When a Chrysler 300 pulls up, you might expect to see a Fortune 500 CEO or head of state step out of the back seat. The elegant sedan has a formidable presence that exudes a quiet confidence. With the Chrysler 300, you can feel like a dignitary even if you aren't one.
The 2016 Chrysler 300 has been given plenty of updates, improving on what may have seemed impossible to improve. It has been given a tasteful facelift, a revamped interior and a more powerful and fuel-efficient engine.
If you haven't yet fallen in love with the Chrysler 300, 2016 is the year to start your love affair.
Fashion Forward Design Evolution
The changes to the new Chrysler 300 aren't dramatic -- they are organic. Any Hollywood starlet who's been in the biz long enough knows that a facelift has to look natural to be beautiful. Otherwise, the results look like something out of Frankenstein's lab.
Likewise, the Chrysler 300's facelift is a subtle one that is a natural progression of the design. The new look features fashion forward design while also showing off the best of what makes the Chrysler 300 unique.
The revised grille and front bumper give the 2016 Chrysler 300 a more aggressive look than its predecessor, but the style comes off as authoritative, not domineering. The head lights are flanked by new LED running lights, and the tail lights have been given some minor tweaks, as well.
New exterior colors are also available, and 18-inch wheels are standard on all trim levels (and 21-inch wheels are available as an option). The design changes aren't limited to the exterior. The interior gets some upgrades, as well.
Leather upholstery is now offered standard on the 300, and some models feature a two-tone upholstery design. The steering wheel has been redesigned to include multiple controls on both sides, including for the cruise control and audio system.
Some technology upgrades enhance both the style and the functionality of the interior. For example, a 5-inch display screen is positioned in the center stack, and it includes a navigation system and other information. The instrument panel features LED backlighting that creates a futuristic look.
The 300 even gets a new premium audio system that includes 10 speakers. Overall, the 2016 Chrysler 300 continues to offer luxurious looks but somehow manages to improve upon its previous tradition of excellence with an even more refined design.
Unexpected Power Paired with Luxury
The 2016 Chrysler 300 isn't just a car for driving heads of state to and from dinner dates. With the power that's under this hood, you could even outrun assassins.
OK, so maybe your daily drive isn't as dramatic as all that, but you'll love to know that the new Chrysler 300 has enough power to get you where you need to go in a hurry. The powerful engine offers a smooth ride that will make the car a pleasure to drive.
The base model 300 is outfitted with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine that puts out 300 horsepower and 270 pounds per feet of torque. That's a lot more than you might expect to find under the hood of a classy, luxury sedan.
If you prefer a diesel engine, you'll have a 3.0-liter option that can put out 250 horsepower and about 500 pounds per feet of torque. You'll lose a bit of horsepower, but the overall ride will feel just as powerful. Meanwhile, you'll feel better about the eco-benefits that diesel fuel offers.
Both engine options are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, enhancing the smoothness of the ride. Rear-wheel drive is standard, but you can opt for all-wheel drive if you like the power it provides.
This isn't a car for off-roading, but you may enjoy the all-wheel drive to better navigate icy or wet terrain if you live in such climates.
The Chrysler 300 offers solid performance and enough power to give you the options you need.
To Be or Not to Be: The SRT Model
One of the most exciting bits of news about the 2016 Chrysler 300 was that it would be released with an SRT model. Spy photos of the SRT version being test driven around Detroit even surfaced. Details started to emerge, and the car seemed to be a sure thing.
Then officials said that the SRT model would not be offered in the United States. But that doesn't seem to be the end of the discussion. The SRT model is still being developed and has been confirmed for overseas markets.
With the testing here in the U.S. and the excitement over its rumored arrival, the SRT model may well yet be offered here.
The SRT model features some design updates, such as a duckbill rear spoiler, but what has everyone most excited is what's under its hood. The Chrysler 300 SRT has a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 engine that puts out 465 horsepower and 465 pounds per feet of torque.
The engine would also be paired with a smooth paddle shifter and an upgraded suspension system. Performance estimates say the car could go from 0 to 60 mph in under 7 seconds.
It's not the same engine as the 2015 Dodge Charger and Challenger Hellcats, but speculation has been swirling about the possibility of a Chrysler 300 Hellcat.
However, the possibility seems unlikely since FCA is focusing its top performing models on the Dodge nameplate and since Dodge is already having trouble keeping up with orders for the Charger and Challenger.
For now, fans would just be happy with the introduction of the 300 SRT, if it should happen. We won't know anything until later in the year, but we are keeping our fingers crossed.
Price and Release Date
Expect to see the 2016 Chrysler 300 on lots starting this fall. Pricing has not been confirmed, but industry insiders say to expect a price comparable to the 2015 model, or about $33,000. That's an exceptional value for a luxury sedan that offers some much style and performance.