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2005 Chrysler 300 Series Road Test

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Upending the Automotive Status Quo

Every now and then a car comes along that is so important to its maker that the story isnt just about the machinery. Such is the case with Chryslers new 300.

I first saw it at last years New York auto show, and was about as wowed as the rest of my colleagues. Talk about presence, the 300 makes an even more dramatic statement on the road than it did in the show. Passing by generic midsize sedans as if they were nothing more interesting than motorized shopping carts (hold on, that would be more interesting than some of the cars populating our roadways), man, woman and kids stop in their tracks expressing expletives that I best not write in these pages.

The kids, at least one group of them,

The 300 makes an even more dramatic statement on the road than it did on the auto show circuit. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

"Yes," I explained, "50 Cent does have a 300C, lowered with 22-inch rims (base cars incidentally

Even rapper 50 Cent is getting in on the action, with his own lowered 300C with 22-inch rims hes shooting a video with.

Im sorry, but what was the last American sedan that was so over-the-top that it caused one of the biggest rap stars on the continent to feature it in his video? A massive SUV, sure, that happens everyday, but do you think the Ford 500s gonna create that kind of buzz? The Chevy Impala? Not likely.

Once again Chrysler is pushing the limits and sticking their neck out with a radical new car, and it already looks like they have another winner. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press) align="justify">No, Chrysler has once again stuck its neck out to either get hung or pulled up on a pedestal, and considering the 300s value proposition Im certain it will be the latter.

To put things into perspective, the launch team arranged a full assortment of competitive products for comparison drives. The list is about as eclectic as Ive ever seen, starting with a Toyota Avalon at the bottom of the heap, before passing

So what cars will the 300C be competing against? Take your pick, from the Toyota Avalon all the way up to the new BMW 545i, Chrysler has their sights set on everybody. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

by a new Acura TL, Audi A6, Infiniti Q45 and BMW 545i - yeah, the new one. Wait a minute? What does the Avalon have to do with a 5-Series? Nothing really. But the 300 starts at such a reasonable price that the Toyota would be a major financial stretch when compared to the V6 equipped 300, let alone the BMW.

In actuality the V6 equipped "base" 300 starts at a price where the Avalons little brother Camry V6 begins - right inline with the midsize domestic and imported

The 300 represents a level of refinement never before achieved by a domestic carmaker. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

pack. At the top end, in HEMI powered 300C trim, it targets imported entry-luxury cars just like its predecessor 300M did.

But compared to the outgoing front-wheel drive cab-forward 300M, which truly is still one of the best domestically made cars in existence, the 300C is a significant step up the upwardly mobile ladder. Once again, its visual presence is close to overwhelming, resembling Rolls-Royce and Bentley models closer to anything in its price range.