Chrysler 300S crosses to the dark side

CHRYSLER has taken to its 300 large sedan with black finishes to create a brooding new V6 variant, called 300S.

Landing in the middle of the current 300 line-up at $47,500 plus on-road costs, the 3.6-litre 300S gets big 20-inch black alloy wheels with fat tyres from the flagship SRT8, a black chrome grille with a ‘platinum’ surround, black headlamp bezels, a boot lip spoiler, body coloured door handles and black accented badges.

Inside, the black theme continues with piano black centre console, steering wheel and door panels, while the conventional burled wood trim is replaced with “matte carbon hydrographic-finished accents”.

Extra equipment includes sports pedals and heated sports seats, with the latter available in red leather trim with contrast white stitching and embroidered ‘S’ logos as a no-cost option.

Like other Chrysler 300 V6 models, the 300S comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard equipment, mated with the standard 210kW petrol engine.

The 300S slots between the 300C, at $46,500, and the 300C Luxury, at $51,000.



It is aimed at buyers who want a harder edge to the styling of their Chrysler 300, which is Australia’s top-selling upper large sedan.

Fiat Chrysler Group president and CEO for Australia Veronica Johns said demand for Chrysler’s 300 range had never been greater, with sales of the second-generation model outpacing even the original 300’s first full year on the market.

She said that compared with 2006, sales of the 300 were up more than 36 per cent.

“We expect the arrival of the new 300S to bolster that popularity with a stronger, more overt representation of the ‘imported from Detroit’ style, which is exactly what customers love about the 300 sedan,” she said.

The 300S is the ninth model in the 300 range in Australia, and the fourth with the Pentastar V6 engine. The 3.0-litre CRD diesel is offering at three specification levels, the the V8 models – SRT8 and SRT8 Core, topping the range.

Chrysler 300 pricing*

300 Limited 3.6L V6 (a)	$43,000
300 Limited 3.0L CRD (a)	$48,000
300C 3.6L V6 (a)	$46,500
300S 3.6L V6 (a)	$47,500
300C Luxury 3.6L V6 (a)	$51,000
300C 3.0L CRD (a)	$51,500
300C Luxury 3.0L CRD (a)	$56,000
300 SRT8 Core 6.4L V8 (a)	$56,000
300 SRT8 6.4L V8	$66,000