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]