Chrysler 300

The Chrysler 300 is a full-size car designed by Ralph Gilles. There have been many vehicles using the name, starting in 1955 and continuing to this day. The current 300 is a full-size sport/luxury sedan which was first shown at the 2003 New York Auto Show as a concept car and first introduced in the spring of 2004 as an early 2005 model. Its design was clearly inspired by the 1957 Chrysler 300C, the headlights and grill being the most obvious design cues taken from its ancestor. Designed by Ralph Gilles, the new 300 was built to bring a high performance, sporty sedan. The 300C is also sold in Australia, the first large Chrysler sold there since the Valiant was discontinued in 1981. The 300, Dodge Charger, and Dodge Magnum all share the Chrysler LX platform, which features components derived from the discontinued W210 Mercedes-Benz E-Class of 1996 to 2002. Such components include the suspension design, front seat frames, wiring harnesses, steering column, the 5-speed automatic’s design, and a derivative of the 4-Matic all-wheel drive system. Some European versions will get a four-wheel drive version; the UK will probably not. The basic 300 comes with standard 17-inch wheels with wheel covers, four-wheel disc brakes, traction control, and a four-speed automatic transmission. It uses a 2.7 L EER V6 making 190 hp (142 kW). In Canada, it comes standard with the Touring model’s 3.5 L V6 engine. The basic 300 model was renamed to LX for 2008.

Chrysler 300M

For the 1999 model year, DaimlerChrysler revived the 300 name on the 300M. This time it was a front-wheel drive, V6 engined car using the Chrysler LH platform. While not technically part of the famous “letter series” of the 1950s and 1960s, Chrysler did use the next letter after the last of the series, the 300L. It was 10 inches (250 mm) shorter than the Chrysler Concorde, and was priced above the Concorde. The 300M was a luxury car as opposed to the mainstream status on the Concorde, and, along with the LHS, was portrayed as one of Chrysler’s “flagship” vehicles. When Chrysler redesigned the LH-cars in 1998, the Eagle Vision was discontinued. In order to fill the “import-fighter” gap, the Eagle Vision’s position, Chrysler brought back the 300 name. Chrysler once stated that if the Eagle brand wasn’t dropped, the 300M would instead be sold as a redesigned Eagle Vision. Indeed, a couple of design images surfaced on the Internet showing a 300M with an Eagle badge on the grille. The 300M was similar in exterior and almost identical in the interior as the Concorde. The 300M also fit the European “5 metre” size class for export, unlike the substantially similar, yet larger LHS. It had the same wheelbase as the Dodge Intrepid, Eagle Vision, and pre-2003 Chrysler Concorde, reducing its length by cutting front and rear overhangs. Only one engine was available, the Chrysler-engineered 3.5 L V6 designed for the LH line and not used on any other vehicle until the arrival of the Chrysler Pacifica; it was connected to a four-speed automatic transmission with Autostick, which allowed manual selection of gears. Gear ratios differed from other LH models, for better acceleration at the cost of gas mileage. A 300M Special model included imitation-carbon-fiber interior trim panels, replacing the woodgrain trim panels, along with a slightly more powerful engine, performance dual exhaust and high-intensity discharge headlamps. 18-inch Z-rated wheels and tires were also standard on the Special. Other options included premium “Waterfall” leather seats, signal mirrors, body cladding, and slightly lower ride height.