Chrysler 300C
Its 4am at the Kramer Junction truck stop in the windblown southern Mojave Desert. Big rigs are just starting their long haul to all points of the compass San Diego, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, Oakland. You nose out from behind the 24 hour grease bar, 5.7-litre hemi V8 rumbling up front.
The coast looks clear for the break for the border. Your destination? Rosarito, Mexico. Your ride? The Chrysler 300C.
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After all, for the £33,550 Chrysler are asking for the V8 300C, theres quite an array of tempting alternatives, although to be fair, prices actually start at £26,250 if you go for a six cylinder version (allow up to £1,500 more if you want the Touring estate bodystyle). The cars history will also be lost on many. Chrysler first C300 was launched way back in 1955, fitted with a 5.4-litre hemi (named after the hemispherical combustion chambers) engine.
Billed as Americas most powerful car, the 300 cleaned up in various road racing events including Nascar and the Mexican Carrera Panamerica. Fast forward to the modern day and the 300C offers Chryslers third iteration of the hemi powerplant. Its not an inherently efficient engine design, the shape of the combustion chambers and pistons combining to fire a good deal of unburnt fuel down the exhaust. Still, Chrysler have pulled out all the stops to make a hemi engine relevant today.
A cylinder cut out system switches the engine to four cylinders when cruising under part throttle but even then the combined fuel economy figure of 28mpg seems very optimistic. To appeal to those buyers who cant meet the asking price and fuel bills of the V8 model, Chrysler also import a pair of V6 engined cars; a 3.0-litre V6 CRD diesel or a 253bhp 3.5-litre petrol.
For those who think 5.7-litres of V8 isnt enough, theres a 6.1-litre SRT-8 version also on offer and more space is provided by the Touring estate model.
"The 300C is enormously likeable, with character oozing from every pore"
Unlike, say, Volkswagen, who are a little more generous in their platform sharing strategies, Chrysler is definitely the junior sibling in the Daimler Chrysler partnership and was beginning to receive a reputation for getting the hand-me-downs. Much has changed of late, with the V6 CDI engines of the latest Grand Cherokees and the specially developed chassis of the 300C. The Chrysler still hasnt caught up with Mercedes recent resurgence in build quality however. Inconsistent panel gaps, hard touch plastics and insubstantial glove box hinges arent what customers in this bracket expect.
The basic design of the fascia is clean and rather Spartan, but the execution leaves a little to be desired. Youll forgive it, however, when you get that 340bhp V8 turning over. Its an engine that you never need to work too hard to achieve some serious numbers on the speedometer. Torque is astonishing and youll end up scratching your head wondering how Chryslers test drivers managed to accelerate the car to the quoted figure of 6.
2 seconds when it feels so much quicker. Quite what the top speed of 155mph feels like I am unable to verify. The five-speed Mercedes-sourced automatic gearbox slurs between the ratios nicely although the V6 models will have to make do with a four-speeder. Its no great hardship, however, as both engines promise a broad spread of torque.
Youll be grateful for rear parking sensors when you need to reverse it into a parking bay though. The high rear shelf limits rearward visibility and youre left with a vague approximation of the 300Cs extremities. Only a slight reduction in resonance marks the transition to running on a quartet rather than an octet of cylinders and if you punch the throttle to try to catch it out, the engine will instantly give you the full complement, surging the 1.9 tons of metal up the road.
Like most American cars, the handling isnt quite up to the standard of its key European rivals. The steering is somewhat vague and the handling soon lapses into safe and predictable understeer. This isnt surprising given the weight in the nose, but it does make the 300C feel a little stodgy, an impression backed up by the nautical levels of body roll the car displays if the driver gets a little enthusiastic at the tiller. Despite this relaxed attitude to cornering, the ride quality is surprisingly garrulous.
If you drive this car in a straight line it will feel sporty which is enough for the domestic market. Is it enough to shift the 2,000 projected sales Chrysler has earmarked for the 300C? Here I have some reservations. The 300C is enormously likeable, has character oozing from every pore and is a welcome breath of fresh air in a market dominated by soulless German efficiency but it might well be a gamble too far when talking about what amounts to serious money. An Audi A6 3.
2FSI or a BMW 530i may not make you feel like an extra from a Tarantino flick but theyll doubtless be worth a good deal more three years down the road and will cost less to run in that period. These, however, are cars with an options list as long as your arm. The V8 300C gets a whole lot of standard equipment thrown in. Stretch out in that generously proportioned cabin and crank up the excellent Boston Acoustics stereo while ticking off the standard satellite navigation, heated seats, full leather trim, adjustable pedal set and so on.
Youd need to tack a good £5,000 onto the cost of its German rivals to get anywhere near this. Suddenly the deal looks a whole lot more tempting. If you are in the market for a distinctive saloon with plenty of straightline urge and attitude to match, the 300C is a very interesting bet. The only car that approximates the big Chryslers appeal is Vauxhalls Australian-sourced Monaro coupe, but this lacks the interior space and styling élan of the 300C. Designer Ralph Gilles highlights the 300Cs appeal. "People in America want things to be good again. This car is extremely timely. Its a can-do American car."
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Chrysler 300C
PRICE: £26,250-£39,750 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 16-20
CO2 EMISSIONS: 215-296g/km
PERFORMANCE: [5.7 V8] Max Speed 155mph / 0-60mph 6.2s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [5.7 V8] (combined) 28mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS, stability control
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height, 197/74/58 inches
