Actually, it was a great way to turn a concept car with exceptional styling into an affordable, yet refined vehicle with off-the-shelf parts to demonstrate the posibilities of the merger of Damler and Chrysler (that eventually failed). It just so happened that those off the shelf parts were those of a Mercedes that was replaced with a new model. Those left over parts were thoroughly reworked (contrary to popular belief) for use in the Crossfire. Once again, as with the Viper, PT Cruiser, and the Prowler, Chrysler had the cajones to take a concept car and make it into an actual street car with little change. Good for them!!