Chrysler 300 Celebrates 60 with New Design
When the modern version of the Chrysler 300 was introduced in 2005 it was a big, stunning car with a bold design. Chrysler execs admit it lost those “epic proportions’’ when it was restyled for 2011. Now the design once again embraces the “go big or go home’’ philosophy that made the 300 a hit.
The new focus is on a bolder front fascia with a grill that is 33 percent bigger than the 2014 model. Nice looking, but it still lacks the boldness of the 2005 model.
Where Chrysler really knocks it out of the park is with the rear redesign. From a side view, the trunk gets a lift to give it more of a compact look and the rear spoiler lip adds a sporty flair. The dual exhaust tips are more horizontal and the tail lamps are more vertical. This adds a more formal feel to the design. It’s best appreciated at a stop light when you’re behind the 300.
The new 2015 Chrysler 300S is the sporty model. It features blacked-out accents, large 20-inch Hyper Black finish wheels, more athletically sculpted side sills, and a deck-lid spoiler. Under the hood, you’ll find a higher output Pentastar V-6 engine with 300 horsepower and 264 lb.-ft. of torque, plus sport mode and paddle-shifting capabilities now as quick as 250 milliseconds.
This Chrysler 300 has a starting price of $34,990, including the $995 destination charge. For another $3,000 you can add the 5.7-liter V8 with its 363 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 394 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,200 rpm. For the first time, the V8 gets an eight-speed transmission, which results in better fuel economy of 16 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, which equals a combined 19 mpg.
The new design also gets slightly improved performance from the 2014 model, which has the same engine but a five-speed automatic. Chrysler says the 300S can do 0-60 mph in 5.8 seconds from the previous 6.0 seconds.
I spent a good portion of the day in and around Austin’s hill country with the 300S. Swathed in a redline tri-coat pearl exterior paint, the car made a strong impression with 20-inch aluminum hyper black wheels that were shorn in all-season performance tires. Definitely not the right tire for Northeast winters, though.
Speaking of our nasty winters, you can’t get the Hemi engine with all-wheel-drive. For that you need to drop down to the V6, but it’s not a huge power sacrifice. Best estimate is you’ll hit 60 mph about a second slower. That’s not a significant performance penalty. Plus your fuel economy is better at 18 mpg city and 27 mpg highway for a combined 21 mpg. A short 50-mile ride in the 300C didn’t feel like a step down.
The interior is well designed but the rotary transmission shifter feels like a miscue. Chrysler promotes it as modern but it lacks the substantive feel one expects from a transmission shifter.
However, the rest of the interior design is nothing short of brilliant. Heating and cooling controls are easily adjusted on the go. Sure, you have to click through a couple screens to heat and cool your seats but that’s not a deal breaker. The rest of the uConnect system is intuitive and easy to navigate. It’s a user interface that embraces the time tested philosophy of “Keep it simple, stupid.’’ Too many manufacturers “smarten’’ up their infotainment systems beyond the simple comprehension required when driving.
Pricing for the 2015 Chrysler 300 Limited starts at $31,395 and works its way up to the fully loaded 300C starting at $42,395. Most buyers will be in the Limited segment and that’s a good place to be.
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