The Chrysler 300 was a reputation that the model would revisit again and again in each manufacturing and idea automobile kind, however no 300 wore the badge higher than the 300 Hemi C Concept.
The Chrysler 300 and its letter sequence automobiles had gained legendary standing from its run within the Nineteen Fifties by means of the late Sixties, throughout which period it was used on every part from full on muscle automobiles to non-public luxurious coupes. During the 33 12 months interval between the final Chrysler 300M in 1966 and the return of the nameplate in 1999, the 300 appeared as two totally different idea automobiles and one idea prototype, considered one of which was a close to manufacturing prepared idea.
By the final flip of the century the Chrysler 300M was already making a reputation for itself as a luxurious efficiency sedan. Chrysler determined to maintain the great occasions rolling:
“The straight-line energy of the ‘50s and ‘60s has been replaced by a balance of crisp handling and sophisticated performance, yet the Chrysler 300 Hemi C still reflects the same philosophy and pedigree of those early letter series cars,” Tom Gale, then-Vice President at Chrysler said at the 300 Hemi C’s introduction in 2000. “This vehicle explores a direction we might take if we were to return to an all-American V-8, rear-wheel-drive luxury performance car such as the famed 1957 Chrysler 300 C convertible.”
The end result was an idea that rode on the identical LH platform because the manufacturers cab-forward sedans on the time. It was an extended, front-engined, rear wheel-drive convertible that was designed round an early model of the model’s 5.7-liter Hemi V8 as Chrysler’s senior design supervisor on the time Joe Dehner described:
It is as if we stretched the physique across the V8 HEMI engine. The idea’s rear-wheel-drive set-up allowed for a minimal entrance overhang, whereas the entrance fender air exhaust ports and the centrally positioned chrome twin exhaust pipes sign its efficiency. And just like […] the Chrysler Sebring, this idea is a real four-seat convertible.
Up entrance was the grille that was impressed by the unique Chrysler 300 flanked by huge spherical headlights that look virtually an identical to those used on the manufacturing 300M topped off by an enormous hood with a middle peak line. Alongside have been chrome bodyside moldings with the outside getting lined in a paint colour referred to as Frosted Mocha Pearlcoat that ought to have been used throughout all of Chrysler’s lineup on the time. Big 19-inch wheels helped emphasize the automobile’s design.
The rear was simply as good-looking as the remainder of the automobile, with taillights impressed by the 300M with amber flip indicators, twin middle exit exhaust and an built-in excessive mounted cease mild that sat on high of Chrysler’s winged badge.
Under the hood, although, was the one factor from the idea that ever really made it to manufacturing; the Hemi C was geared up with an early prototype model of Chrysler’s 5.7-liter Hemi V8. It made 353 horsepower and 353 lb-ft of torque and was paired to a 4 pace computerized transmission.
The inside of the Hemi C actually confirmed manufacturing intent although. Chrysler designers introduced a wonderful consideration to element inside, from the California Walnut trim to the tailor-made seats, even within the one contact energy folding high. From the gated shifter to the controls, this might have simply been constructed and bought properly. It additionally had some spectacular tech for the time.
It featured an infotainment system Chrysler referred to as “Infotronic” that included an in-dash GPS navigation system, an LCD show with voice command perform for varied options just like the local weather management and audio system, a trunk mounted laptop computer and even web entry to run it. Even the automobile’s safety was forward of its time. The idea featured a fingerprint scanner that unlocked the automobile. If a fingerprint was scanned that wasn’t registered to the automobile’s system, it wouldn’t begin or open.
While the idea ultimately light into obscurity with the just about surprising debut of the Chrysler 300C sedan just a few years later, it’s cool to look again on what may have been had Chrysler gone a extra luxurious route with the legendary nameplate.
Source: jalopnik.com