The Chrysler 300 – the Unique Full Size Sedan

The Chrysler 300 – the Unique Full Size Sedan

The Chrysler 300 provides New Zealand car buyers with a unique full size sedan, with unmistakeable styling, a spacious interior that is luxurious and fully equipped and a choice of engines range from the economy and low emissions of an advanced diesel, through the award winning Pentastar V6 engine to the shattering performance of the 6 .4 litre Hemi V8, a true muscle car legend.

The Chrysler 300 range also offers remarkable value for money; opening at just $57,990 excluding dealer costs and delivery for the Pentastar V6 powered 300 Limited which includes a class leading eight speed automatic gearbox, while the power of the 6.4 litre Hemi V8 is available now for $74,990 with the arrival this year of the Chrysler 300 SRT Core.

THE CHRYSLER 300 IN DETAIL

The Chrysler 300 Family

Chrysler 300 Limite

The 300 range opens with the acclaimed 3.6-litre Pentastar® petrol V6 engine delivering 210kW of power and 340Nm of torque. It’s mated to the class-leading all-new eight-speed ZF automatic transmission, which provides greater fuel efficiency with full-power performance as the driver navigates gears via an all-new electronic e-shifter.

Despite its keen entry level pricing the Chrysler 300 Limited comes loaded with advanced safety and convenience features, which together make it a powerful value proposition in the large car segment.

Incorporating all of the safety features that helped the range claim the highest rating in the influential US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the 300 Limited boasts such advanced safety features as Rain Brake Support, Ready Alert Braking, Electronic Stability Control, Hill Start Assist, All Speed Traction Control, and anti-Lock four-wheel disc Brakes.

That’s in addition, to its complement of seven airbags including next generation multistage front air bags, driver inflatable knee-bolster air Bag, supplemental Front seat side air bags, supplemental side curtain front and rear air bags.

The interior features premium cloth bucket seats, rear 60/40 folding seat, cargo net, leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, power front driver and passenger seats with fourway lumbar adjustment, and power front windows, with one-touch up and down.

In addition, adaptive forward lighting and Bi-Xenon HID Headlamps with auto levelling and daytime running lights ensure premium visibility day or night, while heated side mirrors with power fold function and supplemental turn signals add to the overall convenience.

Stylistically, the 300 Limited makes a strong style statement with its lower body side cladding, chrome headlamp bezels and chrome exterior mirrors. Dual rear exhausts hint at its power and the car sits low and purposefully on its all-independent suspension. Its striking 18x7.5 aluminium wheels come fitted with 235/55R18 Continental tyres.

A tyre pressure monitoring display ensures the driver is always aware of what is happening at road level, while advanced features such as ParkView (TM), Rear Back-up ParkSense and Park Assist System Camera help ensure pedestrians are safe and damage is avoided.

Remote proximity keyless entry, keyless go, premium security alarm, remote fuel door release, power trunk lid and speed sensitive power door locks are just some of the many luxury and convenience features that add to the pleasure of owning a Chrysler 300.

Featuring steering wheel mounted audio Controls, a 276 Watt Amplifier and six premium speakers, the 300 Limited also offers excellent sound quality and a range of different ways to play your music.

Available is the 8.4N Uconnect Touch system with voice command, the which offers Garmin satellite navigation in addition to CD, DVD, MP3 compatibility, a remote USB port, and the option of Bluetooth streaming audio or an audio jack input for mobile devices.

Chrysler 300

The 300C steps up the prestige over the already impressively equipped 300 Limited, adding luxury heated and ventilated leather-trimmed front bucket seats, heated and leather trimmed rear seats, illuminated rear cup holders, rain sensitive windshield wipers, a power backlight sunshade, memory function for the radio/driver’s seat/and mirrors, auto adjusting exterior mirrors when reversing, smart beam headlamps, heated wood and leather-wrapped steering wheel, and heated and cooled front console cup holders.

Chrysler’s brilliant Uconnect Touch 8.4-inch touch screen system is standard on the 300C, offering CD/DVD/MP3/ compatibility, along with Garmin Navigation, remote USB port, audio jack input for mobile devices. It’s matched to an upgraded audio system equipped with nine amplified speakers, subwoofer and a powerful 506 Watt amplifier.

Delving into the options list offers drivers the opportunity to add the bundled Safety Tec Group, incorporating Forward Collision Warning, power folding multi-function mirrors and Adaptive Speed Control. Also available as an option is the dual-pane panoramic sunroof, and striking 20x8.0-inch polished aluminium wheels clad with 245/45ZR20 performance tyres.

Chrysler 300C Luxur

Adding an avant-garde appearance to Chrysler’s flagship sedans, the all-new Chrysler 300C Luxury takes the American brand in a new direction with world-class ride and handling, discrete exterior styling elements, contemporary interior materials and state-of-the-art technology features.

With larger 20-inch polished-face aluminium wheels with black painted pockets, touring tuned second-generation E-segment chassis architecture, the all-new Chrysler 300C Luxury is engineered for driving enjoyment.

Hinting that this Chrysler sedan was born to excel, it features platinum chrome exterior mirrors, platinum grille and bars, platinum chrome door handles and mirrors, which together lend the Chrysler 300C Luxury a distinctly upmarket look and feel.

Standing proudly on 245/45ZR20 Goodyear performance tyres on its striking 20x8.0-inch polished aluminium wheels, the Chrysler 300C Luxury tells the world that you’ve arrived

The interior exudes an athletic-luxury theme with eight-way power driver and passenger front seats with large-bolstered and heated leather-trimmed bucket seats complemented by premium leather interior trim. The steering wheel houses two steering wheel-mounted shift controls which access the Sport Mode 2 automatic transmission function.

Use of satin chrome trim on interior centre stack and dash vents, and exclusive use of real wood natural mocha accents on centre console, dash and door panels provide a distinctive and highly detailed appearance. Completing the interior is a leather wrapped steering wheel with chrome accents.

Chrysler’s state-of-the-art Uconnect Touch 8.4N provides 300C Luxury passengers with one of the segment’s largest touchscreen displays (8.4-inch) and next-generation mobile infotainment, connectivity, navigation and multimedia features.

Uconnect Touch controls the high-performance 10-speaker Audio system with 506-watt amplifier for high-definition sound, while for those wanting even higher definition sound the option is available to select a premium 19-speaker system with subwoofer and 900-watt amplifier.

The Safety Tec Group comes standard complete with Forward Collision Warning, power folding multi-function mirrors and Adaptive Speed Control to ensure a premium level of safety and convenience. Other optional luxury inclusions include a dual-pane panoramic sunroof.

Chrysler 300 SRT Core

Chrysler has gone hard core with its muscle car 300 SRT8 model with the launch in New Zealand of the 300 SRT8 Core which, as the name suggests, puts the focus on the core values of American muscle car motoring – the intoxicating driving experience that can only come from a 347 kW 6.4 litre V8 Hemi engine and the performance value for money that made US muscle cars automotive legends.

Bald figures show the 300 SRT8 demolishes the dash to 100 kmh in under five seconds, placing it in supercar territory, as does its 280 kmh top speed, but the massive wall of torque, a tarmac shredding 637 Nm, mean that in any gear, at any speed, the SRT8 Core will annihilate other so-called performance cars, let alone ones that offer the space and comfort of the Chrysler 300. It is the sort of driving experience that can only come from a big capacity V8 engine.

But the 300 SRT8 Core takes the performance edge further. Visually, it is instantly recognizable from its unique 20 inch black lined alloy wheels, the rear and side Core badging, while inside the hip-hugging sports seats are lined with sports cloth upholstery to ensure ideal comfort in all driving conditions. SRT badging on the seats clearly indicates Chrysler’s muscle car heritage and this is complimented by the use of piano black trim and carbon fibre inserts.

At the heart of the dash board is one item of technology that those original muscle cars could have only dreamed, a huge 8.4 inch full colour touch screen that operates all the communications technology and displays specific SRT information technology. The 276 watt sound system provides a choice of music from the six speaker sound system to accompany the heart stopping sound of the Hemi V8 at full scream.

Rounding off the technology package is a unique performance suspension system and ‘launch control’ to ensure that fastest possible standing starts.

Chrysler 300 SRT

You don’t have to be a trainspotter to know the 300C SRT8 stands apart from the crowd. The raked-back windshield, forward-leaning fascia and integrated rear spoiler enhance the cars purposeful stance while aiding aerodynamics. The car’s sporting intent is further emphasised by air dams incorporated into the lowered front fascia, and big-bore twin exhausts at the rear.

Other exterior design embellishments include chrome headlamp bezels, a distinctive bright surround and gloss-black brick grille, body colour fascias and door handles, body colour folding and heated exterior mirrors, rear spoiler, and distinctive black SRT8 badging with the legendary Chrysler wing accented in black.

The SRT8’s purposeful stance is further enhanced by its stunning 20x9.0-inch polished forged-alloy SRT-design wheels, clad with meaty 245/45ZR20 performance tyres.

Powered by a potent and evocative-sounding all-new 6.4-litre Hemi V8 the new 300 SRT8 is one of the most powerful factory-fettled sports saloons on the planet.

Beneath the SRT8’s distinctive bonnet beats the heart of a giant. The new 6.4-litre Hemi is undoubtedly one of the world’s great V8 engines, punching out a track-worthy 347kW of power backed by a tidal wave of 631Nm of torque.

Compared to the previous 300C SRT8, this latest development of the venerable Hemi V8 includes comprehensive enhancements to the bore, stroke, cam, heads, compression and intake exhaust. It all adds up to more all-around amplified energy, something the 300C SRT8 driver will experience first hand the first time they step on the gas pedal.

With its lower 3.06:1 rear axle ratio, 226mm rear axle, 220 amp alternator, brake knock back mitigation, and Severe Duty II engine cooling system, the SRT8 has been purposefully fettled to deliver its peak performance reliably and repeatedly.

Braking performance is superb thanks to performance-spec four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes featuring 360x32mm ventilated front discs clamped by 44mm four-piston sliding Brembo callipers, while at the rear 350x28mm ventilated slotted discs are clamped by 32mm fourpiston sliding Brembo callipers.

All that power is to no avail if you can’t get it to the ground, and here again the rear-wheel drive SRT8 has you covered, with its high performance two-mode adaptive damping system, performance tuned steering, and a dedicated sport mode allowing the driver full manual control over the automatic transmission.

The unique racing-style SRT® steering wheel features transmission paddle shifters to make best use of the enhanced five-speed W5A580 automatic transmission’s sport mode, which allows for full manual control of the AutoStick transmission and a more aggressive shift pattern when selected.

Quicker shifts are possible on the SRT8 as a result of its ‘Sport’ shift mode which requires simple driver input. When selected, Sport’ mode enables quicker gear changes at higher revs for even more performance-oriented acceleration and higher shift dynamics.

For even more control, the driver can use the pair of die-cast steering-wheel mounted paddle controls and view gear selection through the full-colour Electronic Vehicle Information Centre (EVIC) located in the main instrument cluster.

The SRT8’s unique sports-oriented instrument cluster features a 300km/h primary speedometer and dedicated performance information in the EVIC, allowing the driver to track and monitor such stats as 0-100km/h, 400 metre acceleration times, braking response and lateral g-force performance.

A driver-selectable three-mode electronic stability control allows further scope to customise the SRT8’s dynamic setting to suit particular driving conditions or moods.

A heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather-wrapped shift knob and polished alloy pedal faces all attest to this car’s dynamic prowess.

Other unique SRT8 interior enhancements include real carbon-fibre and distinctive piano black accents, with bolstered performance seats trimmed in Black or Radar Red.

Supple yet sturdy Napa and Poltrona Frau Foligno premium-leather covers the doors, armrests, centre console, cluster brow and instrument panel, lending the interior a rich, upmarket feel.

A custom Harman Kardon® 19-speaker, high efficiency green edge performance sound system driven by a class D amplifer with tracking power, delivers the same staggering performance as the rest of the package. This system will delight the most critical audiophile and perhaps ruin them for any other car audio systems.

The lavish standard features list includes the Driver Confidence Group adding Forward Collision Warning and Adaptive Speed Control; Leather Interior Group adding premium leather trim plus luxury front and rear floor mats; and Chrysler’s Navigation and Sound Group, including 18 premium speakers with 10 inch subwoofer and 900 Watt amplifier, Uconnect Touch with 8.4 inch touch screen display, CD/DVD/ and MP3 compatibility, remote USB port, audio jack for mobile devices, and Garmin Navigation System.

Offering the sort of high-definition sound expected in high quality home installations, the system delivers tight, powerful, punchy bass with near-studio clarity in mid-to high-range response. This stunning sound system provides rich, full-range audio to maximise your ability to hear and feel music genres from classical to country, hip hop to Motown.

While the SRT8 is a undoubtedly a truly unique sports saloon and loaded with every conceivable feature the performance enthusiast could desire, we understand there will be those owners wanting an even greater level personalisation. For these owners the 300 SRT8 offers an optional dual-pane panoramic sunroof, plus the Black Chrome Group, which adds black colour fascias with black chrome accent, a black chrome and gloss-black grille with matching black chrome 20x9.0 aluminium wheels.

ENDS

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