Downshifts, in particular, upset the chassis and must be done in a straight line. Like in my old 1969 Dodge Coronet, put the pedal to the metal in the 300 and the back tires rip loose from the pavement. An adaptive cruise control system, which uses radar to read the speed of the car in the lane ahead, let me set the speed and following distance for many miles of pedal-free driving. According to the book The Mulholland Experience, a detailed history by local authors Chris Banning and Dan Magee, it was soon discovered by Duesenberg-wheeling stars such as Gary Cooper. Output, though, has been raised to an even 470 for both horsepower and torque. It is one of the best audio systems I've ever heard in a car.
And the capabilities of the Garmin navigation software also give it a boost. Voice control is available, as is Bluetooth connectivity. Dre premium audio, which is new for 2012. This throwback performance comes courtesy of the 6. A platinum-chrome mesh grille helps distinguish the car from the rest of the 300 lineup.
The optional Radar Red Nappa leather is a bit on the loud side, but dark and classy enough not to be garish. A platinum-chrome mesh grille helps distinguish the car from the rest of the 300 lineup. Plus, it's missing a few gears up top, which would certainly improve highway. The five-speed automatic is also a bit of a tech disappointment, which Chrysler itself seems to acknowledge with its rollout of the new eight-speed transmission. Heated and cooled seats are standard, along with heated rears, as is the 8.
Mulholland became part of the national zeitgeist of a rebellious, cause-less era. Unfortunately, anything other than a 1st-gear pull has you hitting 80 mph at redline. Now, complicating matters, the 300S version comes with a choice of V-6 or V-8 engines. There's enough thrust here to challenge a Porsche Cayman S across an intersection with a 0—60 time of 4. The differential is a real torque-sensing multi-plate limited-slip unit but an electronic system is in place to drag the brakes, reducing excess wheelspin. There are two preset transmission modes: Auto for around-town looping and Sport, which shifts at higher rpms when more spirited driving is on the agenda. .
There's simply no arguing with 470 naturally aspirated horsepower, as our tester's rapidly balding radials will surely attest. Chrysler integrates Garmin navigation software, the interface for which will be instantly recognizable to anyone who has used a Garmin portable navigation device. An adaptive cruise control system, which uses radar to read the speed of the car in the lane ahead, let me set the speed and following distance for many miles of pedal-free driving. A tip to distinguish the five-speed from the eight: The five-speed has a more conventional gear selector that slides through a serpentine gate on the center console. It may walk softer than ever, but the stick it carries is still a Louisville Slugger—a nicely polished one in a satin-lined display case. Show full review Vehicle Overview Redesigned last year, the full-size Chrysler 300 sedan retains its iconic silhouette and is one of the few remaining American rear-wheel-drive sedans.
The Garmin software, with maps stored on a flash drive, does an excellent job with turn-by-turn directions, no surprise as Garmin has been a leader in navigation for many years. Skip to details on the: New for 2012 An eight-speed automatic is newly available for V-6 models, and the transmission helps the 300 get up to 31 mpg on the highway. It may walk softer than ever, but the stick it carries is still a Louisville Slugger—a nicely polished one in a satin-lined display case. The new cabin is as good as the last one was bad. The , way back in 1908, offered up 20 horsepower. The cars feature polished 20-inch aluminum wheels with black pockets, quicker steering with a weightier feel, a black chrome grille and darkened headlight bezels. Our Editor-in-Chief's beloved is fitted with a Yamaha 3.
Oil is routed to the cast-aluminum oilpan with crank scrapers and kept there with a windage tray before being sucked up and passed through an oil cooler. Lurking behind its blacked-out grille is a 6. But with a car like this, miles per gallon hardly seem the point. Although it works well, we were put off by the nav's standard graphics that you'd find in a store-bought unit. Vehicle Overview Redesigned last year, the full-size Chrysler 300 sedan retains its iconic silhouette and is one of the few remaining American rear-wheel-drive sedans. Wednesdays and Thursdays were good days, starting around 9 p.
Both are mated to the proven five-speed automatic transmission, allowing a choice of spirited shifting on the road and the race track. The development team has truly built a brute wearing a silk-lined suit. Everybody in the party had been warned to wear long sleeves and hiking shoes. An active intake manifold and high-lift camshaft with cam phasing provides maximum low-end torque while optimizing high-end power. Skip to details on the: New for 2012 An eight-speed automatic is newly available for V-6 models, and the transmission helps the 300 get up to 31 mpg on the highway. But with only five gears to work with and laggy shift times, typical for an automatic transmission, it often seemed just as well to let it do its own shifting. All of it just works as you expect it to, without any of the frustration of competing systems.
The new active exhaust system also allows for straight-through mid and rear mufflers for a throaty exhaust note under engine load. We'd be remiss if we didn't also mention the display screen that details a digital readout of your best performance stats: 0-60, quarter-mile elapsed time and speed, braking distances and lateral Gs. Our biggest complaint falls on the five-speed automatic, with its delayed responses and disappointing shift quality. In place of wood and other more conventional materials, there are piano black surfaces and patterned metallic-looking trim. Sessions are held throughout the year at selected tracks. We agreed on a price and made an appointment to drive 4 hours down. Click for a full list.
On top of that, genuine carbon-fiber trim pieces can be found throughout the cabin. The 300 is subtle in its aggression, like a tiger that looks cuddly. During our time with the car, we observed an average of 17. The 300S includes this transmission along with a quicker-shifting Sport mode and steering-wheel shift paddles. For the high-performance look, real carbon fiber interior trim pieces are integrated into the new instrument panel, door spears and shifter bezel and new racing style brake and gas pedal pads are standard.