2006 Chrysler 300 Review

Specifications

Get in Line!

If you read my columns on a regular basis, you know Im a fan of Chryslers new 300C. Of course, Im hardly alone. The only problem dealers are having with this car is getting enough examples to sell to an insatiable public. Interest in the top-tier 300 has been much greater than initially expected, overwhelming Chryslers supply, with close to fifty percent of all sold being HEMI V8-powered 300C versions.

What to do? Chrysler has added another shift to the Brampton, Ontario plant to up production for starters, which should ease the bottleneck over the next few months. But news about its upcoming 300C SRT8 variant wont help matters at all. Now even more new car buyers will want one, with the trickle down effect of the new sport-oriented model affecting the sales of all 300s.

Of course, this is exactly the type of problem Chrysler, or any other automaker wants. The 300 has done precisely what was needed. Its an aspirational car that is priced so well it doesnt require deep profit-eroding discounts or zero percent financing to push out the showroom door. Quite the opposite is occurring among its domestic rivals, mind you, with Pontiacs Grand Prix and new Northstar V8-powered Bonneville comparatively stagnant, other than rental car and corporate fleets. Only time will tell if Fords all-new Five Hundred sedan and Mercury Montego clone will wager much of a contest, but the odds are in Chryslers favor, especially considering the 300 is just one of many LX cars, the second to show up being Dodges new Magnum sport wagon and the next to be the Dodge Charger sedan.

I actually expected to see the new Charger before an SRT8 version of the 300, but now that the hypo-Chryco has debuted at Pebble Beach, how can I complain? The normally aspirated 6.1-liter HEMI V8 in the 300C SRT8 adds an additional 85 horsepower over and above the already quick 340 horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI, a 25 percent increase at 425 horsepower. Torque is up too, from 390 lb-ft to 420.

“With a nearly 50 percent take rate, the HEMI is a critical ingredient to the success of the Chrysler 300,” stated Dan Knott, Director - Street and Racing Technology (SRT). “With the new 2005 Chrysler 300C SRT8, we are now adding even more horsepower to the HEMI and even more performance to the Chrysler 300C.

By the way, in case you were wondering, at 69.8 horsepower-per-liter the 6.1-liter HEMI delivers the highest specific-output of any engine ever sold by Chrysler Group, even more than the 1966 “Street HEMI,” according to Chrysler.

And just what will 425 horsepower do to the cars zero to 60 mph sprint? Itll knock about a second off of its time, from just over 6 seconds to the low 5-second range with the quarter mile achieved in the “high 13-second range,” according to preliminary performance targets set by Chrysler.

But hold on. In my initial road test of the 300C I mentioned how it felt much faster to 60 than the 6-plus second rating Chrysler gave it, and commented that I thought the brand was being extremely conservative. Is this conservatism being repeated for the 300C SRT8? Yes it very well could be. Chrysler actually comes clean about real performance figures for the regular 300C in the SRT8 press release, stating the following: “Note that these (SRT8 0 to 60 specs) are extremely conservative, considering that the 340-hp 300C delivered 0-60 in 5.3 - 5.5 seconds.” Expect the SRT8 version to break into the high 4-second range when production examples surface.

So what is responsible for the surge in engine output? Obviously much is gained by upping the HEMIs displacement from 5.7- to 6.1-liters, a task that included boring out the cylinder diameters by 3.5 millimeters apiece. To strengthen the modified block, the SRT engineers added reinforcements and while they were at it, increased coolant flow. A forged steel crankshaft was used to minimize vibration, while stronger powder-metal connecting rods capped off by oil squirter-cooled floating-pin pistons were attached. Underneath, a modified oil pan is said to reduce oil foaming.

To up engine speed and effectively increase horsepower the SRT techs modified the cams, increasing revs by 15 percent to almost 6,200 rpm - the current 5.7-liter HEMI tops out at 5,400 rpm. The engines hollowed out valve stems also reduce drag due to their lighter weight. Interestingly, the hollows are filled with sodium for dissipating heat more effectively.

Like an athlete, an engine will perform better if it can breathe easier. To achieve this result SRT engineers added new high-flow cylinder heads, with larger diameter valves combined with reshaped cylinder ports, and a redesigned intake manifold with larger diameter runners for higher-speed tuning. The result of the SRT divisions work is quicker turning, much more powerful engine featuring a compression ratio that increases from 9.6:1 to 10.3:1.

Finally, seriously “hot” exhaust headers that feature “individual tubes encased in a stainless steel shell” were added, or so says Chrysler. Engine exhaust will leave the back of the car via new larger diameter, 2.75-inch compared to 2.5-inch, tailpipes finished off with two fat 3.5-inch chrome tips.

To finish off the new engine, a silver and red “HEMI 6.1L” appliqué has been added to black valve covers, and a special orange paint coats the cylinder block, just like HEMIs of the past.

Like the regular 300C, the new SRT8 gets the Mercedes-Benz derived A580 5-speed automatic transmission, featuring a reconfigured AutoStick sequential shift mode that better suites the more powerful engine. Managing the torque to the upgraded rear differential and axles is a new heavy-duty 4-flange prop shaft.

The 300C SRT8 wouldnt be complete if it kept the current 300Cs compliant suspension intact. While the current car handles quite well, the ride quality/handling mix has been biased toward comfort, and therefore compromises the cars sporting capabilities. To match engine performance the SRT gang tuned the dampers, recalibrated the spring rates and suspension bushings, plus added larger diameter anti-sway bars. The stock cars front and rear suspension knuckles have been replaced with ones that help to reduce ride height by about half an inch overall. Despite the changes to the SRT8, however, Chrysler promises a car that still balances its sporting characteristics with a comfortable ride, unlike Lincolns LS V8 when equipped with the sport suspension, which is truly punishing.

Adding to the SRT8s performance handling improvements, the new cars Electronic Stability Program (ESP) has been tuned so that it doesnt interfere with tire slip quite as quickly, which should allow a little more oversteer and therefore quite a bit more excitement without sacrificing safety. For skilled drivers Chrysler includes an ESP defeat switch on the center stack, allowing tail wagging fun for the whole family.

Finishing off the handling upgrades is a new set of 10-spoke forged alloy wheels, measuring a full 20 inches in diameter. The wheels look appropriate on the large 300, wrapped in 245/45/20 low-profile high-performance Goodyear F1 3-season tires front and rear, featuring an asymmetrical tread pattern that appears ready to eat up and spit out asphalt.

That grip will optimize the SRT8s extremely capable braking system, courtesy of the worlds best known brake specialists, Brembo. Four-piston calipers are positioned at each corner, binding down on 360 x 32 mm vented rotors up front and 350 x 26 mm vented rotors in back. Of course, just like on any 300 series car ABS comes standard. Its a good thing Chrysler has stayed away from coating the calipers in bright red paint, a trend to distinguish top performance models that has become popular in recent years, which is a good thing. The large discs and silver coated calipers look great through the giant-sized rims, and they dont take away from the classy lines of the big luxury car like colored calipers would.

But despite being grateful Chrysler has refrained from go-fast styling trends, I like the subtle mods its made to toughen up the sportier SRT8s exterior appearance. Most noticeable after the wheels is lower front fascia, with integrated cooling ducts to help keep the brakes working at their optimum. If youre coming up from behind one, and itll take quite a car to be able to do that, the rear fascia is also extended downward, integrating two fat chrome pipes at each side. Just above, the rear decklid gets a tastefully integrated spoiler to increase stability at high speed. The wind-tunnel tested aerodynamic add-on increases downforce by 39 percent without increasing drag, and impressive feat. Completing the exterior upgrades are exclusive body-color front and rear bumper inserts, a body-color grille insert with chrome surround and winged emblem, body-color mirrors and door handles, and discreet SRT8 badging of course.

Chrysler is hoping youll like silver or black, as these are the only two “colors,” I mean shades available. Silver is an obvious choice as its the most popular of all automotive paint schemes at approximately one third of all cars on the road and typical of sport models, especially those of German decent - and theres a lot of German engineering in the 300C. Black, well, its the toughest most menacing hue out there, and stunning on the 300C especially when accompanied by aftermarket blacked-out rear taillight lenses.

Yes there are already many aftermarket parts available for the 300, with specially tuned versions cropping up all over the place. Two of my favorites came out of one tuning company that just happens to also own DUB Magazine. Both DUB Edition (www.dubedition.com) 300Cs look awesome, and show what is possible with a little money and a lot of creativity.

No serious customizer would even consider putting a car on the road without reworking the interior, and Chrysler has taken the same high road with the new 300C SRT8. Up front, new power-adjustable sport seats offer greater lateral support via larger side bolsters, plus performance-oriented suede inserts to keep butt and back in place during aggressive maneuvers - the rear seats have been fitted with the same suede inserts. Back up front, heat and memory functions make getting comfortable easy, especially if the driver uses the adjustable pedals to find the optimal driving position.

To differentiate the SRT8 from a regular 300C even more, the steering wheel, shifter and door pulls are wrapped in something Chrysler calls “technical” leather trim, said to give a “more positive grip.” Adding to the specialty treatment, the SRT8 gets an exclusive finish on the steering wheel, door pulls, door trim and center stack. Hardly unusual, the two color choices for the interior include Light Greystone and Dark Slate, or in other words light gray and dark gray.

I remember when I was a kid, looking at the speedometer to see how fast a car could go. How little I actually knew, as the last number on a speedometers dial normally has little to do with top speed. Yet in the case of the 300C SRT8, its 180 mph maximum might just be getting pretty close to being achievable. Chrysler has added a tachometer and temperature gauge in the primary cluster, the latter especially important to keep track of as the car gets older.

The center stack includes audio and HVAC interfaces just like the regular 300C, with the SRT8 getting a premium AM/FM stereo radio featuring a 6-disc CD changer. A total of seven Boston Acoustics speakers should sound sensational, while its standard steering wheel-mounted controls make adjusting the volume, changing stations or CD tracks easier. On the HVAC front, heating and air condition is automatic so each front occupant can set the desired temperature and the system will do the rest. The SRT8 also includes a standard electronic info interface with 128 customer-programmable settings.

The SRT8 also includes a couple of important features that usually show up only on premium cars, such as High Intensity Discharge (HID) xenon headlamps, emitting 70 percent more light, and Rear Park Assist, especially handy for parking such a large car.

The new 300C SRT8 joins the Crossfire SRT6 as the only two Chryslers to wear the SRT nomenclature. No doubt, more are on the way. The SRT badge first appeared on the current generation Dodge Viper SRT-10, followed up last year by the compact SRT-4. The Viper-powered Ram SRT-10, now revered as the worlds fastest pickup truck according to Guinness, joined the SRT family earlier this year. The 300C SRT8 is the first of the performance lineup to feature 8-cylinder power, with a SRT-8 version of the Dodge Magnum expected to be next in line.

The 300C SRT8 will arrive in dealerships next spring, so get your money down on one early. By all indications the powerful new Chrysler will be as wallet-friendly as the 300 series cars, respective of performance, and therefore the first run should sell out quickly.