Chrysler has bolstered its engine lineup for the 300C with the introduction of an all-new diesel power unit.

Chrysler’s introduction of the compact and lightweight, aluminium 3.0-litre CRD engine makes the 300C the first vehicle in the upper large segment (under $100,000) to offer a diesel, further strengthening the models position.

With 160 kW of power and 510 Nm of torque, the V6 diesel engine offers outstanding performance, refinement and fuel efficiency (8.2L/100km) and includes, as standard, a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF).

With the introduction of the 3.0-litre CRD, a total of four engines are available to provide the optimum in powertrain choices for 300C buyers. The diesel engine joins the high performance 300C SRT8 6.1-litre V8, the 5.7-litre V8 and 3.5-litre V6 in the line-up.

Chrysler has continued its aggressive pricing strategy with the 3.0-litre CRD. At $57,990 the all-new diesel model is priced $2,000 below the 5.7-litre V8.

“The 300C has been a run-away success in Australia, as it has been around the globe,” said Gerry Jenkins, managing director, Chrysler Group Australia/Pacific.

“Now with the addition of the 3.0-litre CRD engine, we are leading the way as the first vehicle in the segment to offer a diesel powertrain.

“The new diesel rounds off a comprehensive engine range and we have continued our aggressive pricing to ensure the 300C is top of mind when customers consider their next vehicle,” said Jenkins.

The 300C CRD will begin arriving in Chrysler dealerships around Australia this month.

All-new high-performance diesel engine and transmission

Based on the latest Mercedes-Benz technology, the new CRD engine is fitted with Bosch high-pressure fuel injection (1600+ bar), a variable geometry turbocharger, four valves per cylinder with dual overhead camshafts, and Piezo injectors with a 0.1 millisecond response time. The new engine meets Euro 4 emissions standards and includes an integrated diesel particulate filter. Maximum power is 160 kW and peak torque is 510 Nm from just 1,600 rpm.

For this powertrain, the choice of materials, design, fuel injection and engine management system reflects the state-of-the-art engineering adopted during its development. The 3.0-litre CRD engine features an aluminium block with cast-in grey iron cylinder liners, which make a major contribution to weight reduction. As a result, the new V6 weighs only 208 kg.

The new diesel engine is an exceptionally smooth running power unit thanks to features such as low-friction valve gear, larger bearings for the crankshaft, connecting rods made from a new alloy and a counter-rotating balancer shaft between the cylinder banks. A quick-start glow system shortens preheating time to just a moment, so that the diesel is nearly as quick to start as a petrol engine.

The 3.0-litre CRD engine embodies third-generation common-rail technology. The result is a reduction in fuel consumption, exhaust emissions and combustion noise. Newly developed Piezo ceramic fuel injectors operate much more rapidly and precisely than previous solenoid valves, and ensure a particularly finely metered fuel supply to each cylinder. Their crystalline structure allows the fuel injection to be accurately adjusted to match current load and engine speed. The number of fuel injections per power stroke has been increased from three to five, at a peak pressure of up to 1600 bar.

The new engine was developed as a ‘one-box-concept’ with the cylinder block, add-on components and ancillary units forming a uniquely compact power unit. The camshaft bearings are integrated into the cylinder heads and cylinder head covers, which saves space and cuts noise. The four camshafts are driven by a tried-and-tested double-bush timing chain system, which also operates the balancer shaft and high-pressure fuel injection pump.

Four additional features are key to outstanding performance of the 3.0-litre CRD engine. A Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT) uses electronic adjustment to rapidly and precisely vary the angle of the turbine blades to maintain charge pressure over a broad range of operating conditions and enable the engine to generate high levels of torque even at low engine speeds. This turbocharger is combined with a downstream intercooler, which reduces the temperature of the compressed, heated air by up to 95 degrees Celsius, allowing a larger volume of air to reach the combustion chambers. A newly developed valve control system for the 24 valves reduces both friction and moving masses. Electronically controlled intake port shut-offs adjust the turbulence of air entering the cylinders to optimize the combustion process and ensure three benefits - more power, lower fuel consumption and lower exhaust emissions.

For the 3.0-litre CRD engine unit, a new W5A580 five-speed automatic transmission offers smooth shifts and optimum fuel economy. It features Electronic Range Select driver interactive shift control wherein the shifter provides fully automatic shifting in the “Drive” position, or the driver can manually select each gear sequentially by moving the shift lever left or right from the “Drive” position. This gives the driver the control to precisely match any driving requirement.

The 3.0-litre CRD engine is joining an impressive powertrain lineup. The 3.5-litre V6 engine delivers higher output with a perfect blend of performance and economy. For more spirited driving, Chrysler 300C customers can choose the 5.7-litre V8 power unit. And for performance, the 6.1-litre V8 tops the range.

Available Performance

• Four engine choices including:
  • 6.1-litre V8, with a five-speed AutoStick automatic transmission
  • 5.7-litre V8 with Multi-Displacement System (MDS), and a five- speed
    
• AutoStick automatic transmission
  • 3.5-litre V6 with a five-speed AutoStick automatic transmission
  • 3.0-litre V6 CRD with a five-speed AutoStick automatic transmission
    
• Rear wheel drive configuration
  
• Short-arm and long-arm (SLA) front suspension and independent five-bar multilink rear suspension
  
• Rack and pinion steering
  
• 18-inch polished five-spoke, split-spoke alloy wheels
  

Chrysler 300C standard features at a glance (3.0-litre V6 CRD, 3.5-litre V6 and 5.7-litre V8)

• Leather seats– heated driver and front passenger seats
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel with flush-mounted audio, trip computer controls and vehicle information controls
• Driver and front passenger adjustable lumbar support
• Eight-way power driver and passenger seats
• Dual-zone automatic temperature control with infrared and sun sensor
• Express-up/down power front windows
• Dual driver memory system controls for driver’s seat, mirrors and radio presets
• Air filtration system
• Electrochromic interior and driver’s rear-view mirror
• 60/40 split folding rear seat
• California walnut wood accents (5.7-litre V8)
• Patented tortoise shell interior accents (3.5-litre V6 and 3.0-litre V6 CRD)
• Boston Acoustics six-speaker premium sound system with 276 watts of digital power (3.5-litre V6)

Additional features on Chrysler 300C 5.7-litre V8

• Six-disc CD
• Boston Acoustic seven speaker premium sound system with 368 watt digital amplifier and subwoofer

Standard safety features (3.0-litre V6 CRD, 3.5-litre V6 and 5.7-litre V8)

• Electronic Stability programme (ESP)
• Emergency Brake Assist
• All-speed Traction Control System (TCS)
• Four-wheel disc Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
• Xenon High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps
• High-pressure headlamp washers
• Driver and front passenger multi-stage front airbags
• Front and rear side-curtain air bags
• Front seat belt pretensioners
• Three-blink lane change turn signal feature
• Rain-sensing windscreen wipers
• Enhanced battery saver
• Ultrasonic rear park assist system
• Sentry Key® engine immobiliser system
• Security alarm with interior monitoring
• Anti-pinch front power windows

Testifying to the Chrysler designers’ efforts in safety and design, the 2005 Chrysler 300C has been awarded five-star ratings for driver and front passenger protection in a frontal crash, the highest rating in the U.S. government’s safety crash test programme, conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The Chrysler 300C sedan is covered by Chrysler's three-year/100,000 kilometre warranty and three-year/unlimited kilometre road side assistance.

The 300C vehicles that are sold in Australia are built at the Magna Steyr manufacturing facility in Graz, Austria.

STANDARD EQUIPMENT

Air Bags* — Next Generation multistage driver and front-passenger
Air Conditioning — Dual Zone Automatic Temperature Control with infrared sensing of driver and passenger body temperatures and sun temperature
Air Filter — Particulate air filter
Battery-Saver Feature — Turns headlamps off after ignition is turned off and shuts off both switched and automatic interior lights. Also features enhanced programmable functions through EVIC
Brakes — Power performance 4-wheel disc anti-lock
Brake-Park Interlock — Prevents an automatic transmission from being shifted out of Park unless brake pedal is applied
Cargo Net
Child-Protection Rear Door Locks
Child Seat Anchor System (LATCH) — Lower child seat anchors and upper tether anchors help ease the installation of aftermarket child seats
Climate Control Outlets — front and rear (located in the rear of centre console)
Console — Floor; includes cup holders, coin holder, cassette and CD storage, and rear-seat heat and A/C outlets
Cruise Control — Electronic with steering column stalk-mounted controls
Cup Holders — Front (2) and rear (2)
Defroster — Electric rear window, front side-window demisters
Door Handles — Bright
Door Locks — Power, includes programmable speed-sensitive auto-lock feature
Dynamic Side-Impact Intrusion Protection — Patented design includes steel side-guard door beams and structural body reinforcements
Electronic Stability programme (ESP) — Includes all-speed traction control and Brake Assist
Electronic Vehicle Information Centre (EVIC) — In-cluster reconfigurable driver-interactive information display
Exhaust System — Stainless steel — Dual with chrome tips (included with 3.0L V6 CRD and V8)
Floor Mats x 4
Fuel Tank — 68 Litre - 3.5L V6 — 71 Litre - 3.0L V6 CRD and 5.7L V8
Lighting — Dual front map, front door courtesy, glove box and trunk lamps, and rear reading lamps above each door — Side repeators — Xenon High Intensity Discharge (HID) with headlamp washers and automatic levelling — Fog lamps (front and rear)
Luxury Leather-Trimmed Seats with Heated Front Seats Memory System — Driver’s seat, radio presets, exterior mirrors — for 2 drivers
Mirrors — Auto-dimming rearview — Illuminated visor vanity — Chrome-accented power heated foldaway with memory, driver’s auto-dimming and auto-adjust in reverse
Rear Park Assist — Ultrasonic
Remote Keyless/Illuminated Entry — Control for power door locks, boot lid release, includes 2 transmitters and memory system
Seat Belt Cluster Lamp — Remains on after engine start until driver buckles up
Seat Belts — Height-adjustable 3-point driver and front-passenger with travelling buckles; 3-point lap/shoulder belts at all rear-seat positions
Seats — Front buckets; rear contoured 60/40 split-folding bench with armrest and cup holders — Power 8-way driver’s with manual adjustable lumbar support — Power 8-way front-passenger with manual adjustable lumbar support
Security Alarm — monitors doors, ignition and interior
Sentry Key ® — Anti-theft Engine Immobiliser
Shift Knob — Tortoise shell-style (3.0L V6 CRD and 3.5L V6) — California Walnut wood-style (5.7L V8)
Smoker’s Group — Includes front and rear ashtray and cigar lighter
Sound Systems — AM/FM stereo with CD player and changer controls (3.5L V6) — Boston Acoustics® 6-speaker with 276-watt digital amplifier (3.5L V6) — AM/FM stereo, in-dash 6-disc MP3-compatible CD player (5.7L V8) — Boston Acoustics 7-speaker plus subwoofer with 368-watt digital amplifier (5.7L V8)
Spare Tyre — Compact
Speedometer — Electroluminescent 260-km/h primary
Steering Column — Tilt
Steering Wheel — Tortoise shell-style trim/leather-wrapped (3.5L V6) — California Walnut wood trim/leather-wrapped (5.7L V8)
Suspension — Short-/long-arm front with lateral links, tension struts and stabiliser bar; independent rear with stabiliser bar
Temperature Display — Outside, located in instrument cluster
Trim — Tortoise Shell-style includes steering wheel upper half, door pull handles and shift knob (3.0L V6 CRD and 3.5L V6) — California Walnut-style includes steering wheel upper half, door pull handles and shift knob (5.7L V8)
Trip Computer — including average fuel economy, distance to empty, travel time and two trip odometers
Tyres — P225/60R18 BSW Pirelli Summer Performance
Wheels — 18" polished aluminium
Windows — Power with front one-touch-up and -down, disable and anti-pinch technology
Windshield Wipers — Programmable rain-sensitive automatic

PRICING AND OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT

Vehicles
Chrysler 300C 3.5-litre high output V6	$53,990
Chrysler 300C 5.7-litre V8	$59,990
Chrysler 300C CRD 3.0-litre V6	$57,990
Chrysler 300C SRT8 6.1-litre V8	$71,990
Optional equipment
Chrysler 300C 3.5-litre high output V6
Premium paint	$300
Power Sunroof	$1,980
Boston Acoustics - 7 speakers with subwoofer	$465
Luxury group (In dash 6-disk MP3-compatible
CD player, California Walnut trim)	$1,100
Cloth trimmed seats (delete leather trim)	-$2,300
Chrysler 300C 3.0-litre CRD
Premium Paint	$370
Power Sunroof	$2,430
Boston Acoustics - 7 speakers with Subwoofer	$570
Luxury Group	$1,350
Cloth Trimmed Seats (delete leather trim)	-$2,300
Chrysler 300C 5.7-litre V8
Premium Paint	$370
Power Sunroof	$2,430
Chrysler 300C SRT8 6.1-litre V8
Power Sunroof	$2,430

Exterior colours
The Chrysler 300C comes in six exterior colours:

• Bright Silver
• Brilliant Black
• Magnesium
• Midnight Blue
• Mineral Grey
• Stone White

*All colours come with a premium paint charge except Stone White

Interior trim
Interior Trim – Dark/Light Slate Grey Leather – standard
Delete leather trim option - 3.5-litre high output V6 and 3.0-litre CRD – Dark/Light Slate Grey Cloth

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