The late LH cars were known for their cab forward architecture, which allowed for a roomy cabin. Interestingly enough, the switch to a rear wheel drive platform has had much the same effect. The upright lines of the body allow for a passenger friendly interior, especially in terms of head room. There is six footer caliber space available front or back, and the 60/40 split/fold seatbacks provide a big pass-through to the 15.6 cubic foot trunk. All 300 levels have a clean, roomy design to their interiors. And if base versions are neutral looking, the “C” models add a little character to the mix with tortoise shell trim on steering wheel, door pulls and shifter. Front seats are light on lateral support, but long on comfort. Optional electronics include a center stack smorgasbord: GPS navigation screen, 6 disc CD changer, MP3 player, AM/FM tuner, 380 watt Boston Acoustics sound, Sirius satellite radio. Finally, there is the matter of the 300’s smash-mouth styling. Up front, the broad, egg-crate grille is a chrome plated nod to classic era 300’s. The high belt line and short glass give a chopped look to the side view, with slab sides interrupted only by fender flares over 18” rolling stock. In back, a tall, angular tail, with vertical, asymmetrical taillights above and a beefy bumper surround below. The only obvious miscue is the misnaming. Any Chrysler buff will tell you that the 300C has already been built – in 1957! The letter car lineage stopped at “L” in ’65, and even if the recent “M” wasn’t one of Chrysler’s finer consonants, by rights, the next car should have been designated the 300N. More important than the logic of the lettering is what this car does for Chrysler. It is as visible as the previous LH series was invisible, giving the company marketing buzz, and a relevance in the big car conversation that it hasn’t enjoyed in years.
|
