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Next Chrysler 300 to keep same exterior look but receive significant interior improvements

05/26/2008, 10:51 PM

By Drew Johnson

The Chrysler 300 has been one of the biggest sales successes in the automaker’s recent history, but that popularity is making the car’s redesign all that much more difficult. Chrysler engineers and designers are finding it hard to walk the thin line between leaving well enough alone and giving the car a fresh new look.

Although the large sedan has virtually nothing in common with Porsche’s 911, Chrysler designers are taking a page out of the German automaker’s book. By and large the 911’s redesigns have been evolutionary rather than revolutionary, and Chrysler will be building on that philosophy for the next-generation 300 — look for it to sport a boxy shape with a blunt front fascia. After all, why change a good thing?

While the car’s exterior will remain similar to the current model’s, the 300’s interior will see a “huge leap” forward, according to Ward’s. Chrysler has been widely criticized for its sub-par interiors, but designer Lou Gasevski says “the [Chrysler] products coming out in 2011, 2012 will be very competitive with Asian models as far as content, materials, fit-and-finish.” The all-new 300 is set to launch in 2011 or 2012.

The new 300 will also have a greater focus on technology and will feature a next-generation infotainment system.

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05/26, 11:09 PM

posted by:

DjRags

This car sold very well where I live…and I mean, who wouldn’t want something that looks like a Bentley knockoff for about $35,000? I wonder what they mean exactly by “significant interior improvements”?

05/26, 11:11 PM

posted by:

wreckchaser

The 300 has one of the most comfortable interiors, namely the driver’s seat, of any vehicle out there today.

05/26, 11:15 PM

posted by:

maxzorin

Chrysler dropping the ball again why not try to improve the fuel economy and safety. Looked at this before I bought the mercury sable these two changed my mind. Plus parking is very tough looking through the small back window.

05/26, 11:25 PM

posted by:

nitehawk

I actually feel what they are doing is rite on the money. The 300C has been very popular for Chrysler, primarily due to its exterior styling. Chrysler is known for having one of the most bland looking interiors out there, and seriously needs some extra attention, which is what they’re doing. Good job Chrysler

05/26, 11:28 PM

posted by:

NoNameDenton1

I wish we got the diesel version they have in Europe, great milage, gobs of torque, who could ask for more.

05/26, 11:32 PM

posted by:

maxzorin

With gas prices rising people will start looking at numbers not styling. Ford said the breaking point for trucks was 3.50 gallon whats the breaking point for lux sedans?

05/26, 11:33 PM

posted by:

Impulsive

Better styled than most junk on the road.

05/26, 11:54 PM

posted by:

Payton Byrd

@maxorin

There is no breaking point for luxury sedans. By definition they are for people who are wealthy, and as such the price of gas is irrelevant.

@wreckchaser

I’ve driven many 300’s and can avow to the wonderful drivers seat (Chrysler is good at seats), but the dash is wretched, especially the placement of secondary controls such as turn signal, cruise control, wipers and lights.

05/26, 11:57 PM

posted by:

SigmaHyperion

Sorry Chrysler, the cat was let out of the “The Chrysler 300 is a super hot seller” bag a long time ago. Or did you forget that even you yourself admitted to the 300 not being as big as a seller as you wanted people to believe early on. Sure, the 300C, wouldn’t sit on the lot for a day for a while, the press was fed all sorts of stories about that — but the bread-and-butter standard model couldn’t even be given away.

As a matter of fact, giving them away is exactly what they did. A whopping 52% of all Chrysler 300s are sold to Fleets at, or even below, Cost. According to Chrysler themselves (Jim Press, the Vice Chairman) anything over 30% is “not healthy”. So the 300 is WAY outside of the realm of being a “huge success”. Sure, compared to all the crap that Chrysler has been spitting on lately I suppose it would be a success amongst the group — the Magnum and Charger have even HIGHER fleet sale percentages.

05/27, 12:08 AM

posted by:

johnnycanuck

Style. That’s what the 300 is all about. Are we listening Chrysler? This is not difficult. Of all the vehicles- anywhere- what is unanimously causing the most fuss out there? Easy answer: the Challenger. Now, let’s revisit our history books and find the equivalent Mopar sedan eye candy. How about the famed ‘69 to ‘72 famed ‘fuselage’ designs of the Newport/New Yorker/Imperial. Yes, they were huge tanks of ghastly proportions, but they were if nothing else unmistakable. Love those Chrysler grills from that era. They made a 5,000 lb behemoth look almost light on their bias plys. So let’s get rid of the quasi Ram front end and bring us another shot of retro magic. The old farts on this site no doubt remember the days when you could tell the difference between one model year and the next because the grill always changed. It was always a cheap fix and kept our interest.

The greatest grill of all time? IMO the ‘71 ‘Cuda.

05/27, 12:43 AM

posted by:

howsmydriving

Is gangsta.

05/27, 1:49 AM

posted by:

Xile

“evolutionary rather than revolutionary” … now that should be Chrysler’s new motto. They are going to evolve into the three headed dog that they are. By 2012, Chrysler interiors will be “very competitive with Asian models”. I can’t take all of this excitement.

05/27, 2:34 AM

posted by:

amac

Chrysler. I can’t believe people still buy their crummy cars. Sure says a lot for brand loyalty.

05/27, 3:31 AM

posted by:

olds307

In Soviet Russia, interior improves YOU!!

05/27, 5:22 AM

posted by:

fan

clever move for chrysler. why change a design thats the sole reason for quite some people to buy the car?
Put some effort in the interior, in the engine (improve the mileage AND the fun) and the new one will sell like hotcake.
I hope this one will stay around for quite some time…
(plus, when bmw can bring a new new mini, that looks exactly like the old new mini, why shouldnt chrysler do the same?)

05/27, 5:39 AM

posted by:

Got Handling?

Keep the distinctive styling the same, and concentrate on the interiors and the technology, great idea – Look how profitable Jaguar have been…

05/27, 8:20 AM

posted by:

DeansterTJ

… who knows what this actually means. If the next one is going to be some restyled headlights, it’s ****ed.

05/27, 8:59 AM

posted by:

bigp

will it get the new 5.7 with 380hp and over 400 horse.add the 6 speed.

05/27, 9:29 AM

posted by:

Need4SSpeed

Yeah, I think Chrylser is doing the right thing here. The 300C was a big success for Chrylsler and why change a good thing and screw it up. (Something GM typically would do) As others pointed out what Chrysler needs to concentrate on is vastly improving their interiors. The 300C’s interior is ok compared to anything else in Chrysler’s lineup, and Dodge’s, but that’s not to say that it doesn’t need a “significant interior improvement”

It’s kind of scary to see how gas prices may affect future powertrains, because I don’t know if adding more horses to this car is going to help or hinder it at this point.

05/27, 11:21 AM

posted by:

Jspeed

How about taking the money saved from minimal exterior redesign and use it on lightening the car?

05/27, 12:01 PM

posted by:

olds307

Manufacturers can lighted their cars by cutting that crap with the massive 18 inch rims and go back to 14 to 16 inch rims. Even a NYC taxi Crown Victoria has 17 inch steel rims!!! What’s the point of that??

05/27, 1:16 PM

posted by:

tripleonefive

That is the problem with Chrysler they get stuck in these designs that are great sellers at first then they fade away and they have to start all over again
Look at the PT Cruiser
They should start making cars that can be redesigned every 5 years or so to keep up. The 300 is nice but it already isnt selling as well as it used to and looks stale at that
Enough is enough and its time for a change

05/27, 10:34 PM

posted by:

maxzorin

paton byrd Chrysler 300 sales down 37% for april (source Motor Trend) I guess there is a breaking point for lux sedans. While there most efficient models are slightly up

05/28, 1:48 PM

posted by:

Payton Byrd

@maxzorin

If you’ve been inside a 300 you’d know it’s not a luxury sedan. If Chrysler follows through with a real luxury interior then the axiom will hold true.

 
 
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