2008 Chrysler 300C
The 300C is big, brash and all American. It makes a point. It is imposing and purposeful, in your face, individual, and just a great car to drive. For 2008 Chrysler have gone softly, softly and made minor styling changes, as well as adding additional equipment. The 300C sedan gains minor changes to the boot and tail lights and the addition of an SRT inspired integrated spoiler and high mounted stop light. Notwithstanding, the bad boy Chrysler retains its distinctive profile, low glass line, long bonnet and imposing grille. Inside Chrysler engineers have softened some of the hard edges with soft touch surfaces on door panels and arm rests, LED lighting in the front cup holders and front and rear door map pockets. Other changes to the interior include a new instrument panel and centre console design, highlighted with satin silver bezels. Standard on SRT8 models is Adaptive Cruise Control. The latest 300C is also a safer vehicle, with front seat-mounted air bags and rear side curtain air bags added for increased driver and passenger safety.
This on top of standard stability control, brake assist and traction control. The 300C Sedan and Touring wagon continue to be offered with choice of petrol and diesel six-cylinder and V8 engines. The CRD 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 continues to be the only diesel offered in this segment. Most engines have gained marginally more power output.The 300C Sedan and Touring are the only vehicles in its segment to offer a Multi-Displacement System as standard on a V-8 engine. Chrysler's MDS seamlessly turns off the fuel consumption in four cylinders of the 5.7-litre HEMI engine when V-8 power is not needed, increasing fuel economy by up to 11 percent depending on driving style. The 5.7-litre Hemi powered Chrysler 300C now offers a "Fuel Saver Mode" display, included as part of the Electronic Vehicle Information Centre (EVIC), that tells drivers when they are in four-cylinder mode, allowing them to modify their driving habits for improved fuel efficiency. The 300C SRT8 gains the same exterior styling changes as the sedan, but in addition has new body side mouldings, body colour front and rear bumper inserts, mirrors and door handles. Inside the SRT features a carbon fibre colour scheme, wood paneling, revised instrument panel and new centre console.
Equipment levels for the 300C SRT8 are high, with power adjustable front sport seats accented with performance suede inserts, full instrumentation, automatic temperature control system with dual-zone controls and infrared temperature sensing, and an EVIC with 128 customer-programmable features. Powered by a 6.1-litre Hemi V8 engine producing 317 kW and 569 Nm of torque, the Chrysler 300C SRT8's powertrain represents a higher level of Hemi performance, with over 65 additional kilowatts - 27 per cent more than the 5.7-litre Hemi. The 300C remains a pleasure to drive, with large comfy seats, copious interior space (especially for back seat passengers), tasteful refinements and a great selection of very usable powerplants. Pricing for the V6 sedan and wagon remains at $53,990 and $56,990, with the CRD models up $400 to $58,390 for the sedan and $61,390 for the wagon. The 5.7-litre Hemi remains at $59,990 for the sedan and $62,990 for the wagon. The V8 SRT is now $73,990 (up $2,000), but gains front seat mounted airbags, adaptive cruise control, and MyGIG multimedia infotainment system with satellite navigation. The 300C is a modern classic and remains perhaps the iconic Chrysler of the day.
Brian Tanner
