AllEuro

I don't believe Mercedes hatched some evil plot to subvert the company they just paid beaucoup bucks for. And I don't really think it was German ego. I think they were desperate to get some new product in the pipeline as quickly as possible to demonstrate the value of the merger to investors. But yes, they probably did want to differentiate the brands in consumer's minds. Remember the Crossfire was released in 2004 but design and production tooling started long before that. They were caught between product cycles. The R170 was getting long in the tooth but the R171 didn't exist yet in 2001-2002.

And I wouldn't equate the Crossfire design exercise with the classic GM "badge engineering" of legend. The redesign went way beyond brand specific bumpers and badging. It was more like parts bin engineering to speed up the design cycle. The Crossfire shared no sheet metal with the SLK. I'd even say Eric Stoddard and his team completely eclipsed the Mercedes stylists when they penned the Crossfire. And Chrysler added a fixed roof to the R170 chassis. That's not an inconsequential change. They also tweaked the suspension in the case of the SRT-6.

As for the telematics, I don't remember Nav, Bluetooth, iPod adapters, USB ports, or media hard drives being all that common in 2004-2005. Certainly cars like the 350Z, G35 Coupe, Vette, and Boxster didn't have all that stuff. By 2008, yes it was common fare but, not in 2004. And it's really only the last couple of years that telematics have trickled into the mainstream with Ford's Synch system and it's competitors.

I'll give you the point on the trip computer / mileage calculator and intermittent wipers. I'd like to add tilt steering wheel to the list of stuff that was readily available and expected on even mid market cars at the time. Don't know what Chrycedes was thinking there. And HID lighting, while new and expensive at the time would have been appropriate at the price point of the Crossfire and especially the SRT-6.

As for the recirculating ball steering, journalists loved to trash it as old tech. But I came to an SRT-6 from a 2008 Honda S2000 which is generally acknowledged as a scalpel when it comes to steering feel and response. But, I don't feel hugely disadvantaged in the SRT-6. Yeah, there's a bit too much assist and yeah, the S2000 had better feel. But I adapted pretty quickly in the SRT-6 and I can more or less put the car where I want it with confidence. So while the steering could be improved it isn't a deal killer for me.