2011 Chrysler 300C images revealed, Australian launch in 2012

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By Tim Beissmann | November 22nd, 2010

Chrysler has released the first official teaser images of the 2011 Chrysler 300C luxury sedan ahead of its anticipated debut at the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January.

The images show detail of a number of new highlights, including the refreshed Chrysler family grille with spread wing badge, headlights and taillights, alloy wheels and interior.

The headlights feature LED daytime running lights in a horseshoe formation, while the rear lights have been sharpened and are surrounded by chrome.

The new grille has a softened, satin appearance, and works in with accents under the headlights, around the side windows, exterior door handles, alloy wheels and a strip along the boot.

The boot also gets a unique, curved lip, elongating slightly the shortish lid.

Perforated leather seats add a sporting touch to the dark, sleek interior, while bright blue dashboard lighting gives a more uplifting and modern feel.

Importantly, the new-look 300C has lost none of the gangsta of the first-generation model, and will serve as a desperately needed upgrade to the current model, which was first launched in the US in 2004.

It is believed the 2011 Chrysler 300C will be powered by the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 as well as the famous 5.7-litre Hemi V8. All-wheel drive is expected to be an option over the standard rear-wheel drive in some models.

Chrysler Australia’s Dean Bonthorne confirmed the Chrysler 300C would not arrive in Australia until 2012, as the vehicle will not be available in right-hand drive until then.

He said the vehicle would continue to be called 300C in Australia, rather than following the US model and adopting the shortened 300 nameplate.

Mr Bonthorne said it was too early to say for sure what powertrains would underpin the new model in Australia, but said the preference would be to continue with a line-up similar to the current one, including V6 and V8 petrol engines as well as a diesel option.

autoboy

Having not seen these on the road yet, it seems to me that the original looked/s better. It was distinctive and is still a looker. Reckon they should have keep the originals grill and the lights as a kind of signature for these.

The one decent looking car in the Chrysler range and they had to do this.
john no.2

It may look difference. But will still be underpowered and handle like crap

t39

I also was surprised how badly they handle: approach a round-about at anything faster than very-slow, and it just tries to go straight thru, regardless of where you steer it.

Zej

Why does every other manufacturer seem to be trying to make their cars look like Audis?

Pal

I feel Audi’s are amongst the best looking cars on the road at the moment. It’s funny because when i first saw The current looking Audi’s with the biggish grill they reminded me of the previous generation of Chrysler’s before 300c that we never got here in Australia

http://www.caradvice.com.au Anthony Crawford

Personally, I’m looking forward to the next Generation of the 300C. The first gen has been around for some years now.
DGS

Yawn…….

Well that will be it from the 300C. If you want one, buy one soon before they become dull.

The current model may not hold it’s value too well, but it is at least standing apart from the crowd doing it’s own thing and being darkly cool at the same time. It will be the classic that people remember, not this bland car. What next from Chrysler, A new PT Cruiser restyled on a Camery?
Duckula

The current one might be crap, but it stands out… this one will just continue the crapiness but be bland as well.. Must have hired a designer ( for want of a better word) from Toyota…
says says says says says says says says says says says says says says says says says says

Looks like a softie not a gangsta
Pal

Under powered? A minimum of 209kw for base model and 350kw for next SRT. This new 300c will handle quite well which will surprise most.It Must be capable of Handling if Maserati, Alfa Romeo and Lancia are going to make there own version of it. Chrysler are now able to make there products the way they want to under Sergio marchionne.
MisterMister

Well, at least they have finally dropped that rubbish base model 3.5L V6 which dated back nearly 20 years to the early 90s. The new V6 is a big improvement but no direct injection??? And I heard that it still uses the old 5-speed auto and not a 6-speed.
pantzz

when are car designers going to realise LED headlights look terrible.

Shak

Have you seen a recent model Audi?

pantzz

yea i have seen them, and for some reason i really don’t like led’s in headlights. like them in taillights but just not in headlights.(especialy R8′s they’d look much better without them.) just in my opinion.

Paul

Ugly Ugly Ugly, i will certainly Keep My Current as it looks way better & be a Car people will remember in years to come not this crossed between a Lincoln/Audi.
Sack the Designers
Aaron

All of these comments i hear about how terrible the new 300 is going to be and how the old model has ” the look that everybody will remember” are ridiculous. you wanna know why i bought a 2007 300c and then bought a 2008 300c a year later, not because i wanted to show off and prove to everybody of how cool of a car i got, i bought it because it was the best car you can buy for the price, hands down. the 340 hp v8 in my 07 and 08 beat any car i put it up against except for a s500 mercedes. the handling is amazing as well, so i have to say that those who made the statement about how bad the power and handling is are on crack. name me one luxury car you could buy loaded with a v8 and every option for under 40! the car was a huge hit because it was a great car and looked good and priced under caddilac cts,mercedes c class,bmw………But really the 300 didnt look that great until people started replacing the egg crate grill it came with. 75 % of 05-10 300s have aftermarket grills. This new 2011 300c is going to be amazing. if you dont buy one bc youre too attachted to your old 300, you’re going to be missing out. Just wait til you start seeing aftermarket grills on the 2011, i already did a photoshop and i cant wait to see all you haters eating your words once its out. this 2011 will be the best car for the money!

Aaron

plus my 08 has a lifetime engine and transmission warranty, how many other cars have that? ill be parking my 2011 right beside my 08.
MisterMister

What do you mean you can buy a 300C V8 for under 40k? RRP is $60,990.

DGS

I think he is an American.

Would explain how he can get the car $21,000 cheaper than we can.

http://google Maureen

@MisterMister The all-alloy 2nd gen 3.5L SOHC 24V Chrysler V6 that has been used in the 300 series cars appeared in 1998, and was a complete re-engineering of the the 3.5L SOHC iron block engine which appeared in 1994. The 3.5 has proven to be a very durable and acceptably powerfull piece of work. It can push the big blunt 300 to 220 kph, so it is no weakling. It is also not uncommon for these engines to exceed 400,000km without internal mechanical failures, so it is hardly rubbish either. However, I do agree that it is time to replace it.
http://google Maureen

Some of the comments here are very far from reality. My immediate family has several of these cars so I speak from experience. Hubby has an 08 300C SRT8, I have an 05 300C 5.7 & my eldest daughter has an 06 3.5 Charger. Roundabouts do NOT present a problem. In fact the cars do not understeer at all, even on slippery surfaces. The handling limits of even the 3.5 Charger with its 17″ wheels & 65 series tires are so far out that the average driver would give up long before the car did. These are superb road cars & have been bullet-proof from the start.

In 06 Car & Driver ran an SRT8 against a BMW M5, a MB CLS55 AMG and Cadillac STS-V on Gratton raceway, a very technical 2.5 mile road course. The SRT8 was 1.0 G in transients. The M5 did 0.87G steady-state & >1.0 in transients. In other words, don’t believe the “poor handling” comments.
Ray

I have a 2008 300C here in Australia and I love my car. I have used it with stock wheels for a weak after I bought the car brand new and replaced the wheels for Pirelli Scorpions 265/35 on 22inch wheels. The handling is great, never skipped a beat. Braking is amazing and love the looks. I did get a bentley style grill. Amazing car for the price but I do want to point out that the parts are expensive if you buy them here in Australia. You can get OEM Mopar parts/accessories from the US 50% cheaper!!

Can’t wait for the new one to launch here in Australia. Will be definitely be on my list of cars!
Roberto Esponja

Exactly, Maureen and Ray. Anyone one who writes that these cars are crap and ill handling, has obviously never driven one.
John

Im so never selling my 2007 300C Hemi. Ive been looking after it so well. Its on 80,000 kms and its never had any issues besides the $10 O ring replacement that was free anyway to fix.

I love my car so much and so happy I didnt wait to buy the ugly 2008 model with the ugly lip on the boot.

Omg the new one looks so gay. Im gonna be like those old people that look after their cars all the way to their 80s. Im probably going to buy a run around car to save the mileage on my car and use my car for special ocassions cause its still looks beautiful.
Golfschwein

I have always loved the 300C for its sheer ballsiness, and would have wanted nothing more than a boggo 5.7 in a metallic blue. But, you know, in a lifetime, you can only have so many cars and most of us can only own them one at a time.

History records that I bought something somewhat completely the opposite (my Golf diesel), but you never know what could have happened in a parallel universe.
EvlSrt*

At first glance I am not a fan of the new shape but I supose it is modern, I really dig the cluster colour as im kinda getting over the aqua green everywhere in my srt, head lights are very audish and you can’t get out of that at all, the old shape will be a classic and i think after a few years they will hold somewhat of a value in the market due to the change, If u cant drive your 300 around a round about you either have slippery hands or no hands! these things are very easy to drive, and as in power a srt8 passes almost everything but a petrol station, the only down point I would say is that the gearbox has alot of lag between shifts when driving tip tronic.
The new shape does not have my thumbs up although I will hold full judgement when I see one on the roads in oz, It maybe a car that grows on you.