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Chrysler 300C concept
by Gary S. Vasilash
Chrysler has long been known for turning concepts into production vehicles, and the Chrysler 300C is another in the company's legendary string that links show floor to showroom floors. Although the 300C premium sedan that debuted in New York is figured a 'concept,' the production version of the vehicle will join the Crossfire and Pacifica (two other show-cars turned real products) in 2004. If the past is prelude, then chances are this vehicle, with its solid stance predicated on a long hood (covering the 5.7-liter HEMI V8, which is rated in excess of 300 hp), short rear deck, high beltline, and a low glass-to-body ratio will look pretty much as shown. Certainly, there will be some modifications. The 20-inch wheels, with the rear wheels wider than the front – this is Chrysler's heralded return to rear-wheel-drive power – are unlikely to make the transition, however.
The grille is an echo of the 1998 Chronos concept (a V10 powered vehicle). The winged badge atop the egg crate grille form is already being seen on the Pacifica and Crossfire and is an approach that is now the norm for Chrysler, as it works to recreate itself as a brand that is a cut above some of those offered by its cross-town rivals. The grille is flanked by sculpted headlamps that contain high-intensity discharge (HID) projectors.
Like the 300M production sport sedan, the 300C is a tribute to the 'letter-series' of the 1950s, with this concept being a contemporary analog to the C-300. "We wanted to return to the proud, powerful lines that once made American automobiles the envy of the entire industry, but do so in a thoroughly modern way," says Trevor Creed, senior vice president of Design, Daimler Chrysler. He adds, "Modern elegance and innovation have always been hallmarks of the Chrysler brand, and the 300C concept illustrates those values in a very strong and proud way, just as the first 'letter series' C-300 did nearly 50 years ago."
Across the exterior of the sheet metal there are chrome touches (body side molding, window surrounds, below the headlamps) that are nicely offset by the rich, black paint.
On the inside of the vehicle, there are other carryovers from the Chronos concept: the steering wheel rim, shifter knob, and inside door pulls feature tortoise shell accents. The four-gauge instrument cluster is a variation on the current setup in the 300M. Perhaps in response to the fact that people have become increasingly used to a higher seating position as a result of driving sport utility vehicles and minivans, the 300C seating position is raised 2.5-inches as compared with the current 300M.
Although there had been a distinction between the Daimler and Chrysler parts of the business since the 1998 merger, there is more of a conscious effort between Stuttgart and Auburn Hills to share technology. In the case of the 300C, the DaimlerChrysler contributions include a five-speed automatic, suspension bits, the steering system, seat structures, and electronic architecture.
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