- The 2023 Chrysler 300C is a limited-production send-off for the 300, with 2000 examples set to be sold in the United States.
- The 300C is powered by the familiar 6.4-liter Hemi V-8, producing 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque.
- The 300C starts at $56,595.
After nearly two decades, the Chrysler 300 will cease production following the 2023 model year. But the 300 will not go quietly into the night, instead roaring towards the grave with a 6.4-liter Hemi V-8. This is the heart of the limited-edition 300C, revealed ahead of the Detroit auto show, with only 2000 units of the brawny sedan set to be built for the United States and an extra 200 for Canada.
That 391-cubic-inch engine cranks out 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque, with Chrysler claiming a 4.3-second sprint to 60 mph and a 12.4 second quarter-mile time. Top speed is a claimed 160 mph. This engine was previously featured in the 300 SRT, built from 2012 to 2015, but that car's version of this V-8 made 15 fewer horsepower. This engine also powers 392-badged Dodge Chargers, Challengers, and Jeep Wranglers, plus the Durango and Grand Cherokee SRT models. Now all that’s left for Chrysler to do is rip out the Pacifica minivan's Stow ’N Go seats and replace them with the 6.4-liter to make a mid-engined muscle van.
The 300C comes only with rear-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission, and stopping power comes from red four-piston Brembo brakes. The 300C is also fitted with a limited-slip differential and adaptive dampers. The exterior is styled with black chrome accents on the front end, black headlight and taillight bezels, and round black exhaust tips. The 300C rides on 20-inch wheels and the limited-edition model can be painted Gloss Black, Velvet Red, or Bright White.
A new 300C logo—which echoes the tri-color 300C logo of the 1950s—adorns the front grille and is embossed into the headrests of the black Laguna leather seats. The seats, along with the doors and dashboard, also feature silver contrast stitching. Standard equipment includes a 19-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, plus heated and ventilated seats and a heated steering wheel.
The 2023 300C will cost $56,595, and Chrysler says orders are open now. Chrysler hasn’t revealed much about what lies beyond for the 300 nameplate, but CEO Chris Feuell was quoted in the press release as saying Chrysler will transform with “a fully electrified future.” The Airflow crossover concept from the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show looked nearly production-ready and is likely to form part of Chrysler’s EV lineup, but its unclear if the traditional 300 sedan will get an electron-powered revival.
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
