Autoblog

Chrysler 300 Glacier edition ready to chill with AWD

Jeffrey N. Ross — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 10:01:00 EST

It seems that word is finally out on the redone Chrysler 300, as evidenced by the fact that the model's sales almost doubled last year compared to 2011 (when the distinctive sedan was a little slow out of the gates). One thing that's likely helping the car is a growing number of unique models like the 300S, 300 SRT8 and the new 300C John Varvatos Luxury Edition, and now one more trim has joined the lineup. Initially announced back in September, the 300 Glacier is on sale now with a starting price of $36,845 (*not including a $995 destination charge).

Designed with cold-weather climates in mind, the 300 Glacier is only available with all-wheel drive. Chrysler says the Glacier will run an additional $1,500 over the 300S AWD off which this car is based, but that extra money gets unique 19-inch aluminum wheels, an exclusive Glacier Blue Pearl Coat paint job and special interior treatments including piano black accents and fancier leather seats and stitching. Like the 300S, power from the Pentastar V6 has been bumped up to an even 300 horsepower (up from 292 hp) with the aid of a cold-air induction and freer-breathing exhaust. Naturally, the 363-hp Hemi V8 is still available, too.

For more information, scroll down to check out Chrysler's official press release.

Continue reading Chrysler 300 Glacier edition ready to chill with AWD

Chrysler 300 Glacier edition ready to chill with AWD originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 Jan 2013 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler sponsors The Dark Knight Rises, goes Imported From Gotham City

Zach Bowman — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 19:15:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Chrysler, Celebrities

Chrysler and Warner Brothers have partnered up on a new ad for the 300S and The Dark Knight Rises. The spot shows a special concept version of the big sedan being stitched together in Bruce Wayne's underground lab to music borrowed from the film.

Details are scarce on the custom "Dark Knight Rises" edition Chrysler 300S, though the changes look to be mostly aesthetic. A new matte black paint scheme, special wheels and, most importantly, a jet engine thruster are all part of the dressings. At the end of the ad, "Imported from Gotham City" replaces the "Imported from Detroit" tag line.

The Dark Knight Rises is set to be released on July 20, though the Chrysler ad will debut tonight on ABC. Fiat and Chrysler marketing chief Olivier Francois published a post on Chrysler's official blog introducing the commercial, and you can read it here.

For some reason, we doubt Batman would ever find himself behind the wheel of a 300S - the latest trailer for The Dark Knight Rises features Catwoman behind the wheel of Wayne's Lamborghini Aventador. Take a look at both the trailer and the ad for yourself below.

Continue reading Chrysler sponsors The Dark Knight Rises, goes Imported From Gotham City

Chrysler sponsors The Dark Knight Rises, goes Imported From Gotham City originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jun 2012 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Hyundai Genesis Sedan vs. 2012 Chrysler 300S [w/video]

Michael Harley — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Chrysler, Hyundai, Luxury, Comparisons

Battle Of The Budget-Friendly Full-Size RWD Luxury Sedans

The Hyundai Genesis Sedan and Chrysler 300S are much more alike than they are different.

Why compare a Hyundai to a Chrysler? At first glance, this matchup may seem rather preposterous, but a logical argument says this rivalry has been in place for more than a decade. In 2002, Chrysler and Hyundai were both offering full-size front-wheel-drive sedans. Hyundai had its XG350 fitted with a 194-horsepower 3.5-liter V6, while Chrysler was touting its Concorde with a 214-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 (each shared an EPA rating of 16 mpg city and 24 mpg highway). Not only were both remarkably similar on paper, but both sedans started at about $25,000.

Today, Hyundai and Chrysler remain in the full-size arena with products that are infinitely more interesting, significantly more powerful and immeasurably more engaging to drive - they also happen to be the only two rear-wheel-drive luxury sedans left in this price segment.

Sensing an interesting fight, we rounded up a 2012 Hyundai Genesis sedan and a 2012 Chrysler 300S for a driving comparison. After several hundred miles of city, canyon and highway had passed swiftly beneath their undercarriages, one clear winner had emerged.

Continue reading 2012 Hyundai Genesis Sedan vs. 2012 Chrysler 300S [w/video]

2012 Hyundai Genesis Sedan vs. 2012 Chrysler 300S [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Latest Chrysler "Imported From Detroit" ad trades in Eminem for poetry on Thanksgiving

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Chrysler, Luxury

Edgar Albert Guest was a transplanted Detroiter, his family having moved from Birmingham, England to The Motor City well before Detroit earned that nickname. From there, he embraced the city and life itself, penning more than 10,000 poems with titles like "On Quitting" and "It Takes a Heap O' Livin'." His works had simple, inspiring themes that earned him the title of The People's Poet and the only-ever Poet Laureateship of Michigan. And it is he that Chrysler has turned to for its next Imported from Detroit commercial, advertising the 2012 Chrysler 300.

Guest's poem "See it Through," a lash of encouragement for the folks battling World War I, is spoken over snatches of Detroit still-lifes: children swinging, NFL fans tailgating, a grocer in his doorway. Underneath all that, Muddy Waters does a little bit of his version of "Mannish Boy." It doesn't have the shock and grit of Eminem's take, but it's just as good.

In fact, it's so good at recasting images of Detroit that we thought the city itself should do the same for itself, then AdWeek found out someone else already did. Boat Magazine, a biannual English magazine about cities, did its second issue on Detroit. To advertise it, Boat produced a video using voiceover of the same Guest poem and its own quotidian scenes of the city. Chalk up another one for high coincidence. If you missed the commercial during yesterday's Thanksgiving Day Lion's game, you can check it out after the jump - and we've even included the Boat Magazine vid for good measure.

Continue reading Latest Chrysler "Imported From Detroit" ad trades in Eminem for poetry on Thanksgiving

Latest Chrysler "Imported From Detroit" ad trades in Eminem for poetry on Thanksgiving originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dr. Dre rolls through Los Angeles in new ad for 2012 Chrysler 300S w/ Beats Audio

Jeff Glucker — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:04:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Chrysler

Dr. Dre shows off the 2012 Chrysler 300S with Beats Audio - Click above to watch video after the jump

First it was Eminem and the Chrysler 200. The "Imported from Detroit" campaign kicked off with one of Detroit's favorite sons. Next, the all-new 300 jumped into the spotlight with the help of Ndamukong Suh in Portland, Oregon, and John Varvatos in New York City. Now, it's time for Eminem's mentor, Dr. Dre, and the city of Los Angeles to grab the torch.

The spot is titled "Good Things", and it features Dre riding through LA at night. The format is the same as previous spots, but this time, the car shown is the 2012 Chrysler 300S, which has been fitted with a Dr. Dre-branded Beats Audio system. Click past the jump to watch the rapper-turned-entrepreneur and his pumped-up 300S.

Continue reading Dr. Dre rolls through Los Angeles in new ad for 2012 Chrysler 300S w/ Beats Audio

Dr. Dre rolls through Los Angeles in new ad for 2012 Chrysler 300S w/ Beats Audio originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2011: Chrysler 300S first to get new eight-speed transmission

Zach Bowman — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Chrysler, Luxury

2012 Chrysler 300S - Click above for high-res image gallery

Chrysler has officially announced that the company's 2012 300S model will be the first of its products to carry a new eight-speed ZF transmission. We've been waiting to see the gearbox show up in a production vehicle since the smallest of the Big Three first made news about the transmission's development last year, and it looks like the wait is finally over.

At first, the eight-speed will only be found in the new 300S with the company's 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. Check the boxes for all-wheel drive or the more impressive 5.7-liter V8 and it'll be all five-speed, all the time for you.

Chrysler is currently in the midst of retooling its transmission facility in Kokomo, Indiana to build the new gearbox here in the States. Until that happens, each of the new cog-swappers will be purchased directly from ZF in Germany. Hence the limited availability.

In addition to the new transmission, the 300S packs a Beats by Dr. Dre ten-speaker stereo system and unique piano-black interior accents along with the standard goodies found in the Luxury Package. That means Nappa leather, a rear-view camera, rain-sensing wipers and a power tilt and telescoping steering column are all part of the deal. Hit the jump for the full press blast.

Gallery: 2012 Chrysler 300S: New York 2011

Gallery: 2012 Chrysler 300S

Continue reading New York 2011: Chrysler 300S first to get new eight-speed transmission

New York 2011: Chrysler 300S first to get new eight-speed transmission originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler reveals slew of special-edition models for 2010

Dan Roth — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Chrysler, Design/Style

2010 Chrysler 300 S8 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Chrysler has carefully picked its words, saying that the 300 S6 and 300 S8 are all-new models that build on the rear-wheel-drive sedan's roots. Don't fret, the cosmetic updates are welcome; there's a new blacked-out grille this year and 20-inch alloys to fill out those classic bold wheelarches. The S6 and S8, while blatantly ripping off Audi nomenclature (do we smell a lawsuit?), denotes whether the car's packing a six- or eight-cylinder powerplant.

Interiors have been updated as well, and the words that Chrysler chose to describe them make them sound like Xanadu on wheels. In the pictures, however, the changes appear to include more heavily bolstered seats with embroidered logos and leather and cloth surfaces. The dashboard and other surfaces don't seem to be much different than what we've criticized in the past, though it could be the same design (which is fine) just rendered in improved materials.

Other vehicles are also coming in for a refreshing in 2010. The continually dead/not-dead PT Cruiser gets a Couture Edition with a dressed up interior and two-tone paint. The Town & Country Walter P. Chrysler Signature Series also looks to get much-needed interior attention, though we'll only be convinced of its quality after running our mitts over the nicely-photographed wares.

Gallery: 2010 Special Edition Chrysler models

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Chrysler reveals slew of special-edition models for 2010

Chrysler reveals slew of special-edition models for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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