Chrysler Ends Production of Ill-Starred Crossfire

Date posted: 12-20-2007 Edmunds Inside Line article

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Chrysler apparently hoped that its slow-selling Crossfire would die a quiet death this week. The end came, without any official word or fanfare from the company, on December 17, when production of the vehicle ended at the Karmann plant in Osnabrück, Germany.

Chrysler officials confirmed the end of production for Inside Line and noted that the Crossfire's demise will not be marked with any ceremony. The final Crossfire off the production line is apparently bound for obscurity, too. "There are no plans to put the final vehicle in a museum," said Michele Tinson, a Chrysler spokeswoman, on Thursday.

Pulling the plug on the Crossfire is "part of our initiative to have the right products at the right time," Tinson said.

On November 1, Chrysler announced that the Crossfire, Pacifica, PT Cruiser convertible and Dodge Magnum — all slow sellers — were being discontinued in response to "dealer requests.

"These actions reflect our new customer-driven philosophy and allow us to focus our resources on new, more profitable and appealing products," said Jim Press, Chrysler vice chairman and president. "Further, these product actions are all in response to dealer requests."

Tinson said she was unable to provide 2008 volume numbers for the Crossfire, saying "We don't track it. Germany does."

But statistics compiled by Automotive News show Chrysler sold only 193 Crossfires in November and still had 1,000 unsold cars left in stock on December 1.

What this means to you: Look for some year-end fire-sale pricing on those last 1,000 Crossfires.