LET’S turn the clock back 50 years for a second.
In 1962, Australia’s favourite large car was a Holden, Ford’s Falcon was floundering so badly pundits predicted the end of local production, and Chrysler launched a powerful and sassy rival called the Valiant.
The comparison to the landscape today is uncanny, only this time, Chrysler’s offering in the large-car market is the re-born 300.
As before, the showy newcomer is positioned slightly above the locals, but compensates by offering compelling powertrains, plenty of features and bold American attitude.
It all makes one ask: Does anything ever really change?

LE 300C
Released: November 2005
Ended: June 2012
Family Tree: 300AS one of the biggest comebacks of the last decade, Chrysler’s 300C brought the American brand back to the forefront of the luxury car market, quickly outselling (and eventually killing) the Ford Fairlane that was one of its chief rivals.
Based on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, it initially arrived powered with 183kW/340Nm 3.5-litre V6 and headline-grabbing 250kW/575Nm 5.7-litre Hemi V8 with multi-displacement cylinder shut-off engine, driving the rear wheels via a five-speed automatic transmission also pinched from Daimler.
From 2006 the sizzling 317kW/569Nm 6.1-litre SRT8 performance sedan arrived to give its FPV GT and HSV Senator rivals something to think about, while a wagon bodystyle and a Mercedes-developed 160kW/510Nm 3.0-litre CRD V6 turbo-diesel engine also joined the fray by the end of that year.
Minor updates to cabin, engine efficiency, safety, refinement, and specifications followed from early 2008, ensuring the 300C’s popularity until close to the release of the new model in 2012.
Get the full story: Chrysler tweaks the edges of its successful 300C sedan and wagon range
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