Designed by Ralph Gilles, now President and CEO of Dodge as well as Senior V.P. of Product Design, the 300 was a stunner. Gilles’ team had to find a way to update the iconic design, making it more contemporary, without losing the impact it had nearly seven years ago. The big eggcrate grille was replaced by a smoother one with seven sculpted horizontal chrome blades topped by the updated winged Chrysler badge. Key slot headlamps feature a scalloped lower edge and project their illuminocity through LED running lamps. You’ll know in an instant the C-shaped lamps are followed by a Chrysler.
And a beautiful Chrysler it is. The basic shape of the 300 is left intact, but is enhanced for a crisper look. Accentuated front fenders, sculpted hood, and stepped shoulderlines give the car more depth. To improve aerodynamics, visibility, fuel economy, and interior noise levels, the windshield was canted back 3 inches. The rear view is more dramatic with a curved decklid, more vertically-focused taillamps, and LED lights. Thinner front pillars also improve visibility while a new dual-pane panoramic sunroof makes front and rear seat passengers smile. Chrome trim around the windowlines, on the facias, dual oval exhaust tips, and 20” polished-aluminum wheels maintain the bling for which the last-generation was renowned.
Like the similar Dodge Charger, the 300 was routinely criticized for the minimal attention paid to materials and style inside. As with the also-new Charger, critics will be pleased with the 300’s fresh new cabin. Soft touch materials, heated and cooled Nappa leather seats, and real wood veneers unabashedly dress the interior for a ball that includes high-end competitors. Sapphire blue LED ambient lighting, instrument cluster with precision analog gauges, and chrome that gives the appearance of milled aluminum provide perfect millennial luxury.
Millenials looking for luxury will want all of the latest tech and the 300 is stoked to the chrome-surrounded windows. Chrysler’s 8.4-inch Uconnect® touch screen is the segment’s largest for infotainment controls. From the screen, passengers can adjust the navigation, climate control, or play with their portable music device. Phones are connected via Bluetooth. UConnect Web will allow owners to turn their 300 into a mobile hotspot from which they can surf via laptops, iPads, or other toys. If you want to connect it, the 300 has a place to plug or sync it.
Chrysler will not officially release engine specifications until the 300’s launch at the upcoming Detroit auto show, but the options list is expected to mirror the 2011 Dodge Charger. That means a base 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 that generates 292 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. Buyers will step up to the 5.7-litre HEMI V8 and its 370 horsepower for a real thrill. Not only does the HEMI conserve fuel by shutting down four cylinders during cruising, but can rip off a 0-60 mph run in about 6 seconds. All-wheel-drive should come in 2011 with an SRT8 edition soon thereafter pumping nearly 500-HP.
One thing nobody ever complained about was the previous car’s handling. Riding on a four-wheel independent suspension derived from an earlier Mercedes E-Class, the car was near impossible to upset. It rode like an awesome ‘Benz, the suspension soaking up every bump without ever feeling soft. Nothing under $50,000 could touch it. With the refinements it is sure to get, the basic underpinnings of the 300 should continue to be its finest trait.
Production of the 2011 Chrysler 300 begins during the first quarter of 2011 in Brampton, Ontario. Until then, the Buick LaCrosse, Lincoln MKS, Acura TL, and Hyundai Genesis can have free run of the highways and byways. After that, run and hide from the refined 300. Prices are expected to start under $30,000.
By Casey Williams - MyCarData
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