Chrysler
is creating a new range-topping ‘Luxury Series’ for the
300 sedan range, which effectively carries over the
quality trims and equipment of its rebadged sister, the
Lancia Thema, in its highest Platinum trim level.
Available on the 300 Luxury Series will be the new ZF
8-speed automatic transmission hooked up to the
Pentastar V6, adding up to a 31 mpg highway rating.
“The new 2012 Chrysler 300 Luxury Edition is more than
just our flagship car – it’s the trophy for the tireless
majority, an automobile designed and built to meet the
most discerning of expectations,” believes Saad Chehab,
the recently-installed CEO of the Chrysler brand. “It’s
fitted with a paddle-shifting eight-speed transmission
found only on cars twice its cost, dressed with the
highest-grade Italian Poltrona Frau leather and finished
with hand-sanded real wood found only in exotic cars –
all to deliver a surprising combination of
hyper-craftsmanship, style, technology and ‘uber’
best-in-class fuel economy at 31 mpg.”
The new Model Year 2012 Chrysler 300 Luxury Series
expands the flagship sedan lineup further with the
Pentastar V6 engine option, in addition to the 363
horsepower 5.7-litre HEMI V8 engine with Fuel Saver
Technology.
The 300 and 300C aim to be the most luxurious vehicles
that Chrysler has offered so far, the company says,
although in reality that is not too huge a feat to
effect. Most of the flurry of new components and
finishes are drawn from the Thema, with some of the
materials being given new names to create a perception
of differentiation. These luxury trim levels were first
rolled out onto the Thema in the autumn, to try to
create the impression that Lancia’s version of the sedan
was something more than a simple rebadge of its American
twin.
The interior of the new 300 and 300C Luxury Series
features either a black or Mochachino Poltrona Frau
‘Foligno’ leather instrument panel cover, along with
similar coverings for the centre console side panels and
upper front- and rear-door panels. Nappa leather covers
the door armrest, bolster and centre armrest. Black or
two-tone Mochachino seats are covered in Nappa leather
and include 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. The black or two-tone
Mochachino leather steering wheel — which features
special die-cast paddle shifters — also has a chrome
ring to highlight the fact that it has a 360-degree
heated rim. Completing the interior is a natural-pore
Mocha wood trim, featuring a matte finish.
On the exterior, large 20-inch (for rear-wheel drive
models) and 19-inch (all-wheel drive) polished aluminum
wheels with painted pockets feature. There are also
satin fascia accents, exterior mirror covers and door
handle accents. Concluding the exterior changes are a
satin-finish grille surround and mesh grille.
Equipment includes a touchscreen infotainment system
(8.4-inch) Uconnect Touch 8.4N with Garmin navigation,
SiriusXM Traffic and SiriusXM Travel Link,
LED-illuminated instrument cluster with
driver-selectable colour EVIC, power tilt and
telescoping steering column with memory,
power-adjustable pedals with memory, power backlight
sunshade, premium 18-ounce Berber floor mats, satin
chrome lower door sills with Chrysler logo, dual
heated/cooled cup holders, ambient footwell lighting,
LED illuminated interior door handles and front and rear
map pockets, carpeted trunk mat, HomeLink universal
transceiver and power exterior mirrors with memory,
driver mirror auto-dimming and auto-tilt in reverse.
The new 300 and 300C Luxury Series models will arrive at
Chrysler dealerships in the first quarter of 2012.
Pricing (including $825 destination charge) is: Chrysler
300 Luxury Series (RWD) $40,145, Chrysler 300 Luxury
Series (AWD) $42,495, Chrysler 300C Luxury Series (RWD)
$42,895 and Chrysler 300C Luxury Series (AWD) $45,245.
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