First Drive: 2011 Chrysler 300/C

Rehabilitated

Chrysler sends its gangsta' sedan off to finishing school By John LeBlanc SAN DIEGO, California – Between the rap star videos and all-too-frequent appearances on television custom car programs, no other recent vehicle in Chrysler’s long history has struck a cord as an icon of American cool as the last 300 and sportier 300C: the King of Bling, gangsta-themed Chrysler  rear-heel-drive sedans, modern interpretations of the Chrysler 300 "letter series" high-performance luxury cars built between 1955 and 1965. [svgallery name="2011_Chrysler_300_hirez"] The 2004 300’s influence can’t be denied. After decades of front-wheel-drive American sedans, the Chrysler’s initial success prompted General Motors to kick start its own RWD program (see the ill-fated Pontiac G8), while the Chrysler’s bold styling can arguably be attributed to the current Ford Taurus’s aggressive shape. Despite its decidedly American heritage, the original 300 has a few Canadian connections. Current president of the Dodge brand and head of design at Fiat’s Chrysler Group, Montreal-raised Ralph Gilles, penned the 2004 production version. And alongside the Dodge Charger and Challenger, the 300 continues to be built in the automaker’s Brampton, Ontario plant. It’s been eight model years since the 300 made its audacious debut. But as part of the ongoing revamping of the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep lineups, for 2011 the 300 is being thoroughly redesigned with new exterior looks, a new V6, and a totally revamped interior. Since Ralph Gilles graduated form 300 designer to head pen at Chrysler a few years ago, he’s been on a mission to jack up the quality of all of the automaker’s interiors, bringing in suppliers at a far earlier stage in vehicle development than previously. The upscale interior of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee was the first result of Gilles’ efforts. And the new 300 follows suit. The five-passenger 300 remains one of the roomiest sedans in its class. But the car’s previous weakness is now one of the car’s chief assets. Gone are the 2004-2011 300’s rough-hewn and blunt plastic forms inside. Every dash or door panel you touch, button you adjust, or instrumentation you look at has been thoughtfully designed, detailed and calibrated. And fit and finish is—if not up to Teutonic standards—as good or better than domestic and Asian rivals. As before, the V8 300 models will carry on Chrysler’s “letter car” traditional by wearing the additional “C”.  Non-letter 300s gets a new V6. There’s no word yet if a new version of the old high-performance  300 SRT8 model will be resurrected. Across the board, pricing is the same as in 2011. But Chrysler says there is more standard equipment on all models. For example,  a  large touch screen display now sits atop the 300’s centre stack, framed in chrome and topped by an analog clock that’s becoming a Chrysler interior standard. The automaker’s Uconnect Touch entertainment system (Sirius satellite radio, iPod ,and SD-card inputs) is standard, while navigation is a standalone $450 option. The 5.7-litre V8 that comes standard on the $39,995 300C and topline $41,995 300C with all-wheel-drive remains mainly the same (horsepower is up by 3 to 363, and torque is up 5 lb-ft to 394). But the highlight of the 2011 range is a new, smooth revving 3.6-litre V6. It fills in for two previous sixes, and is available in both the base $32,995 300 Touring and $34,995 300 Limited. First seen in the new Grand Cherokee, and migrating to various Chrysler and Dodge products, the 300’s new six’s combination of decent power (292) and torque (260 lb-ft) and excellent fuel economy (11.7L/100 km in the city, 7.3L on the highway, versus 13.5L and 8.0L, respectably), makes the V8 a questionable choice. (Although Chrysler says only 1 per cent of previous 300 customers opted for the Mercedes-Benz derived all-wheel-drive system, a V6/AWD may appear eventually.) If the last-generation 300, with its Bentley-esque grille, and aggressive proportions gave the impression of luxury, the car’s ride quality and overall driving refinement didn’t deliver on the exterior’s promise. So even though most of the new 2011’s redesign budget went to its interior, subtle adjustments to the sedan’s alignment, spring and shock settings have resulted in a much more refined and controlled ride. Whether you choose the Comfort or Touring suspension setups, neither can be described as loose or floaty. The other big improvement is in cabin serenity. At speed, the new 300s are much quieter than the outgoing model, which Chrysler attributes to more sound insulation throughout the car. And a new electronic steering setup gives a bit more feel than the light-to-the-touch rack in the 2011 300. As much as we like the improvements to the new 300’s cabin ambiance and vibe, you can tell Chrysler engineers wish they had a few more loonies in the budget to finish off the car properly. While the front buckets are supposedly all-new designs, they still lack proper lateral and thigh support. And in a segment where most rivals offer six speeds or more, both of the Chrysler’s engines still only come with the old five-speed Mercedes sourced five-speed automatic. An eight-speed autobox is supposed to become available for the 2012 models. From a distance, the 2011 300 looks similar to the existing model. But get closer, and you can see Gilles’ designers have tried to deliver a more refined look, while keeping the car’s long hood and short rear deck proportions intact. The detailing around the 300’s head- and taillights (trendy LEDs are everywhere) look more like what you would find on a German flagship than a rapper’s delight. And Chrysler says with 15 per cent more glass, the new 300’s all-around visibility has improved—one of the biggest beefs of the last car with its stylish high beltline and low roof. Will the new 300 end up in rap videos or on the cover of custom car magazines? Probably not. But it should appeal to more buyers who don’t want to stand out form the crowd as much. Overall, the 2011 300 delivers on the promise its luxury styling suggests. However, in lieu of the 300’s Canadian connections, you have to question how relevant a big, rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan is in a market still dominated by full-size pickup trucks and compact cars. Chrysler Canada president and CEO, Reid Bigland, though, is optimistic. Because of the 300s full-size, yet mid-size ($30,000 to $45,000) price range, he expects the 2012 models will sell across both segments, a part of the market that accounts for about 40 per cent of all new cars in Canada. First Drive: 2011 Chrysler 300/C/C AWD WHAT I LIKED: More refined styling, interior and driving manners; more fuel-efficient and powerful V6; full-size value for mid-rice money WHAT I DIDN'T: Exterior styling not as distinctive as before; autobox needs more gears; front seats need more support. Base prices: $32,9995/$39,995/$41,995 Type of vehicle: RWD/AWD, five-passenger luxury sedan Engines: 3.6-litre V6/5.7-litre V8 Power: 292/363 hp Torque: 260/394 lb-ft Fuel Economy L/100 km: City 11.7/13.5/14.4, Highway 7.3/8.0/8.8 Transmission: Five-speed automatic Competition: Acura TL, Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac CTS Hyundai Genesis, Infiniti G, Lexus ES350, Lincoln MKS, Nissan Maxima,

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