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| 2011 Chrysler 300 |
The 2011 Chrysler 300 is not an all-new car. Execs on hand at the vehicle's launch here in San Diego, Cali. called it a machine sent to, "finishing school." A prime example: The rear-drive chassis originally sourced from Mercedes in the DaimlerChrysler days remains, but by re-tuning the independent suspension and adding electro-hydraulic steering, the XL sedan handles more handsomely and feels smaller at the wheel. Chrysler's leaned the wheels in a little more too (called negative camber) and upgraded the tires on all models to aid the corner carving cause.
Headlining the powertrain story is the arrival - and not a moment to soon - of Chrysler's new 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 as the standard engine. Debuted in the Jeep Grand Cherokee last year, it makes 292 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque here. That's an increase of 42 hp and 10 lb-ft over the old 3.5L, not to mention a four miles per gallon bump in fuel economy.
