Above all, it was to lend the ailing American automaker real German sportscar cache.
Um, I thought at the time of the "merger" Chrysler was actually doing quite well, which is why MB was so interested in the "merger". Chrysler had a pile of cash and was building some of the best designed domestic vehicles at the time, and building them much more cost effectively than their competition.
No one who wants a racy European sportscar buys a Chrysler
In all honesty, this is an accurate statement. The target demographic for $30,000+ sports/GT cars is, generally, of the opinion that Chrysler products are junk. The Crossfire was a risky move from the onset, and the poor marketing of the car certainly didn't help one little bit.
There was too much ho-hum press coverage with the initial release but the real glowing reviews (Grassroots Motorsports, Test Drive on Speed, Road & Track's SRT6 comparo with the 350Z & Boxster and their head to head test against the Audi TT, Top Gear's roadster comparo of the XF, 350Z & Audi TT) couldn't seem to overcome the bad reviews. Perhaps folks just couldn't get past the Chrysler badge, evidence the number of forum members here who have covered over same.
Whatever the reasons, I have mine, I love mine, and I'm not letting go of mine. So there.