CHELSEA, Michigan – "Fun, huh?" Judging by the wan smile the young Chrysler marketing intern gave me, he was already regretting his decision to ask for a track ride-along.
I don't know why.
Given the single lap we're allotted with each vehicle, and the short length of the test track, the Chrysler 300 we're piloting has hardly broken out of double digits on the speedometer. And it's managed to stay flat and composed over the tight loops of the course – a rather leisurely ride I thought, even for a first-timer.
The 300 has evolved since it first swaggered off the production line in 2004, its blunt edges, chopped top and pugnacious attitude establishing designer Ralph Gilles' place in the automotive lexicon.
After driving the reworked 2011 300, I came away impressed by the vastly improved cabin – in fact, across the line-up, Chrysler's interiors have gone from the industry's most reviled to first-rate in one fell swoop.
I was rather ambivalent about the 300's drastic body design changes, however. But if trading its distinctive character for a more refined, almost Germanic appearance has somehow made it less edgy, more mainstream; at least it's not projecting the outdated attitude of an aging gang-banger any more.
Aside from the addition of more interior features – such as touchscreen infotainment, hands-free texting and voice-command navi, the 300C's Executive Series' premium leather and hand-sanded wood trim, and a standard 552-watt, 10-speaker Dr. Dre Audio System in the 300S – the big news in the 300 sedan line-up is the new 8-speed transmission available on all V6 AWD and RWD models. It's an industry-first for a domestic automaker.
Built by Germany's ZF Engineering, who also supplies such premium brands as Audi, Bentley and BMW, the new transmission will eventually be produced in-house at Chrysler's Kokomo, Indiana plant.
I don't know why.
 |
| The 300 has evolved since it first swaggered off the production line in 2004, its blunt edges, chopped top and pugnacious attitude establishing designer Ralph Gilles' place in the automotive lexicon. (Photo: Chrysler) |
Given the single lap we're allotted with each vehicle, and the short length of the test track, the Chrysler 300 we're piloting has hardly broken out of double digits on the speedometer. And it's managed to stay flat and composed over the tight loops of the course – a rather leisurely ride I thought, even for a first-timer.
The 300 has evolved since it first swaggered off the production line in 2004, its blunt edges, chopped top and pugnacious attitude establishing designer Ralph Gilles' place in the automotive lexicon.
After driving the reworked 2011 300, I came away impressed by the vastly improved cabin – in fact, across the line-up, Chrysler's interiors have gone from the industry's most reviled to first-rate in one fell swoop.
I was rather ambivalent about the 300's drastic body design changes, however. But if trading its distinctive character for a more refined, almost Germanic appearance has somehow made it less edgy, more mainstream; at least it's not projecting the outdated attitude of an aging gang-banger any more.
Aside from the addition of more interior features – such as touchscreen infotainment, hands-free texting and voice-command navi, the 300C's Executive Series' premium leather and hand-sanded wood trim, and a standard 552-watt, 10-speaker Dr. Dre Audio System in the 300S – the big news in the 300 sedan line-up is the new 8-speed transmission available on all V6 AWD and RWD models. It's an industry-first for a domestic automaker.
Built by Germany's ZF Engineering, who also supplies such premium brands as Audi, Bentley and BMW, the new transmission will eventually be produced in-house at Chrysler's Kokomo, Indiana plant.
 |
| Chrysler's interiors have gone from the industry's most reviled to first-rate in one fell swoop. (Photo: Chrysler) |