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| Photos by Ulysses Ang |
When
the 300C first bowed in 2005, it brought a new-found element of menacing appeal
to the executive car segment thanks to its “gangster” style. Elements such as
the high shoulder line, chopped roof, and vertical grille all made it a stand
out next to the soap-bar aesthetics of its competitors. Some point to Bentley
influences, but owners were more than happy to embrace the ultra exclusive
association. So when Chrysler had to pen the all-new 300 C, the expectations
were certainly high. Can the all-new 300C break new ground while connecting
would-be buyers to Chrysler’s illustrious past?
Despite
being all-new, the second-generation 300C holds on to the basic ingredients
that made the first model so successful. It remains in-your-face, aggressive,
and totally masculine. At first glance, it’s hard to discern the new 300C from
its predecessor, but put them side-by-side and there are things that pop out.
First, the fender flares are now more pronounced, and there’s also some nice
detailing behind the rear wheel. Next, the rear portion has been smoothened
allowing for neater integration with the rest of the car. Aside from these
detail changes, Chrysler has also peppered the 300C with more maturity and
class by its LED trimmed headlamp cluster, touches of chrome, and a classier
looking grille. Even the tail lamps, fitted with LEDs, shrine much more
beautifully at night.
While
the exterior of the 300C may seem derivative of its predecessor, the interior
benefits wonderfully from Chrysler’s interior renaissance. Cheap plastics and
clunky controls are shown the door and its place is a one piece, soft-touch
dash that stretches through the entire length of the cabin Undoubtedly though,
the centerpiece of this new dash is the 8.4-inch touch screen that integrates
the 300C’s audio, climate, Bluetooth, and vehicle settings. All of the buttons
and stalks are classy and befitting a luxury sedan perhaps bar the climate
control which still feel flimsy.
Going
back to the touch screen interface dubbed “uConnect Touch”, the interface is a
little cumbersome when it comes to managing media players such as the iPod, but
the climate and radio settings are all intuitive and blistering quick. In
addition, the driver is treated to attractive and easy-to-read gauges
highlighted by blue accent lighting. This lends the 300C a much classier, much
more cohesive look compared to the white-faced gauges on the previous
generation.
The
300C comes standard with seats that feel like they’ve been lifted straight off
the Lay-Z-Boy factory as they’re ludicrously huge and envelope the passengers
in a loving embrace. It’s finished in high-quality leather as well with cooling
fans built in for the front occupants for the final say in comfort. The rear
seats afford the kind of space that only a car of this physical size can
deliver with ample room for three, maybe even four, adults.
Equally
appreciated is the generous equipment level of the 300C. Aside from the
full-featured sound system (with Alpine speakers no less), this car has powered
front seats, a powered rear sun blind, a moon roof, automatic swiveling HID
headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, and a dual zone climate control with rear seat
vents.
Although
the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 is still available, the bigger news is the all-new
3.6-liter V6 which Chrysler dubs as “Pentastar”. This new engine effectively
replaces the old 2.7-liter and 3.5-liter V6, and as such is expected to offer
both the fuel economy of the 2.7-liter while delivering the performance of the
3.5-liter unit. Thanks to dual overhead cams and variable valve timing for both
intake and exhaust, the Pentastar V6 is rated at 292 horsepower and 350 Nm of
torque. It is then mated to an all-new 8-speed automatic transmission that
debuted at the 2012 Manila International Auto Show last April.
On
the road, the 300C is quick with brisk acceleration. The engine is happy to
rev, and it needs so since majority of its power is available at a high 6,350
rpm. Nonetheless, the engine is always kept at its power sweet spot thanks to
an all-new 8-speed automatic. Whether attempting hard acceleration passes or
cruising for fuel efficiency, the gearbox easily adopts and makes short work of
whatever you ask of it, despite lacking any paddle shifter or manual override
function. The fuel economy is excellent. A relatively traffic-free weekend
resulted in a mixed city/highway consumption of 10.52 km/l. If there’s one
criticism you can level at the gearbox is the engagement of the shifter itself.
The actuation’s all electrical but the notches between the PRND are confusing,
often resulting in the engagement of the wrong gear.
The
neatest way to describe how the 300C drives is that it’s a grand tourer. The
more you pile on the kilometers, the more it shines. It absorbs kilometer after
kilometer of concrete and asphalt with ease while giving the occupants one of
the most quiet and serene experiences in a modern car. This car is quiet at
most speeds, while the interior is free from any squeaks and rattles that could
arise from plastic-on-plastic action. Clearly, if packing some serious mileage
every single day, then the 300C is your car.
Despite
the rear-wheel drive configuration, the 300C is not a tossable driver’s car.
First, there’s little denying that this car has heft. At 5,044 mm in length and
1,908 mm in width,the 300C barely fits a standard Philippine parking space. And
though there are attempts to improve visibility such as a more ranked
windshield and thinner pillars, piloting this car needs some adjustment,
especially because of the long hood and tiny side mirrors. Second, the steering
seems to be only casually associated with the hardware out front, resulting in
a vague and lifeless feel. Trying to command the 300C through aggressive
manoeuvres is like attempting to pluck a stuffed animal from one of those
infuriating claw games. Despite being able to see what needs to happen, the
machinery often misinterprets the desired input. Thankfully, the brakes don’t
suffer from the same impotence. Despite its heft and size, the 300C’s brakes do
a great job in slowing this beast down.
Equally
appreciated by Chrysler 300C owners is the sheer amount of safety equipment
that comes standard. The basic airbags, anti-lock brakes, and traction control
are joined by front and rear proximity sensors, a rear parking camera, blind
spot monitoring, speed adaptive cruise control, and emergency brake assist.
In
the end, the second generation Chrysler 300C continues the tradition set by its
predecessor. At a price in the region of P 3-million, there’s a price bump
compared to before, but at least the all-new 300C looks as good as it feels,
offers impressive comfort, and returns pretty decent fuel economy. It’s still
not the enthusiast-centric car as one would have hoped and it won’t deliver the
fuel economy with cars equipped with four-cylinder engines. However, the 300C
ultimately carves a bold statement for Chrysler--one that reflects a new
renaissance.
The unit on display at PIMS didn't have a moonroof. The CATS lady (not a model) said that's one of the differences of the 3.6L and the 5.7L models.
ReplyDeleteWell that's certainly odd. The 3.6 unit I tested had a moon roof. Don't know if that was a one-off model since CATS doesn't want to give a list of standard equipment for their 300C.
DeleteOh well. At least the rest of your review sounds good. I've always wondered if a 3.6L engine is enough for this car, let alone the 2.7L one of the previous model. The standard moon roof would've been nice, though, if only as a conversation piece.
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