End of production: The eternal Chrysler 300 says goodbye

The Chrysler 300 is a true undead of the automotive industry. The series was launched when the Daimler-Chrysler Group still existed. How long ago was it? Well, this misunderstanding between America and Germany ended in 2007. The Chrysler 300 has been in production since 2004 and received a visual and technical upgrade in 2011. The basic design elements were preserved, as was the original platform, which, among other things, axle a multi-link rear from the old Mercedes E-Class W 210 was assembled.

But now the Chrysler 300 is nearing its final hour. The 2023 model year is the last in the sedan lineup. As American has officially announced, the final models with V6 engines will roll off the assembly line at the Brampton plant just before New Year’s Eve. The top version of the 300C (see video) is already over: the last 300 with Hemi V8 was a representative of the special series of 300C engines, it was painted red velvet and left the production facility on December 9 in the Canadian province of Ontario.

Falling sales figures

The end of production is logical, after all, the Chrysler 300 had been experiencing rapidly falling sales figures for some time. While Chrysler managed to sell 46,593 examples of its ever-present middle class in 2018, it was only 16,473 units in 2020 and only 7,197 vehicles so far this year (through the end of November). The manufacturer is not tired of providing further updates for the 300 series. For the 2023 model year, the aforementioned 300C returned as a special farewell series with 492 hp and a maximum of 644 Newton meters of the 6.4-liter Hemi V8.

Chrysler made the latest model update for the entire lineup for the 2022 model year; it mainly affected the scope of the equipment. From September 2021, the range of standard equipment and equipment packages for the Touring, Touring L and 300S model versions has been extended. The Touring L version of the four-door model looks sporty thanks, among other things, to 20-inch wheels, a performance front apron and body-color applications, LED fog lights and black accents. The 300S comes standard with the Uconnect infotainment system, nine premium speakers and a subwoofer in the trunk and a power sunroof. Since then, Chrysler has also offered an improved alarm system and an air filter system for the interior.

Relatively modern

The last, more detailed revision in the spring of 2020 also brought a new painting of the Chrysler 300 and increased equipment. There were many changes within the color palette: two were thrown out and three were added. The choice of interior colors has improved thanks to new shades of black / linen and mocha. There was also the “Red S Appearance Package”, which includes 20-inch wheels and various signs and badges on the body.

If you delve deeper into the world of the Chrysler 300, you will see that the FCA brand has managed to keep the car more modern over the years. It has the Uconnect infotainment system in its 4C generation with an 8.4-inch touchscreen as well as connectivity solutions via Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The range of electronic driving aids can also be described as wide. There’s a forward collision warning system, adaptive cruise control with stop function, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning including lane keeping assist and front and rear parking sensors .

A variety of vehicle systems with V6 and V8 engines

The Chrysler 300 also owed its popularity to a wide variety of drivetrains. The base model with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 produces 296 hp and a maximum of 353 Newton meters in the 300 Touring and Touring L; in the 300S there is 304 hp and a maximum of 358 Newton meters. On top of this is a Hemi V8 with a displacement of 5.7 liters, which is only available in the 300S and produces 368 hp and a maximum of 534 Newton meters. This means the top rear-drive model accelerates from zero to 60 mph (96.6 km/h) in less than six seconds. There was also a short-lived return of the 6.4-liter Hemi version. Touring and Touring L model variants are also available with all-wheel drive; Power transmission is always provided by an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The 300 model name, with which Chrysler revived its legendary “Letter Series” line from the fifties and sixties in 2004, will not disappear completely despite the end of production. And this despite the fact that the parent company Stellantis has ordered the future of electricity for the brand. According to media reports, Chrysler is already developing a 300 successor that relies on power from volts and amps instead of octane. The model may come to the market in 2026.