The Chrysler Centura 3.5 litre had a 3.23:1 differential ratio and the 4.0 litre a 2.92:1 ratio. These Australian sixes also came with larger brakes (60 mm front discs and 25.4 mm rear drums) and a tandem brake reservoir. The Australian 6 cylinder cars had a reputation for providing reasonable handling, good torque and outstanding acceleration. However, the cars’ firewalls were not up to the heavier duty clutches needed for the sixes; flexing considerably and sometimes cracking badly as the cars aged. The importation of the bodies from France into Australia was complicated initially in 1973 due to industrial action with dockside unions protesting against French Pacific island nuclear testing so many bodies spent months on wharfs exposed to salt air creating a corrosion problem for owners later in these cars’ lives. As the union bans lasted 2 years some cars even spent this long on the wharfs. Six cylinder cars sold four to one in the Australian market over the 4 cylinder model. The KB series was sold in XL and GL trims, the latter having more equipment including a tachometer, cloth trim seats and optional vinyl roofs, the KC series was offered in GL or GLX trims. The KC Model dropped the 2.0L and 3.5L engines and added a low compression (7.6:1) 4.0L to suit unleaded fuel and economy and the 4.0L high compression (9.0:1) was more for performance and towing. The KC was also more Australian, using VDO gauges, Valiant style steering wheel, steering column and various parts from the larger Australian Valiant lineup. The Centura’s main competitors in Australia were an Australian made versions of the 6 and 4 cylinder Ford Cortina, the 6 and 4 cylinder versions of General Motor’s LH Holden Torana and Sunbird. They were also seen to compete to a lesser extent with both the perceived more reliable and better equipped 4 cylindered Datsun (Nissan) 180B (Bluebird)and Toyota Corona and the larger bodied Australian Holden Belmonts, Premiers and Kingswoods, Chrysler Valiants (including the sporting Charger coupe) and Ford Falcons. Most competitors, although often lacking the fierce acceleration of the 6 cylindered Centura, proved less rust prone and generally had more modern styling.
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The Chrysler Aspen is a sport utility vehicle from Chrysler. Launched for the 2007 model year, the Aspen is based on the Dodge Durango SUV. The Aspen name was previously used by Dodge (on a twin of the Plymouth Volaré) from 1976 to 1980. It is the first truck-based SUV commercialized under the Chrysler brand. With this introduction, as of 2006, all American automobile brands have an SUV in their range. The car was unveiled at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. The Aspen also comes equipped with three rows of seating for 8 passengers and all-wheel drive. The Aspen comes in one series, the Limited, with several equipment packages available to customize the vehicle to one’s individual tastes. Only a few standalone options are offered, in keeping with the Aspen’s market positioning as an upscale SUV. There are three engines available, a flex-fuel 4.7 L V8 (capable of running on E85 or gasoline), a gasoline 4.7 L V8 (for California and other states where the E85 4.7 L V8 will not meet emissions requirements), and the 5.7 L Hemi V8 with MDS.
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.
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.
The Chrysler 300 “letter series” were high-performance luxury cars built in very limited numbers by the Chrysler Corporation in the United States between 1955 and 1965. Each year’s model used a new letter of the alphabet as a suffix (skipping “i”), reaching 300L by 1965, after which the model was dropped. The 300 “letter series” cars were the vehicles that really rekindled interest in performance among major American manufacturers after World War II, and thus can be considered the muscle car’s ancestors, though much more expensive and exclusive. Chrysler has recently started using these designations again for sporting near-luxury sedans, using 300M from 1999, and continuing the 300 series with a new V8-powered 300C, the top model of a relaunched Chrysler 300 line, a new rear wheel drive car launched in 2004 for the 2005 model year. This is disliked by some fans of old Chryslers who do not approve of the reuse of a 300 letter series designation. Unlike the first series, the second does not have 300 hp engines, except for today’s top-line 300C.
The Chrysler 180 was the base name for a series of large saloon cars produced by Chrysler Europe. Resulting from joining development efforts of Rootes Group and Simca, the car was produced from 1970 to 1975 in Poissy, France, and later in Chrysler’s subsidiary Barreiros’ factory in Spain. The Chrysler 180 was also the base for the medium-sized model built by Chrysler Australia model, the Chrysler Centura. Depending on engine employed, the cars were marketed as Chrysler 160/180/2 litre, and since 1977 in France and rest of continental Europe as Chrysler-Simca 1609/1610/2 litres. After the takeover of Chrysler Europe by PSA Peugeot Citroen, the continental Europe models were renamed Talbot 1610/2 litres for 1979 and 1980 model years, after which the model was discontinued in Europe save for Spain, where a diesel model was sold until 1982. The large Chrysler fared quite poorly in the European markets. The replacement for the car was developed by Chrysler Europe under the codename C9 and was finally launched by PSA as the even more ill-fated Talbot Tagora.
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