2017 Chrysler 300S - Murdered Out Modern Muscle Fights Malaise

by Steph Willems

Published: March 23rd, 2016

2017 chrysler 300s murdered out modern muscle fights malaise

Chrysler’s venerable 300 has seen its fair share of wardrobe changes since debuting for the 2005 model year, and it’s now come back from the closet with more.

Not wanting to be absent from all the action happening at the New York Auto Show, Chrysler dutifully showed up to display the interior and exterior Sport Appearance Packages that will come standard on the V8-powered 2017 300S.

Dressing up a model that’s already been refreshed once since its second generation bowed five years ago can be a challenge, but the 300 is the torchbearer for the brand’s scant lineup and needs to stay visible.

The exterior package sports a facelifted fascia with larger air intakes, body-colored front lip and two rows of LED foglights, while 20-inch wheels, sportier side sills and a decklid spoiler round out the changes further aft.

Perforated leather and suede front seats and “Piano Black” painted trim can be expected with the interior sport package, and can be matched to a new “industrial-looking” Ceramic Gray exterior paint (surely pleasing the small group of people who demand a slightly meaner full-size, mid-range American sedan).

Both packages are optional on the base 300S, which carries a 300-horsepower version of the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, eight-speed automatic transmission, available sport-tuned suspension and optional all-wheel drive.

Sales of the 2017 300S begin in August.

Sadly for Chrysler, the 300’s sales have fallen for the past three years, following a post-recession uptick that only amounted to half of its pre-recession numbers.

With Fiat Chrysler Automobiles focusing its attention on the red-hot Jeep and Ram divisions, Chrysler has been left with only the 300 and new Pacifica minivan to represent the storied brand ( the 200 has been given the axe, though it’s currently in a weird purgatory).

In fact, if you crank up the stereo system in any of its cars, the tune playing just might be Queen’s “Keep Yourself Alive.”

[Images: FCS US LLC] [Source: GoodCarBadCar]

#Chrysler #Chrysler300s #FCEChrysler300 #FiatChryslerAutomobiles #Full-sizeCars #SportPackage

Steph Willems

More by Steph Willems

Comments

Join the conversation

2 of 122 comments

Hasnain on Aug 23, 2022

I am very happy to read this article. Thanks for giving us Amazing info. Fantastic post.
Thanks For Sharing such an informative article, Im taking your feed also, Thanks.

Like Reply
Hasnain on Aug 23, 2022

I am very happy to read this article. Thanks for giving us Amazing info. Fantastic post.
Thanks For Sharing such an informative article, Im taking your feed also, Thanks.

Like Reply

Recent Comments

Dr.Nick What about Infiniti? Some of those cars might be interesting, whereas not much at Nissan interest me other than the Z which is probably big bucks.
Dave Holzman My '08 Civic (stick, 159k on the clock) is my favorite car that I've ever owned. If I had to choose between the current Civic and Corolla, I'd test drive 'em (with stick), and see how they felt. But I'd be approaching this choice partial to the Civic. I would not want any sort of automatic transmission, or the turbo engine.
Merc190 I would say Civic Si all the way if it still revved to 8300 rpm with no turbo. But nowadays I would pick the Corolla because I think they have a more clear idea on their respective models identity and mission. I also believe Toyota has a higher standard for quality.
Dave Holzman I think we're mixing up a few things here. I won't swear to it, but I'd be damned surprised if they were putting fire retardant in the seats of any cars from the '50s, or even the '60s. I can't quite conjure up the new car smell of the '57 Chevy my parents bought on October 17th of that year... but I could do so--vividly--until the last five years or so. I loved that scent, and when I smelled it, I could see the snow on Hollis Street in Cambridge Mass, as one or the other parent got ready to drive me to nursery school, and I could remember staring up at the sky on Christmas Eve, 1957, wondering if I might see Santa Claus flying overhead in his sleigh. No, I don't think the fire retardant on the foam in the seats of 21st (and maybe late 20th) century cars has anything to do with new car smell. (That doesn't mean new car small lacked toxicity--it probably had some.)
ToolGuy Is this a website or a podcast with homework? You want me to answer the QOTD before I listen to the podcast? Last time I worked on one of our vehicles (2010 RAV4 2.5L L4) was this past week -- replaced the right front passenger window regulator (only problem turned out to be two loose screws, but went ahead and installed the new part), replaced a bulb in the dash, finally ordered new upper dash finishers (non-OEM) because I cracked one of them ~2 years ago.Looked at the mileage (157K) and scratched my head and proactively ordered plugs, coils, PCV valve, air filter and a spare oil filter, plus a new oil filter housing (for the weirdo cartridge-type filter). Those might go in tomorrow. Is this interesting to you? It ain't that interesting to me. 😉The more intriguing part to me, is I have noticed some 'blowby' (but is it) when the oil filler cap is removed which I don't think was there before. But of course I'm old and forgetful. Is it worth doing a compression test? Leakdown test? Perhaps if a guy were already replacing the plugs...