Chrysler has already bid farewell to the 300 in Australia. The iconic American company is now set to wave goodbye to a favourite in the ‘States too.
The Chrysler 300 sedan – for years the brand’s answer to the now-defunct Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon here – is about to meet the axe in its old North American stronghold.
Production will cease production following a final run of 2023 model-year vehicles, the company said this week.
Chrysler will see off the almost 70-year old ‘300’ nameplate with a special run of Chrysler 300C Hemi V8s, with 2200 units to be supplied the the USA and Canada – the latter country being home to its production line.
This final-run 2023 Chrysler 300C was revealed overnight in downtown Detroit on the eve of media day for the 2022 North American International Auto Show.
“We’re celebrating the Chrysler 300 and it’s iconic legacy in the automotive world,” said Chrysler brand CEO Chris Feuell.
“The Chrysler 300 changed the automotive world in so many ways, and we will carry that spirit of ingenuity forward as we transform Chrysler with a fully electrified future and breakthrough customer experiences.”
The final-run cars will run the 6.4-litre Hemi V8 familiar from the departed Aussie-market Chrysler 300 SRT range, making 360kW and 644Nm. Chrysler claims a 0-96km/h time of 4.3 seconds and a 12.4sec standing quarter-mile.
Additional performance features will include red four-piston Brembo brakes, a 3.09 limited slip differential, active damping suspension, and an active exhaust system.
The Chrysler 300 nameplate premiered in 1955 on a 300hp Hemi V8-powered hardtop, pushed into the 1960s, and was reborn in the late ’90s.
Chrysler is now prioritising electric cars such as the Airflow concept seen here.
Chrysler has said it’ll introduce its first EV in 2025, and will offer an all-EV line-up by 2028. That makes it the first of Stellantis’ American brands to commit to phasing out combustion power by a particular date.
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