What is it?
This is the ‘all new’ Chrysler 300C, which goes on sale in the UK on 14 June. The company says the 300C has been rethought from the ground up. The structure is new (it is longer, wider and lower than the outgoing version) and 67 per cent of the underbody and 53 per cent of the upper body is made from super-strong types of steel.
This is reflected in last year’s EuroNCAP crash test results which saw the 300C’s Lancia Thema sister car awarded five stars. It rides on a five-link rear suspension system and uses sophisticated wishbone-type suspension at the front. The suspension geometry is new, better-quality suspension bushes are used front and rear and the steering is a neat hybrid system that uses an electric pump to drive the hydraulic assistance.
The styling has not strayed far from the original 300C, with deep sides, small windows and a large grille. The wheel arches are more pronounced on the new model and the headlamps and large grille are subtler. Chrysler says the extra-stiff structure is part of the reason why this is one of the quietest cars in this class. The company also says it went to town on acoustic insulation, sound-deadening glass and wheel well liners.
The UK line-up of the new 300C is very straightforward. There’s just one engine – a 236bhp 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel – hooked up to a five-speed automatic gearbox with optional paddle shifters. The engine is made by VM Motori but has been developed by Fiat Powertrain and fitted with the company’s new Multijet 2 direct injection system.
There are two trim levels: Limited (£35,995) and Executive (£39,995). The Limited spec includes everything from full leather and sat-nav to heated and cooled seats. The Executive adds 20in alloys, blind spot monitoring, active cruise control, collision warning, leather wrapping on the dash, a double-size glass sunroof and paddle shifters.
Options are limited to pearl-effect paint and a Harmon Kardon hi-fi. There will be no estate version this time, however, and there are no plans for a four-cylinder CO2 special.
Join the debate
Add your comment
A North American car in GB
North Americans can't buy a 300C diesel
Car buyers in GB buy diesels in droves, I can see why this edition exists
The Chrysler 300 in it's home territory is a very inexpensive economical car with it's modern V6 and 8 speed automatic
There will be enough people to buy this model in GB to make the production of it worth while. People in N.Am buy Jaguars, BMWs, Mercedes and Audis at outrageous prices for all sorts of reasons.
My first new car was a Mercedes diesel but I now drive a Japanese sportscar and a good handling American sedan, both good choices for the west coast of Canada
http://flic.kr/p/d91fq1
http://flic.kr/p/7ubaPU
Surely there must still be
Surely there must still be some form of distinction between "exclusive" and "plain stupid"?
How Much??
Back in December when I read this car was going to be £40k I thought it was a misprint. How on earth can Chrysler justify that kind of money when the previous 300C was under £30k? I leased a 2009 model for a while, and the quality of the interior materials left a lot to be desired. It spent more time in the workshop having replacement parts fitted (like the feeble brake handle) than it did on the road. That car was built with a lot of parts courtesy of Mercedes, so I dread to think about the longevity and overall quality of this rebadged Lancia. For under £40k you can pick up a 12-15 month old Jaguar XJ 3.0 Diesel Portfolio with low mileage and much higher spec. In a years time the Jag will still be worth a lot more than the Chrysler. The original 300C sold because, at the time, it was different from anything else on the road, and a lot of car for the money. I think Chrysler are being very optimistic about the numbers they are going to sellof this new model , and if I had £40K, I'd definitely go with the Jaguar, or another low mileage, 1 owner premium brand. I took a look at a new 300C demo model in my local showroom, and although it looks very nice, it isn't so good when you start to examine the quality of the materials more closely. Even if you don't go for a used premium brand vehicle, there are much better new car options available for £40k.