When it debuted as a 2005 model, the Chrysler 300 revived the long-dormant tradition of the full-size, high-style American performance car. While a 2.7-liter V6 was standard, and a 3.5-liter V6 optional, the engine that grabbed the headlines was the top-tier 5.7-liter Hemi V8 developing 340 horsepower.
The 300's namesake and inspiration, the original Chrysler C-300 of 1955, was one of the defining members of the big-muscle breed, powered by the original edition of Chrysler's famous hemispherical-head V8 known as the Hemi. With 300 horsepower from dual four-barrel carburetors and a solid-lifter cam, the C-300 achieved early fame as one of the most powerful automobiles built by Detroit. It won the NASCAR championship in its first year out, and set top speed records on the beach at Daytona.
Later 300s featured bigger Hemi engines and better-handling chassis. And now Chrysler is following this tradition, too. Released in the spring of 2005, the 2006 Chrysler 300 SRT8 upped the Hemi ante with 6.1 liters of displacement, 425 horsepower, and a chassis tuned for grand touring.
Meanwhile, Chrysler announced more than a dozen refinements across the 300 model range for 2006, including new colors, new special editions, higher levels of standard equipment, and a new DVD entertainment option integrated into the center console.
The Chrysler 300 styling is distinctive, and its interior is roomy, efficient and stylish. The instrument panel and switchgear are easy to read and operate. Pieces of Mercedes-Benz are slipping into Chrysler cars nowadays, and the 300C features a Mercedes-like steering wheel, leather under an arc of wood at the top.
A Chrysler 300 with a 2.7-liter V6 retailed for the low price of $24,450 including destination. You can't put any new car in your driveway that looks more expensive for less. It's a large, modern, stylish, comfortable car for a small price. Better is the Touring model, with leather, a powerful 3.5-liter V6, and all the latest active safety features.
With the 300C, it's all about the growl, the sweet-sounding exhaust note coming from subtle pipes under the rear bumper. The 340-hp Hemi has to carry 4046 pounds, so it won't run with a Corvette, but it is plenty fast, with a 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds, according to Chrysler. At the same time, the ride is smooth, solid and comfortable and the cabin is very quiet. With a base price of $34,400, it's a deal.
Along with the new Dodge Charger, the 300 is the first big, rear-wheel-drive sedan to come out of Chrysler in many years, replacing the front-wheel-drive LH line which, in one form or another, had served Chrysler since 1993. Back then, there were engineering cases for front-wheel drive, including reduced manufacturing costs and more efficient packaging. But the way Chrysler sees it, more prosperous times call for more performance-oriented cars, and rear-wheel drive remains much better than front-wheel drive for managing horsepower.
New technology has also helped the case for rear-wheel drive. Traction control, electronic stability programs, anti-lock brakes, and electronic brake distribution all improve the driver's ability to control the car. One of the most oft-touted advantages of front-wheel drive is traction in snow, but that too has been erased over the years. To prove the 300's traction and handling in snow, Chrysler invited automotive journalists to its testing facility on a frozen lake in Michigan's Upper Peninsula in early March 2005, and the 300 received excellent reviews.
All-wheel drive is available for drivers who want more traction.