IN THESE days of humdrum look-alikes, it's rare to find a car that genuinely stands out from the crowd. But Chrysler's Crossfire roadster is nothing if not a talking point.
Even with the soft top still in place, the distinctive parallel creases down the bonnet, muscular haunches and distinctive side vents are sufficient to turn heads and provoke conversations.
There's no getting away from the fact that, like a beauty queen bursting into a boring business meeting, this is a car that's designed to be looked at, admired and coveted from afar.
Unlike many sports cars, this is clearly a convertible that draws as many compliments from women as men, so perhaps a more appropriate simile would be that of a bronzed Italian stud gatecrashing an Ann Summers party.
Decked out in silver metallic paint, with its idiosyncratic twin exhausts, long, powerful bonnet and neatly curving boot, it's an aesthetically pleasing machine that's also refreshingly different in appearance from other smart convertibles on the road.
Nor is its sporting capacity skin-deep. With a top speed of 155mph on tap from the impressive V6 under the bonnet, delivered to the rear wheels via a slick automatic gearbox, it can leap to 62mph in 6.5 seconds and still have enormous pulling power unused when you're cruising at top speed in the outside lane.
Since April there's also been a slightly more outrageous version available in the UK in the shape of the supercharged SRT-6, with 330bhp on tap
But like most fast cars, even the ordinary Crossfire's effortless acceleration often seems unnecessary on Britain's congested highways, making it the sort of performer designed more for the autobahn than the M25 in heavy traffic.
But if you can resist the urge to find out just how untaxed that 215bhp power plant actually is, the driving experience is a rewarding one nonetheless.
Traditional convertible drawbacks have not been eliminated, but they have been minimised.
Interior storage space, for example, is better than average for a two-seater, with a deep glovebox and substantial stowage area under the central armrest, as well as net pockets on the doors and more space behind the seats.
The boot too is surprisingly deep, and although the gracious curve of the bootline restricts your freedom to stow awkwardly shaped items, there's room for all the luggage two of you should need to make your escape for the weekend.
True, you have to leave the kids and dog behind, but that's what wind-in-your-hair motoring is all about.
The suspension's stiff, as you would expect, but not totally unforgiving - though the Crossfire doesn't like recessed drain covers and demands more concentration from the driver than a spongier family saloon.
But once you've adjusted to the tautness of the handling, you can appreciate the fact that Chrysler hasn't skimped on safety features - anti-lock brakes, traction control, an electronic stability programme and emergency brake assist all help to keep the Crossfire confidently on course.
Fog lamps, rectangular chrome exhausts, large alloys and large silver door handles all hint that this is a racy machine, but the curves are so subtle that it avoids boy-racer brashness, conveying instead a more subtle and elegant package that's reflected in the sporty but upmarket interior trim.
There's a good solid leather-wrapped steering wheel, for example, leather seats that are comfortable and not so low-slung that you feel like a Formula One driver, and a smart metallic central console that feels modern without being too futuristic.
Clear instruments are silver rimmed to reflect the sporty theme, and the main controls are mounted on a single substantial stalk.
True, the 60-litre fuel tank costs a lot to refill, and 28mpg on the combined cycle is an extravagance not everyone can afford, but the price tag and running costs are the sort of penalties you might expect to pay in return for V6 performance harnessed effortlessly through a slick automatic gearbox.
Extras like special paint and satellite navigation bump the total price closer to £30,000 and there may be another sudden intake of breath at the 19A insurance grouping, but Crossfires aren't ten a penny on British roads and you pay a premium for that exclusivity.
Despite company claims that external noise has been minimised, "relatively quiet" is about as good as it gets - although the engineers have done a good job of making that engine sound pleasantly throaty when you take off in a hurry, avoiding the bland neutrality of most big-engined cars with automatic gearboxes.
Once you've sectioned off half the boot area and unclasped the handle above the central console, it takes 22 seconds for the electric fabric roof to disappear into the luggage compartment, but there's still enough room for shopping, and the car looks even classier when you're exposed to the elements.
To keep other road users entertained, the convertible, like the coupe, features a retractable spoiler which emerges at 62mph to increase rear tyre grip and stability.
As with most roadsters, visibility with the hood up is a little restricted, demanding extra care in heavy city traffic, when you're reversing in car parks or joining a motorway from the slip road.
But whatever the drawbacks, the British are fanatical about convertibles, with sales defying the weather prospects, so Chrysler should have few problems shifting enough of these head-turners to keep its American bosses happy, even if the Marylebone flyover boasts a less impressive backdrop than the Pacific Coast Highway.
FAST FACTS
Chrysler Crossfire 3.2 V6 Roadster auto
Price: £27,240
Mechanical: 215bhp, 3,199cc, 6cyl petrol engine driving rear wheels via 5spd automatic gearbox
Max speed: 155mph
0-62mph: 6.5 secs
Combined mpg: 28
Insurance group: 19
CO2 emissions: 240g/km
BiK rating: 35%
Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited mileage; 7yrs paint; 7yrs anti-rust