| Test Driver Ratings & Comments |
|---|
| Acceleration comments | While this engine has plenty of midrange torque, it's pretty dead below 3,000 rpm. Normally the fix is to simply "rev it up" when trying to get maximum acceleration times. However, the Crossfire's large 19-inch Michelin Pilot rear tires are super sticky, which makes it almost impossible to spin the tires and keep the revs up. Instead, engine speed drops as the car lurches forward and bogs, then slowly climbs back into the meat of its power band which ends around 5,000 rpm despite the 6,000 rpm redline. The six-speed shifter works extremely well. Throws might be a tad too long for serious performance fans, but the shifter moves between gears with just the right amount of resistance and the synchros make rapid gear changes easy to execute. Add more low-end torque, and this drivetrain would be near perfect. |
| Braking rating | Excellent |
| Braking comments | The brakes are both progressive and powerful. There was no discernable ABS noise or vibration under maximum braking, and the distances actually dropped with each of the three consecutive runs. At 117 feet from 60 mph the Crossfire is in near-supercar territory. There was a slight amount of pedal sink when ABS was invoked, but the pedal never came close to the floor so confidence remained high during emergency braking at the test track. On-road performance was just as impressive with easily modulated stopping power and no sign of fade after repeated heavy braking. It's hard to imagine these brakes being improved upon. |
| Handling rating | Excellent |
| Handling comments | The Crossfire feels similar to the BMW Z4 and Mini Cooper in terms of its quick steering ratio and ultra-stable handling. There was basically no body lean (yet the car doesn't beat up its passengers over bumps), and third gear provided excellent midrange torque through the slalom. The ESP (electronic stability program) system was calibrated to provide a bit of body rotation before it kicked in, and when it did intervene, the effect was subtle rather than abrupt. Outward visibility isn't the Crossfire's strongest suit, but the car is so small and the steering is so precise that placing it between the cones was easy. Steering feel could be improved, but otherwise the car felt quick and stable through the slalom (and the numbers back up our impression). — Karl Brauer |
