The Chrysler brand from DaimlerChrysler plants two new head-turning vehicles in the 2004 lineup with a Pacifica sports tourer wagon and the Crossfire sports coupe.

Pacifica is a large vehicle riding on the platform of a full-size sedan and its body resembles either a high-hiked station wagon or a dropped-down SUV but the function combines traits of the wagon, sport-ute and minivan. The concept seems to merge favored attributes of all three vehicles.

Consider the new Crossfire a spirited rear-wheel-drive (RWD) premium sports coupe that merges slick American car styling with precision automotive engineering direct from Germany.

Another wild design from Chrysler is the popular PT Cruiser, which looks like no other vehicle - a boxy body tipped forward like a dragster with exaggerated fenders and a chin-out grille plus massive roll of sheetmetal wrapping the top-heavy rump. Cruiser continues in 2004 with more choices like a new turbo-charged engine worth 180 hp available for Touring and Limited editions, plus new optional gear such as a chrome package or another limited-issue Dream Cruiser.

Chrysler's flagship performance sedans - 300M and 300M Special - also return, as does the Concorde sedan in three trims segmented by powertrains.

Three different vehicles carry the name of Sebring in Chrysler's 2004 collection. It's a sleek two-door coupe cast in three trims, a four-door sedan divided into four-cylinder and V6 versions, or a slinky convertible in four versions drawing from a pair of V6 engines. Sedan and convertible Sebrings show fresh exterior styling features and the sedan also brings a new Limited trim.

Chrysler's minivans include the Town & Country series in standard-length wheelbase or the stretched version. With 2004 marking 20 years in production for the minivan, a limited-edition Platinum model commemorates the anniversary with chrome touches and two-tone leather lacing the cabin.

The new Chrysler crossover wagon is large - as long as the biggest sedan and equally wide, with a prominent hood and broad grille consuming the face between corner clusters of projector-style headlamps.

It has lots of doors -- a pair of portals on each flank plus a top-hinged liftgate at the rear. Inside there are three rows of seats with individual buckets for rows one and two and a split bench in back that cradles two comfortably or three in a pinch. Layout of the cabin mimics the plan of an old station wagon, but it's also similar to the cab of a modern minivan or even a three-seat sport-utility vehicle.

Chrysler is making two versions of Pacifica, one oriented with front-wheel-drive (FWD) and the other with on-demand all-wheel-drive (AWD) traction. First to market in the 2004 line is Pacifica AWD with premium equipment plus luxury gear. It has a 3.5-liter V6 tuned to 250 hp and tied to an automatic four-speed transaxle with Chrysler's AutoStick, which brings shift-it-yourself choices like a manual stick only without having to ply a clutch. Pacifica's AWD system enhances tire grip.

The center differential viscous coupling combined with an open rear differential splits the engine's torque between front and rear wheels infinitely depending on wheel slip, with anywhere from zero to 90 percent of the power directed to the wheels up front. Then factor in a load-leveling rear suspension mechanism, which adjusts to varying weight for passengers and cargo to optimize the ride quality.

Designers aimed to create a first-class experience for passengers in Pacifica's cabin. It contains premium equipment, including first and second row center consoles with seat-mounted armrests, power controls for the front buckets and a comprehensive memory for the radio and driver's seat plus outside mirrors and adjustable pedals. (CONTINUED...)

Read our Review: Chrysler Pacifica