the most colorful offspring of the Diamler Chrysler era.