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New York: Chrysler gives a sneak peak at next 300 interior
by Chris Paukert on Apr 8th 2009 at 11:28AM 
Next-gen Chrysler 300C interior - Click above to enlarge
During the Jeep Grand Cherokee press conference this morning, Chrysler vice chairman Jim Press gave the assembled journalists a sneak peak at the interior of the forthcoming Chrysler 300. While little more than a quick glimpse at of the instrument panel flashed up on the screen for a moment, we were able to grab this snapshot for you. We're sorry that the resolution is not as crisp as we'd like it to be, but until Auburn Hills slips us a high-res jpeg, we figure you'd still enjoy an advanced look.
What it shows is an all-new instrument panel of what looks to be a higher-end model (note the abundance of woodgrain trim and leather surfaces), with the centerpiece being a new widescreen navigation system housed in an oval-shaped enclosure flanked by curved air vents. As expected, there is a wood and chrome-ringed steering wheel, switchgear in the standard places (including dual-zone climate control), a gated console shifter, and what looks to be a very large center console.
The interior is markedly more conservative than what Chrysler teased with the 200C Concept from January's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, but admittedly, that concept was designed to give a future glimpse of the 300's kid brother, the Sebring). The 200C employed such show car details as a chrome single-spoke steering wheel, a screen in place of the main gauge binnacle, and a sophisticated all-in-one climate/stereo/nav unit that flowed out of a center console.
Despite that, the 300 "spy shot" looks to be a major leap forward in terms of unified style and potentially materials.
No definitive word yet on a date when the rest of the car will be revealed, so for now, 300 fans, you'll have to be content with this.
Photo Copyright ©2009 Chris Paukert / Weblogs, Inc.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Bubbles 11:31AM (4/08/2009)
That's horrible.
Reply
Jei 11:56AM (4/08/2009)
Agreed. Hopefully, Giles will look at the CTS or A8 interior before making the final call on this one.
They a balance b/t form & function w/o looking too busy.
Taglane 12:31PM (4/08/2009)
Oh please. You guys are just angry that Chrysler is starting to make good interiors, and you have no one else to hate on except for yourselves.
jmo.
Sal Collaziano 12:33PM (4/08/2009)
Damn! I actually like it! I like the color of the wood grain.. It's a huge improvement over the current model.. It looks luxurious and classy to me.. I'm really surprised that most of you don't like it...
Sal Collaziano
http://www.madisonross.com
Enigmatic 12:40PM (4/08/2009)
Well, it's not like the old 300 interior was great anyways. Anything would be a step up from that. If the materials are good quality (they don't look cheap, but you never know until you actually sit in the car) then it would be a decent interior even if the styling is a little bland.
Xcountryflyer 12:41PM (4/08/2009)
That's the best they could come up with? It is pedestrian and not very inspired.
Rev 12:56PM (4/08/2009)
How exciting, Chrysler is going to step into the 1990s! The new millennium can't be too far behind.
Like Back to the Future without the Delorean. Can't wait to be forced to rent one of these fleetmobiles...
Jei 1:36PM (4/08/2009)
@ tagline:
I actually like the Chrysler interiors. I bought a 300C when it was 1st released in early 2004 and I'd still have it if I didn't have a kid & 1 on the way.
I just want Chrysler to push the envelope in design & quality. What they have works and is OK, but their interiors just aren't as competitive to other vehicles in their respective categories. The interiors for their near-luxury vehicles (300, Aspen, Grd Cherokee) should exude confidence w/o the need for an explanation.
I'm not hatin' on Chrysler, I just want the company to do better and be better b/c they are capable of doing so.
Harley Cook 1:45PM (4/08/2009)
It still looks like an old grampa car!....WAKE UP CHRYSLER!
ricky 11:30PM (4/08/2009)
Put the gun in your mouth and pull the trigger please :)
We dont need you harming lives when you get a drivers license.
tekd 1:45PM (4/09/2009)
lol I love how the Chrysler fanboys are thumbs-downing every comment about the interior not being up to par. Insisting that this is great is retarded when it's obvious that most people dislike it-that ain't gonna help sales.
It's a step up from the current Chrysler interiors, but this thing very obviously belongs in a circa-2002 vehicle.
That would be blatantly obvious to the Chrysler fanboys if they actually bothered to drive cars with non-Chrysler interiors once in a while.
Anyways, Chrysler can still fix it so quit thumbs downing people's complaints, Chrysler needs to hear them so they can make a friggin' interior that doesn't suck.
Dan 2:26PM (4/08/2009)
Reminds me of a Crown Victoria.
That's not a good thing.
Reply
Ben 11:34AM (4/08/2009)
Between this and the Grand Cherokee, Chrysler's interiors are looking more Korean or Chinese than even the Koreans or Chinese.
I'll take a Genesis.
Chrysler hasn't made a good interior since the 1999 300M, which was good looking and full of soft-touch materials.
Reply
wolverinejoe80 11:36AM (4/08/2009)
genesis interior kills this thing.
this isn't too bad, but it looks like it's an SUV interior.
homunculus 11:40AM (4/08/2009)
the sonata interior kills this thing.
what the hell is wrong with chrysler?
nice soft lens effect too, it really works.
Sektor 12:14PM (4/08/2009)
The interiors in KIA's are better than this thing.
thomas 12:17PM (4/08/2009)
the genesis steering wheel is very plain and dark. could go into any car.
the chrysler's is unique and compliments the 300's look and feel. i especially like the way the steering wheel is split between wood and leather: outer-wood, inner-leather.
the guages on the hyundai are equally as annonymous, while the chrysler's look brighter and more dynamic
the chrysler appears to have a touch screen nav while the genesis has a cluster of buttons underneath its screen.
the hyundai's IP may be swoopier, but thats because it compliments the swoopier exterior... lets try and remember what the exterior of the 300 looks (will look?) like.
thomas 12:21PM (4/08/2009)
@Sektor I KNOW RIGHT!!!
http://image.motortrend.com/f/10038963/112_0806_07z+2008_kia_optima+interior_view.jpg
idiot.
wolverinejoe80 12:38PM (4/08/2009)
thomas
why are you comparing to optima? it's 4-5 year old design. and loaded optima is selling for about 20k right now.
you need to look at these NEW Kia interiors. times are changing. Kia is getting better and better.
amanti(ugly exterior though)
http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/12/amanti-interior-01_1280.jpg
sorrento
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-kia-sorento-4/1468026/
VG
http://www.kia-world.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/kiavg-5-interior.jpg
AZZO45b 12:38PM (4/08/2009)
What's wrong with Chrysler???
They have lost 40% of their white collar work force & they are rubbing nickels & dimes together to come up with mild re-freshes of already OLD product!!!
Is it world class... NO! but hardly 3rd world $**T that many AE posters think it is.