Chrysler announced at the New York show today three new versions of its flagship 300 sedan coming for 2012, including a performance SRT8 version Chrysler calls "the king of the lineup."
The SRT8 "street machine" builds its cred on a 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 pumping out 465 hp. and 465 lb.ft. of torque, up 40 hp. and 45 lb.-ft. over the 6.1-liter HEMI it replaces. . And it is tricked out with 20 in. aluminum and black wheels, high-end audio, black accents and and a special interior in monochrome black or "Radar Red."
Chrysler projects the SRT8's performance at include 0-60 in the high 4-second range, a quarter-mile in the high 12s, 0-100 in less than 16 seconds and top speed of 175 mph. It's also equipped with Brembo brakes that will haul the big sedan down from 60 in 120 feet.
"For those customers who live for the sport of being first, the all-new Chrysler 300 SRT8 is the no compromises king of the hill, featuring the ultimate combination of world-class luxury and performance in our most powerful, best-handling sedan ever," said Olivier Francois, CEO of the Chrysler brand and head of marketing for Chrysler Group.
While specific fuel economy numbers are still to come -- and it's not a 300 eco model -- Chrysler says the bigger Hemi will deliver about 25% better fuel economy on the highway, due to a new exhaust valve system that allows the car to run on four cylinders over a wider rpm range. A side benefit: the new "active exhaust system" also allows for straight-through mid and rear mufflers for more robust Hemi exhaust note under load.
Also coming is an upscale 300C Executive Series billed as the "most luxurious Chrylser sedan ever. It's a premium leather-swathed ride that Chrylser is aiming at folks who want to "reward their hard work."
And a sportier 300S model will target younger buyers and have the first auto offering of the hot Beats by Dr. Dre-brand audio, a 10-speaker system with trunk-mounted sub-woofer. The 300S it's available with Pentastar V-6 or Hemi V-8, the interior is trimmed in trendy matte-finish carbon fiber -- no chrome or faux wood to be seen.
All three will be at dealers in the third quarter.
"We're bringing three new and distinct models to our 300 lineup in 2012 ... each designed with specific consumer lifestyles in mind," said Francois.
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