Archive for category Chrysler
Detroit Auto Show Unleashes 2012 Chrysler 300
Posted by in Chrysler on June 23, 2011
Flooding the media outlets with its “Imported From Detroit” campaign, Chrysler stormed into the Detroit Auto Show and unveiled the 2012 Chrysler 300. This historic American car is looking to remake history by retuning, re-mastering, and reengineering the automobile that placed them at the top of American automotive design.
These 2012 300 models are set to take center stage in Chrysler showrooms nationwide this fall with many new updates from the 2011 model. Under the hood, Chrysler has added an all new transmission and engine choice. On the exterior and interior, they have made updates to the wheels, grille, audio system, steering column and seating areas.
The 2012 Chrysler 300 will boast a new transmission that will provide drivers with a sporty feel while providing silky smooth transition between gears. The eight-speed automatic is licensed from the German power train ZF. The all new 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine will also be released in the 2012 model. This engine boasts 292 horse power and enough torque to accelerate from 0 to 60 in under 5 seconds.
Other performance features include the Adaptive Damping Suspension system that uses a variety of inputs to automatically adjust the suspension depending on the road conditions. A specially-tuned fully-hydraulic steering system for better driving feel, revised gearing and a new BREMBO braking system has also been added to these 2012 models. To top it off highway fuel economy has been improved by approximately 25% due to an active valve exhaust system and Chrysler’s Fuel Saver technology.
On the exterior, Chrysler has added some cosmetic tweaks that include body colored accents in the front fascia; a unique black chrome black grille insert with matching black adaptive bi-xenon HID and LED headlamps with SmartBeam technology. This performance tuned machine is also equipped with 20-inch polished aluminum wheels with black painted accents.
Chrysler has also updated the interior by treating its drivers to studio quality sound technology with a 10-speaker, 522-watt audio system developed by Beats by Dr. Dre. Also included in the redesigned interior are piano black cloth interior trim, 12-way power sport bucket seats in the front of the vehicle. Read the rest of this entry »
1957 Chrysler 300-C
Posted by in Chrysler on June 23, 2011
On November 29, 1956, Chrysler brought the ’57 Chrysler 300-C to market and billed it as “America’s highest-performing automobile”. It had the option of a Hemi engine that sported a horsepower of 375 to 390, much higher than many of its peer automobiles at the time.
Power and Blazing Fast
The ’57 Chrysler 300-C was the third version of car in Chrysler’s 300 series. The 1957 Chrysler 300-C, a big automobile that sat low to the ground, was full of comfort and luxury while having excellent power and handing. Both of the prior versions of the Chrysler 300 (the C300 and 300B) had won the NASCAR Grand National Stock Car Championships as well as the Women’s National Speed Trial Championships in both 1955 and 1956. So it was no surprise when the ’57 Chrysler 300-C beat the unofficial stock car record at the Chelsea Proving Grounds with an average speed of 145.7 mph. It also won the “Flying Mile” at Daytona with a top speed of 134 mph. This was achieved with a base V-8 engine which pumped out 375 horsepower at over 5,200 rpm.
Luxury and Comfort
The ’57 Chrysler 300-C, based on the New Yorker with lots of changes, was built using body-on-frame construction. It had new 14-inch wheels as well as new dual headlights which allowed for up to 75 feet more vision when driving at night.
The ’57 Chrysler 300-C featured a large windshield, a unique grill on the front, front door vent windows, and a red, white and blue emblem that sported the 300-C logo. The rear had tail fins to help stabilize the 300-C at high speeds and twin backup lights that were set above large tail lamps. The exterior colors were all monotone (red, green, brown, white, or black) unless a special order was made.
The interior had the best that Chrysler had to offer. Tan leather was standard for the interior. The door panels had silver appliques and both the wheel and glove compartment had “300″ medallions. The ’57 Chrysler 300-C also had a TorqueFlite automatic transmission which was operated by push button. The TorqueFlite was connected to the 300-C’s standard 392 Hemi V-8 engine. Chrysler’s TorqueFlite transmission was a mainstay for the company from 1956 through the early 1990′s, by the way and it is said to be one of the smoothest and trouble-free transmissions to have ever been designed. Read the rest of this entry »