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Prior to his Presidential campaign, Barack Obama once owned a Chrysler 300, which was then traded in for a Ford Escape Hybrid (perhaps a more demographic-friendly option). Interesting factoid aside, it appears that the revised Chrysler 300 won’t be getting a radical restyling like its Dodge Charger twin.
Grille aside, the big change for the 300 will be the adoption of the 8-speed automatic gearbox on all models, while the 300 SRT is expected to be dropped. According to Allpar, the 300 will debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show later this year.
99 Comments on “If You Like Your Chrysler 300, You Can Keep Your Chrysler 300...”
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Damn, they ignored CoreyDL’s strategy for 300 success!
Dad gummit! They don’t listen to me!
But to my other point – I think they have no idea what to do with the stying. Looking back to the original one, only the headlamps, taillamps, and grille have changed. And it’s been what – 10 years?
I don’t want to look back, because the Chysler 300 concept debuted after the Lincoln Continental concept and before the Lincoln Mark X concept.
In that time Lincoln has given you the Zephyr and the MKS, so I don’t see how you can POSSIBLY complain.
The Zephyr was only out for a year. It was renamed the MKZ in 2007, which is nowadays the sedan TTAC loves so much. Dropping the Zephyr name and going to MKZ, along with the MKX of that same year, is how Lincoln is almost entirely an MK nomenclature. Except the Navigator; three letter names are beneath it.
LOL Turboprius, I was using a hefty amount of sarcasm in that post.
I have a hard time catching sarcasm. Sorry.
#2013mkzislove2013mkzislife
That seems true, but isn’t — the entire car was pretty thoroughly revised in 2011. If you see the two revs next to each other, you can see it — completely new roofline and doors.
Sort of reminds me of the X350 Jaguar XJ, which went from steel to aluminum with what seemed like no outward changes.
@CoreyDL That seems true, but isn’t — the entire car was pretty thoroughly revised in 2011. If you see the two revs next to each other, you can see it — completely new roofline and doors.
Sort of reminds me of the X350 Jaguar XJ, which went from steel to aluminum with what seemed like no outward changes.
This. The 2011 model was basically all new with heavy revisions to the body, interior and chassis. They share little with the first gen cars aside from the obvious V8 powertrain carryover.
Compared to the X308 (1997-2003)? Nah, it looked noticeably different for 2004. Of course it kept its trademark styling cues.
The 2011 MKZ had the same roofline and doors as the previous model years. Most of the body panels went unchanged. It got new front and rear fascias and more chrome, but a brand-new interior with the current electronics architecture…which is what Ford and Lincoln were doing to most of the cars they knew wouldn’t get redesigned for some time, but that needed to stay current. The interior facelifts centered around the then-new MyFord/MyLincoln Touch system. If you go back even twenty or thirty years, Ford actually has a history of using “major facelifts” as new models. Most-recently, it happened to the Edge and MKX in MY2011 and the Taurus, MKS, Flex, MKT, Transit Connect, F-150 and Fiesta for MY2013. The Mustang got a color screen in the IP and a nice facelift for MY2013, but did not receive the newer electronics architecture, thus no MyFord Touch. During this time, a number of other Ford models got the newer technology through complete redesigns or first introductions, such as the Explorer, Focus, Fusion, Escape, C-Max, et cetera. This “extensive-facelift” operation is basically what Ford will be doing to create the 2015 Expedition and Navigator. Of course, Ford isn’t the only company doing this sort of thing in order to eke extra life out of an old model. GM did it with the Lambda crossovers (which debuted in 2007) for MY2013…only those cars didn’t even get new electronics systems. They merely got new head units that fake the more advanced “Global-A”-based head units.
Some of the facelifts have turned out very well. The Flex and Expedition/Navigator come to mind. My neighbor had her 2010 Flex Limited replaced with a 2014 Flex Limited. While there are many similarities, the newer one is so much better. Some haven’t been as great. I’m not a huge fan of the new MKT/MKS nose and the changes to the IP.
I’m patiently waiting for a 2015 Expedition or Navigator with 4WD, leather, and Nav to fall into my price range used.
I’m not terribly fond of the 2015 Navigator just now. I do, however, love what they did with the Flex.
Honestly, none of them was particularly-bad looking afterward (even the MKS), and it was a sound financial decision. But for people that think these cars are re-designs, they’re not…
I am still not sold on the Navigator’s face. What I do like is that it is a reliable platform that has been around with many of the updates that kept me from picking one up before. The interiors are much better, I like the 3.5EB over the 5.4L, and it isn’t a 4 inch Nav screen anymore.
I like the Expedition better, but the Navigator has more HP and torque. If only Navigators sold for less than Expeditions used like MKTs compared to the Flex.
Now I will say that HONESTLY, I did not know that about the 300.
Do not concur on the XJ aluminum revamp – it looked very different.
@CoreyDL I didn’t realize it until I parked my rental next to a previous-gen and noticed all the lines on the C pillar were a little different.
As for the XJ — you can certainly tell one from the other, but it looked more like a refresh than an all-new car. And at that time, Jag could really have used the press from a clean break.
While I agree that FCA should refresh the exterior and interior of the 300, I don’t think there’s a vehicle that comes close to it in terms of ride quality, solidity, quietness and overall refinement for anywhere near the price.
I’d even go so far as to state that the 300 in base form, which includes leather, an 8 speed transmission and Chrysler’s excellent 3.6 liter, is a more refined, spacious and far more reliable cruiser than the Cadillac DTS could ever hope to be, and one can get into a base 300 for around 26k+ TTL, which makes it a rarefied bargain.
That’s a powerful argument.
Sticking with the same thing can work pretty well.
How long has the Porsche 911 looked the same? How long did Chevrolet produce the Rounded Line pickups? How many years did the Panther platform look the same?
Point being, if it ain’t broke, jut tweak it. The 300 is the new Town Car- big, luxurious, and rear wheel drive. The target demographic probably doesn’t care about sporty styling.
But, they would take opera windows and a landau roof!
I think you meant to say if it ain’t broke, just twerk it.
And you can’t put the 300 on a plinthe with the 911 and Panthers – yet.
I wasn’t putting the Panther platform on a plinthe. I prefer the B-Body, though neither platform was bad.
My point was that the Town Car continued to sell. It wasn’t changed that much, and people still bought them. I’d bet that Chrysler is making the same wager.
With the costs to completely redesign, I can’t say that I really blame them…
I understand Management’s chicken shirt attitude about not messing with success, but at some point you’re going to have to do something new.
I don’t think we should be worried about Chrysler trying to hold onto the imposing, brick-like shape of the 300 too long. For one thing, the car was only redesigned for MY2011. It’s still early for a complete redesign, but it makes sense for Chrysler to do something in order to freshen up the styling (however successful). Second, the 300 is really an outlier as it stands. Although it’s currently the flagship of the Chrysler brand, none of the other cars is emulating its styling. I suspect that the next 300 will jettison the mock-Bentley styling for a sleeker theme, essentially an XL-sized 200.
That will be the big mistake. The mock-Bentley styling is what sells the car. If anything, they should go further with the styling, and push the 300 into a higher price range. Judging by the post-Fiat grille reduction alone, that’s not going to happen.
Introducing! The Chriat 500LLL!
The story of why then Senator Obama got rid of the Xler 300c and got the Escape hybrid is here:
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/the-candidates-choice/
Hint: 3 other Democratic candidates got Escape hybrids during that election season. But in O’s case…
It actually was during the campaign that O (as well as the others) made his trade. The 300c generated some unwanted attention. It will be interesting to find out if the pres goes back to driving something more fun after the end of January 21, 2017.
Yes, like many Democrats, he was permitted to “evolve” at will with the offending position or action disappearing down the memory hole.
Wait, so you are saying that Obama is somehow exempt from the rule that says that people aren’t ever allowed to buy a new vehicle? Those nutty Democrats!
Of course you know that’s not what I am saying.
SQUIRREL!
“he was permitted to ‘evolve’ at will with the offending position or action disappearing down the memory hole”
Actually, that pretty well sums up Mitt Romney’s entire presidential campaign as well. Ain’t just one party doin’ it, everyone has to appeal to their base to even make it through a primary and that leads to some retarded behavior.
Well, I can see why the Democrats and press would want his campaign to disappear down the memory hole, his being right about almost everything.
Didn’t you get the memo about not calling people retarded anymore?
Unlike many members of the Republican party who sternly hold on to positions that were mainstream during the time Leviticus was written.
Leviticus 7:16: And the Lord looketh upon the RomneyCare, and saw that it was good.”
Meanwhile in France, far right Marine Le Pen consolidates power while leftist incumbent Hollande falls in the polls…
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6a09af64-18a7-11e4-a51a-00144feabdc0.html#axzz3DVjulmzt
..and Sarkozy attempts to reinvent himself after *cough cough* being arrested and charged with corruption in July. He also took money from Gadaffi for his 2007 campaign and later was instrumental in the extremely illegal war against Libya in 2011.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/11092985/Nicolas-Sarkozy-to-announce-relaunch-of-the-Right-as-he-plots-his-comeback-to-centre-stage.html
France is not the US, but they are a first world nation with an independent electorate.
@PrincipalDan
My best laugh of the week so far!
That would be funny if it were true. You must mean some people from another religion in other countries in the news these days.
I guarantee you Rick that in 20 years every republican will be claiming they supported Gay Marriage the whole time.
As a part-time denizen of Florida I note that when current Dem candidate for guv Crist was a GOP Governor and candidate, he was constantly hounded by Dems as being a “closeted” man.
Now that he’s a Dem candidate, the Dems are silent. The GOP, to my knowledge, hasn’t noted the hypocrisy.
There are no guarantees in life.
“Yes, like many Democrats, he was permitted to “evolve” at will with the offending ”
What utter drivel. Why wouldn’t you tailor your campaign against something that was producing a negative response? It’s the name of the game, and one that’s not at all exclusive to one side or the other.
You’re right. Expecting honesty from any politician is setting yourself up for disappointment.
Look at basically the positions middle-aged and senior Democrats held even a few years ago on immigration, gay marriage, abortion, etc. Heck, Chris Dodd and Ted Kennedy were making waitress sandwiches almost up to the day Kennedy died. Yet we were constantly bombarded with stories of Mitt Romney’s high school days.
Sorry, what was the offending action? Contrary to popular belief candidates are elected on their position on issues and whether you like it or not the country is slowly grinding due to demographics towards green/leftist views on many issues. So if the president comes out as moderate on an issue then re-evaluates towards the right or left it isn’t exactly a press stopping moment.
That being said, I don’t think the public is aware of all the issues that have flipped parties but not actual sides of the electorate. At the end of the day the people want jobs, stability, and not much else. His choice of vehicles was a non-story until somebody made it a story to use a ‘symbol.’ Better to control the narrative than let somebody else do so.
“green/leftist views”
“the people want jobs, stability, and not much else”
I’m not convinced those are compatible at all. I guess we will see in a few years. The trends not looking good though.
He probably just got tired of losing to Biden’s bitchin’ Trans Am.
*Yes, I know Biden doesn’t really have an old Trans Am. It’s an old Corvette.
No, He’s got a bitchin’ Trans Am – I read it in the Onion!
Candidate Obama’s Chrysler 300C drew “unwanted attention” because, on the campaign trail, he asked why automakers keep producing big, powerful cars. Someone pointed out that they do this because people like him keep buying them. His 300C was proof of that. Oops..
His choice of car was an issue because he made it an issue.
Sort of how Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz tried to blame the failure of GM and Chrysler on Republicans while she was driving an Infiniti. One of the reasons why GM and Chrysler failed was because people like her preferred to drive vehicles from competitors such as Nissan. The only way Republicans were remotely responsible was that they refused to support tariffs or other barriers that would have prevented or discouraged Representative Wasserman Schultz and others from making that type of choice. The problem for Representative Wasserman Schultz is that the Republicans were on the same side as a solid majority of Americans on that particular issue.
Oops.
And corporate business owners who haven’t seen a piece of land to till go buy pickup trucks. Your point is?
People like to use indicators to suggest their authenticity to the people they want to court. The difference is in the case of green/environmentalism is that the left has done more than simple lip service to these groups.
So they’re calling it “lip service” these days? So hard to keep up….
Apparently Xeranar has never seen anyone use a pickup truck to haul things. I can take him to a few non-agricultural businesses and show him how the owners and employees still manage to find many uses on a daily basis for the capabilities of full-size pickups.
So…Obama did something to improve his image with his base. Republicans never do that, David. Never ever.
But, I’ll tell you what: I’d be inclined to pretty much automatically vote for ANY candidate that rolled up to an event in an immaculate ’63 Riv.
I was shocked earlier today when I saw a picture and it had been completely and utterly ruined. I knew it would be updated, but good grief it was hideous. Then I realized I was looking at a Bentley Mulsanne Speed.
It’s rear ending is too abrupt – they should fix that. Looks like it was chopped off.
The inspiration has the gravitas lacking in the current car:
http://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/1956_Chrysler_300B_Hemi_Coupe_Rear_1.jpg
I agree on this. I’ve spent good amounts of time with both the 300c and the 300. Aesthetically, I think they are unique and interesting, but that rear-end has to change. It just doesn’t work that well with the rest of the car.
The picture you at your link is probably the inspiration for current 300 SRT8 in concept as well as styling – thinking about this makes me sorry to hear the SRT8 version is going away…
It was easier to do rear ends like that when cars had massive overhangs, like the ’56 300 did.
What it needs is a Continental Kit
And retractable running boards.
It seems to be working for them but the full-size car market is a limited if not even niche market now. Completely redesigning a car that is underpinned by a well amortized platform seems pointless. The 300 has a market it knows how to sell to and it does it well. I really wouldn’t mind owning one but the front seat is a bit cramped if you’re truly a big man, it’s got acres of interior room but they insist on making a 7 foot wide console because the thought of you and your front-seat passenger touching is wholly unacceptable.
They could tweak it and make a real luxury version though, one for more astute customers who don’t even know what DUB means. Some styling changes here and there, and interior, and bingo Imperial.
I thought the John Varvatos editions were pretty nice. It’s not that that attaching a famous designer’s name (which, yet, I would otherwise not have known from a hole in the wall) to the car would make me pay more for it, but the Varvatos editions were more understated than the 300c, and had more of that luxury-boutique feel that Chrysler was trying for…contrasting, stitched leather, matte wood veneers and elegant typography among them.
Oh GOD it has Beats audio in the Varvatos Edition.
http://1-photos.ebizautos.com/10320/12589152/12589152_29.jpg
Honestly, that’s awful. Right up there with a Bill Blass MKV and a Queens Jubilee Town Car. And a Sinatra Imperial.
Well, it seemed to work well. I’d be giving funny looks if it were Mercedes-Benz or Lexus or even Cadillac. But it’s Chrysler. They don’t really have any luxury equity to erode at with this kind of tacky partnership. They live at “that level” of marketing, having tried for more than the last ten years to convince the public that they are at least a semi-premium brand (they aren’t).
As someone else mentioned, the 300 Luxury Series is even nicer, but for that price, I’m looking instead at the 2015 Hyundai Genesis, which is a much better entrant in the Luxury Car By a Humble Brand category.
This is hence the need for a separate vehicle as the Imperial, or some premium brand or something.
I would never consider a Chrysler for this reason. I can’t take business people to dinner in a car with big orange BEATS logos on the speakers.
The Varvatos is passable, ut the rest of it is just gauche and awful.
The Beats thing is stupid. Again, if it were a real luxury car, you wouldn’t need to signify a premium audio system by tying it to a brand of overpriced electronics co-founded by a rap star.
I guess I don’t blame Chrysler. There is *definitely* a market for a car like the 300, and Chrysler have taken full advantage of that. But if they want to move toward making luxury cars that will be taken seriously, this is not the way to go.
It is certainly the largest stereo branding I have ever seen in a factory sound system.
“The Beats thing is stupid.”
Amen.
Kyree and Corey: I have Beats Audio built into my phone. That was a minor reason why I got it, but it’s a letdown considering all of the music video product placement and the high price tag (for headphones and speakers). Glad HTC ditched Beats and went to Harmon Kardon for the M8.
I don’t really see why Beats is any more trashy that any other audio co-branding.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Bose_Car_Hifi.jpg
beats are bad because I listen to Shure, and there can only be one right answer.
“The Beats thing is stupid.”
Not for “Doctor” Dre.
“They could tweak it and make a real luxury version though, one for more astute customers who don’t even know what DUB means. Some styling changes here and there, and interior, and bingo Imperial.”
That seems to sum up the 300 Luxury Series Ronnie reviewed here a while back: https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/08/review-2012-chrysler-300-luxury-series/
The high zoot versions of the 300 (and SRT8) fit in well with what the Chrysler brand was 50 or 60 years ago; unfortunately they don’t fit in as well with Chrysler’s current mission (and reality) as a non premium volume brand. Unfortunately I suspect this means we are unlikely to see a new Imperial, and I wonder how long the high spec versions of the 300 will continue to be optioned.
With the post bailout quality improvements, a properly optioned 300 is a legitimate premium car, unfortunately Chrysler is no longer a legitimate premium brand – and hasn’t been for at least 40 years.
“a properly optioned 300 is a legitimate premium car, unfortunately Chrysler is no longer a legitimate premium brand”
Yes, I see it that way too. And that really is a shame because the 300 is a really fine large sedan in the same category as the Impala and Taurus.
IMO, the ride, balance and handling characteristics of the 300 are substantially and noticeably better than those of the Impala or Taurus.
But that could be because of my preference for RWD and AWD.
“I wonder how long the high spec versions of the 300 will continue to be optioned.”
It is easy to offer high spec options on any car. The question is how long they will offer RWD. That is the expensive feature in every trim level.
It’s not as bad as the space-robbing console in the Ford D3/D4 vehicles.
In the sedans it is TERRIBLE!!!
As far as I’m concerned, there are only two of the D3/D4 vehicles that presents as much interior space as their heft would suggest, and they are the Flex, and (to a slighly-lesser extent) the MKT. The rest of them suck space-wise.
The MKT loses a bit of space thanks to it not being a box. They both benefit from having an almost ten foot wheelbase. I find it strange that the Fusion and new Edge now have a wheelbase that is less than an inch shorter than the Taurus and Explorer. They are all basically the same sized cars between the wheels.
@bball40dtw It’s not so strange when you realize that the Fusion is built on a global platform. What is strange, though, is that the Taurus feels like it has essentially no more interior space than the new Fusion because of that darned console!
That’s true. The Mondeo has had the 112.2 inch wheelbase since 2007. It’s still funny that the midsized and large cars have essentially the same wheelbase, but the midsized car seems like it has more room.
@bball40dtw The Taurus *doesn’t* have more interior space than the Fusion.
Comparing Ford’s measurements, the Fusion is equal to (+/-0.1″) or bigger than the Taurus on every measurement except hip room.
(And I don’t know how they measured the hip room. My hips say the Taurus has a lot less of it.)
It’s bad, it’s one of the worst I’ve ever seen actually. In SUVs it’s even worse but for a sedan that wide it is just unacceptable. That console has to be atleast 10 or 12 inches wide. It’s a joke to make it that wide. I really liked the car I test drove but it basically amounted to me sitting in a corner of a room, the passenger in the other corner and the backseat being spacious but mind as well be in another zipcode.
The Taurus isn’t for the claustrophobic with that huge console, and the Focus and Fusion aren’t much better in that respect for a tall guy like me (who usually splays his legs behind the wheel). I drove an ’07 Focus for seven years and was always impressed with its space efficiency, so it’s disappointing to see the newer models having such confining consoles — especially when Ford has improved other aspects of its interiors quite a bit.
I’ve also sat in a ’15 200 and a fairly recent 300. Both have sizable consoles, but from my standpoint the designs don’t seem intrusive on passenger space.
I’ve heard that Ford addressed the console issue in the 2015 refresh of the Focus. I suppose it matters more in a compact being sold in umpteen different countries, vs. a “full-size” (part of a decreasing market segment) being sold in essentially the US and Canada.
I agree with you, but why did they rework the Charger?
The Charger hasn’t been reworked, since the 2011 model. It’s been made a bit less good-looking with that new 2015 front end, but it’s just a facelift.
My wording mistake the facelift is what I was referring to, thanks.
I miss BTSR.
What happened to him?
I dunno, but I’m pretty sure he wanted a 300 hellcat to exist, maybe even to use himself. Hard to imagine this story without his reply a month ago.
I’m starting to worry that something happened to him. This is just so out of character.
Where is he?
Gentlemen, a moment of silence.
It seems our beloved friend has become one with the Hellcat.
I’m subscribed to him on YouTube. He still makes videos, but they’re mostly just annoying Apple fanboy rants (mostly about how the 6 is better than anything). I was going to ask him about where he went, but I didn’t. Same with Steve Lang; he invited me to his LinkedIn contacts, but when I respond to him saying I don’t have one, I’ll ask about his status.
Though I HATE Apple, I loved big trucks political views and how he wasn’t afraid to speak his mind.
Maybe he’s just too busy to come here and argue with us for kicks.
He’s looking for a new laptop…
Both “SHIFT” keys and the “CAPS LOCK” keys wore out. ;-)
I always thought that if they cut 2-4 inches out of the middle (horizontally, so the green house would be the same, but the hood, etc, would be lower), shrunk the wheel diameter a bit, and elongated the trunk, they’d have a car with a similar profile to an E-class Mercedes.
I love the looks of this generation of 300’s, looks tailored and all of one piece to me, and I think this design will age well, unlike the previous generation.
I think FCA is designing some lovely vehicles, I would go so far as to say that I think their designs among the best in the world, if I exclude the 500L.