This is a car that, from the first glance, makes the heart race and the blood pump. It's worthy of the Chrysler name. And that's saying a lot, considering some of the cookie-cutter vehicles they've given us in years past.
It's at once smoother and more luxurious-looking than the previous 300 and instantly recognizable as the same model. That's a feat in itself worthy of great admiration and praise to Chrysler's design team.
The first major change can be seen in the headlamps, which have shed the rounded appearance of the previous decade's models and have become more of a curved rectangle, with brilliant LED lights in a sideways "U" pattern facing inward towards the grille (reminding one of the Audi headlamps, but without that brand's rather garish "pout" look.) These are far more pleasing and more modern than the earlier model, and they are executed much better than on its sister car, the Chrysler 200, which is saddled with lamps that look plain and boring. Here, their excitement is palpable, as it their beauty, and they add to the design significantly.
The grille, even from a distance, is gorgeous, with a slight indentation on either side, making the center prominent and shimmery. The deck of the hood is creased nicely down the center, and one hopes for an even deeper crease in future models, as was seen in the Crossfire.
The side doors are large and tall - one of the defining features of the older model which continues on this one. Thankfully so, since this gives it a character and presence that isn't found on other cars on the road, and while some think this is a "gangsta" feature, it also hearkens back to cars in the '50s and '60s which were larger and heftier than today's models - and looked it.
The overall shape of the car is a symphony of curves that are gentle and pleasing. A crease that leads from just under the rear window into the trunk section carries the eye to the rear with great ease and is quite stunning in its execution
The tail lamps are as beautiful and intricate as the headlamps, with a peaked crease down the center, punctuated with a white section that also features beautiful styling. It's obvious when care has been taken to get the details right. Without these tail lamps, the overall design of the rear section might be compared to the Nissan Altimas of the last decade, which it does still resemble. But the lamps are far more integrated with the lower bumpers than that Altima's was, and the gently curved "wing" on the trunk puts those kinds of comparisons to rest rather quickly.
The interior is lush and gorgeous, as one might expect. The blue-lighted gauges are substantial-looking and quite retro in their styling, and the steering column features a beautiful rendition of the winged Chrysler name badge that can also be found on the hood and tailgate.
With a base price of just over $28,000, Chrysler has positioned the 300 as a true American luxury car (far more plausibly than the 200, which clearly does not belong in that category, despite Chrysler's insistence.) The 300, I believe, will easily hold its own and compete with Buicks and Cadillacs in the same price range, as well as lower-end Lexus's and Acuras. I sincerely hope the build quality lives up to the amazing styling, because if it does, Chrysler has another winner on their hands.
(Both photos above from the Chrysler 300 promotional website: http://www.chrysler.com/en/2012/300.)
