DaimlerChrysler is hatched and the Crossfire bows

Daimler-Benz AG and Chrysler Corp. unveiled plans to merge on May 7, 1998.

The blockbuster deal was completed in November 1998 and the initial vehicle spawned by DaimlerChrysler -- the Chrysler Crossfire concept -- debuted at the 2001 North American International Auto Show.

It was the first tantalizing fruit of the DaimlerChrysler marriage that promised to combine German engineering and American design.

A new halo for the Chrysler brand, the two-seat coupe or roadster was largely based on the first-generation Mercedes-Benz SLK.

The Crossfire was available only in coupe form when it debuted in 2004. A convertible variant arrived the next year.

The Crossfire's standard engine was a Mercedes-sourced 3.2-liter six-cylinder. It generated 215 hp and 229 pounds-feet of torque.

The exterior design drew kudos, but the aged platform and uninspiring driving dynamics proved major drawbacks over time.

The Crossfire's steering response, in particular, was underwhelming because it relied on the previous SLK's recirculating-ball steering.

Additionally, some critics said ride quality often seemed harsh, particularly on the high-performance SRT-6 model.

Lackluster sales -- U.S. deliveries peaked at 14,969 in 2004 -- were also blamed on an interior that didn't appear as rich and refined as the car's exterior styling suggested.

In November 2008, under new owner Cerberus, Chrysler disclosed plans to drop the Crossfire and three other models -- the Dodge Magnum wagon, the convertible Chrysler PT Cruiser and the Chrysler Pacifica -- to counter a slump in profits and industry sales.