Friendly friend ship
Here’s a conundrum for you: what’s the difference between a
Chrysler 300C and a stretch limo? The answer is nothing because the 300C could
well double up as a stretch anytime you like!
Seriously though, the 300C is simply massive. Wherever you
look in the jumbo-sized cockpit everything is twice as big as found in any
other car (excepting a Rolls, I suppose).
I loved everything about it driving around the beautiful
roads in the Western Cape. People get out of your way; and they even gave way at junctions
while giving you a friendly wave into the bargain.
There are three models of 300C, with prices starting at
R479 990 for the cheapest model in the range. The model seen in the
picture alongside is the 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel – in automatic guise, of
course.
Boasting 176kW of power and a whopping 550 Nm of torque, the
Fiat-derived turbodiesel motor is one of the quietest ever tested by this
journalist. With a capacity of 2987cc, the engine has a 60-degree V angle
giving compact dimensions of just 695mm long, 729mm wide and 698mm high.
Matched to this beaut of a diesel engine is a five-speed automatic
transmission.
It’s worth getting a little technical, and I’ve discovered:
a graphite cast iron block with aluminium cylinder heads and a structural
aluminium oil sump in two elements help contribute to a total engine weight of
230kg. The sump has been designed like this to increase the rigidity of the
engine for improved quietness. Noise is reduced further thanks to a new
crankcase that gives the forged steel crankshaft rigid support to help limit
vibrations.
The tried and tested W5A580 has both full automatic and
semi-automatic functions. As with a traditional automatic, once ‘Drive’ has
been selected the gearbox can be left to do its own thing. For drivers who want
more involvement, the steering wheel mounted paddles are standard. A
transmission controller is calibrated to prevent the engine over-revving while
an adaptive electronic control increases engine responsiveness.
Classy in the extreme, the 300C is so simple to drive.
As alluded to earlier, it is big but not ever to the point
of becoming cumbersome. Other so-called luxurious cars – in my opinion – can’t
hold a candle to it … acres of leather, armchair comfort for all the occupants,
along with the plushest of carpets and genuine wood capping probably from the
Black Forests of Germany, offer discerning customers “alternative” motoring at
the highest level.
Other exclusive interior features found on the car includes
a leather-wrapped instrument panel, premium Nappa leather covers the door
armrest, bolster and centre console armrest, 12-way power-adjustable driver and
front-passenger seats (including four-way power lumbar) with two-mode
ventilation and two-mode heated seats for both front and rear passengers.
There’s also a leather-wrapped steering wheel — with all-new die-cast paddle
shifters — features a unique chrome accent ring to highlight the
segment-exclusive 360-degree heated rim.
As we’ve come to expect from the Chrysler brand, safety is a
priority and the upgraded Uconnect Touch 8.4N models with hands-free texting,
keep passengers even more connected through voice commands. It also comes as no
surprise to find the largest touchscreen display (8.4-inch), the easy to use
Uconnect Touch 8.4N with integrated Garmin® navigation is even better with the
addition of voice recognition.
• The Chrysler 300C 3.0-litre V6 Turbodiesel sells for
R539 990 and available from
36 Chrysler dealerships countrywide.
