2006 Chrysler 300C SE With DVD

Vehicle Overview Chrysler's first 300 series premiered in 1955 as a high-performance hardtop coupe that held a 300-horsepower Hemi V-8. In its 1999 to 2004 iteration, the Chrysler 300M was a front-wheel-drive sedan with V-6 power. A completely different line of 300 sedans joined Chrysler's lineup for 2005. Instead of front-drive, the new 300 had rear-wheel drive. V-6 power is standard, but the sedan can be fitted with Chrysler's Hemi V-8, and is then called the 300C. An innovative Multi-Displacement System automatically shuts down half of the Hemi's cylinders when the car is cruising easily. The system shuts off both valves for unused cylinders, which Chrysler says can yield a 10 to 20 percent improvement in fuel economy. To counteract concerns that the rear-drive 300C wouldn't handle properly on snow and ice, Chrysler installed an Electronic Stability Program. An all-wheel-drive version was added late in 2004. For 2006, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system with a 7-inch screen in the center console is available. A high-performance SRT8 edition equipped with a 425-hp Hemi V-8 went on sale in spring 2005. SRT8 Introduced as a mid-2005 model, the SRT8 takes performance a big step further. Engineers enlarged the Hemi V-8 engine to 6.1 liters it produces 425 hp and 420 pounds-feet of torque. Acceleration to 60 mph is in the low-five-second range, according to Chrysler. The power-adjustable front sport seats are highly bolstered. Full instrumentation, a six-CD changer and power-adjustable pedals are installed. A tire-pressure monitor has been added to the 2006 model, and a Kicker audio system is available. On the road, the SRT8 comes across as almost a brute, but a truly refined one. Few sedans are flatter in curves, but rolling over pavement expansion joints produces some loud sounds. Overall, though, you get an appealing ride with tight, precise control. The throaty exhaust seems a bit out of character for a modern-day Chrysler, but it fits right in with the SRT8's performance capabilities