The new model will be priced at $74,990 (RRP).

The newest variant of the 300C family, like the Sedan SRT8, is powered by the SRT engineered 6.1-litre V8, boasting 317 kW and 569 Nm.

The 300C Touring SRT8 Sedan is engineered for incredible acceleration and stopping power, with 20-inch alloy wheels, performance tuned suspension and Brembo brakes.

Add to that the exceptional cargo volumes (up to 1,602 litres), thoughtful features like the unique access rear liftgate and even more aggressive styling to the already menacing wagon proportions.

The latest vehicle from Chrysler also comes with a high level of standard safety equipment including Electronic Stability Programme, anti-lock brake system and advanced multi-stage airbag system.

With 1,723 sales to November (2006 year-to-date), the 300C has largely driven Chrysler’s growth this year. Significantly the 300C SRT8, until now only available in sedan guise, accounts for over ten percent of total model sales.

The 300C SRT8 Touring is the fourth SRT branded vehicle to be sold in Australia, joining the 300C SRT8 Sedan, the Chrysler Crossfire SRT6 and the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8.

The 300C Touring and Sedan now share the same engine line-up; a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine, 5.7-litre HEMI V8 petrol engine, a 3.0-litre CRD turbo diesel engine and the 6.1-litre V8.

Powertrain

The heart of the 300C SRT8 Touring, like the Sedan SRT8, is the larger capacity engine.

The 317 kW, normally aspirated 6.1-litre engine is the highest specific-output engine ever offered by the Chrysler Group. Its 52.05 kW-per-litre rating exceeds even that of the legendary 1966 Street Hemi. Torque is rated at 569 Nm at 4,600 rpm.

In the 300C SRT8 Touring, the 6.1-litre V8's power is channelled through an W5A580 five-speed automatic transmission with specially calibrated AutoStick® driver-selectable range control, which offers fully automatic or sequential manual gear shifting. A heavy-duty four-flange prop shaft sends the torque from the transmission to an upgraded rear differential and axle.

Ride and handling

The Chrysler 300C SRT8 Touring's suspension and chassis are tuned for outstanding ride and handling across the broadest dynamic range that customers are likely to experience.

Chassis set-up for the Chrysler 300C SRT8 Touring is aimed at all-round performance with a number of enhancements, including tuned Bilstein dampers, specially tailored spring rates and suspension bushings and larger-diameter anti-roll bars. New front and rear suspension knuckles contribute to a ride height lowered 13 mm compared to the regular model. The Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) has been specially tuned for the SRT8's performance handling characteristics.

The Chrysler 300C SRT8 Touring connects with the road via a new wheel and tyre assembly consisting of 20-inch aluminium SRT performance wheels.

Braking performance goes hand-in-hand with the new Chrysler 300C SRT8 Touring's outstanding acceleration and speed. The braking system was specially designed to slow and stop the car safely, predictably and with maximum stability. It was designed to provide benchmark braking performance, setting a new standard for wagons in its class.

Within each of the large diameter 20-inch wheels are high performance brake calipers developed by Brembo — well known in racing and high-performance circles — equipped with four pistons for unrivalled stopping performance. Up front, the Chrysler 300C SRT8 Touring has 360 mm x 32 mm ventilated discs, with 350 mm x 28 mm ventilated discs at the rear.

Design and amenities

Befitting its high-performance character, the new Chrysler 300C SRT8 Touring exterior styling is a sophisticated treatment that resonates with the Chrysler brand's premium character.

Modified front and rear fascias help direct air flow, particularly through unique ducts that help cool the brakes. In addition, a specially designed rear deck spoiler, while refined in appearance, is also functional — reducing lift by 39 percent without increasing drag.

Other unique touches to the Chrysler 300C SRT8 Touring's exterior include body-colour front and rear bumper inserts, body-colour grille insert with chrome collar, body colour mirrors and door handles and unique SRT badging. Four exterior colours are available: Bright Silver, Brilliant Black, Midnight Blue and Steel Blue. The interior is offered in a Light Graystone/Dark Slate combination.

Standard interior features of the Chrysler 300C SRT8 Touring include front seats equipped with heat and memory functions, clad with performance suede inserts that secure occupants during spirited driving. Other features include a`technical' leather trim on the steering wheel, shifter and door pulls; and special finishing on interior trim such as on the centre stack. Full instrumentation includes a 300 km/h speedometer, tachometer and temperature gauges.

Versatility and capacity with extended cargo bay

The Chrysler 300C SRT8 Touring wagon shares all the major attributes of the sedan version, but adds the customer benefit of a 545-litre load area which can be expanded to 1,602 litres with rear seats folded, plus easy access through the unique rear liftgate.

The body of the Chrysler 300C SRT8 Touring shares the structure of the sedan, but has unique rear side panels, roof and rear liftgate. The steel liftgate is shaped like an inverted "L," and the hinges are set back over the load area so that the liftgate rises almost vertically and does not require the operator to step back from the vehicle. This unique liftgate architecture also allows for enhanced access to the rear cargo area. The liftgate, fitted with a two-speed wiper and wash system for additional convenience, can be unlocked using the button on the key fob and opened by the centrally mounted external handle.

The front and rear seats of the Chrysler 300C SRT8 Touring are as spacious and comfortable as those of the Sedan — with near identical head, leg and shoulder room — but the luggage area is 25 percent larger than in the Sedan when the rear seats are up.

The load area features a removable, rollaway tonneau cover, large storage bins in each side panel, four cargo tie-down loops and a 12-volt power outlet. The load floor has a removable tri-fold panel that weighs just 7.25 kg and can be partially or fully folded, or completely removed. When used, small items can be stored below this floor panel. When removed, the maximum available load height is increased by 102 mm.

Additional cargo can be carried on the optional roof bars that come with two cross bars. Roof bar load capacity is 68 kg.

Safety and security features

Following are safety and security features available on the Chrysler 300C SRT8 Touring:

• Advanced multi-stage air bag system: Inflates with a force appropriate to the severity of the impact
• Anti-lock brake system: Electronic sensors that help prevent wheel lockup. The standard ABS system offers improved steering control under extreme braking and/or slippery conditions
• Electronic Stability Programme (ESP): This standard feature aids the driver in maintaining vehicle directional stability, providing oversteer and understeer control to maintain vehicle behaviour on various road surfaces
• Energy-absorbing steering column: Manual-adjust telescoping steering column includes two hydroformed coaxial tubes that move relative to each other, which allows the column to move forward and provide more energy absorption during an impact
• High Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting: This feature provides 70 percent more light to increase driver visibility, using XENON bulb technology
• Rear park assist: This ultrasonic rear obstacle detection system signals through an audible warning and a rear overhead display to avoid potential collisions

Production

Like the entire Chrysler 300C family of vehicles that are sold in Australia, the 300C SRT8 Touring will be built at the Magna Steyr Manufacturing Facility in Graz, Austria.

Chrysler 300C SRT8 Touring — preliminary technical cpecifications

The information shown is based on data available at the time of publication (December 2006).

Body and Chassis
Five-seater, five-door wagon, with all-steel unitary body chassis. Rear-wheel drive via five-speed automatic transmission.

Engines
6.1L SRT SMPI V-8
Type: Eight-cylinder, V-type, 90-degree, liquid-cooled with hemispherical combustion chambers within aluminium cylinder heads
Capacity: 6,059 cc
Maximum power: 317 kW @ 6,000 rpm
Maximum torque: 569 Nm @ 4,800 rpm
Compression ratio: 10.3:1
Bore and stroke: 103.0 mm x 90.9 mm
Camshafts: Pushrod-operated OHV
Valve system: OHV, 16 valves, 2 valves per cylinder
Fuel system: Sequential, multi-port, electronic fuel injection
Materials: Cast iron, deep-skirt block with cast aluminium alloy heads featuring hemispherical combustion chambers
Maximum engine speed: 6,200 rpm, electronically limited
Fuel recommendation: Premium Unleaded 98 RON
Emission controls: Close-coupled, 3-way catalyst with closed loop fuel control
Emission standards: EU4

Transmissions
5-speed Automatic W5A580
Description: NAG1 five-speed automatic - electronically controlled adaptive automatic transmission, brake/park safety interlock

Gear Ratios
1st 3.59:1
2nd 2.19:1
3rd 1.41:1
4th 1.00:1
5th 0.83:1
Reverse 3.16:1

Drivelines
Rear-wheel Drive: Two-piece driveshaft with subframe-mounted rear differential. Half shaft to each rear wheel fitted with two constant velocity universal joints.

Suspension and Damping
Front Independent: SLA with tall spindle, DLBJ, upper and lower A-arms, coil springs, shocks, anti-roll bar
RearIndependent: 5-link with aluminium knuckle, coil springs, shocks, anti-roll bar

Steering
Type: Hydraulic power-assisted rack and pinion
Overall ratio: 16.1:1
Turning circle: 11.9 m curb-to-curb
Gearing: 2.8 turns lock-to-lock

Brakes
Front
Discs: 360 mm x 32 mm ventilated
Callipers: 44 mm Brembo four-piston fixed
Swept area: 2,261 sq. cm

Rear
Discs: 350 mm x 28 mm ventilated
Callipers: 32 mm Brembo four-piston fixed
Swept area: 2,036 sq. cm

System
ABS: Standard
Traction control: 3-mode standard
ESP: Standard

Wheels and Tyres
Type and material: Forged-polished aluminium SRT design wheels,
Front: 20" x 9" - Goodyear 245/45ZR20 AS Performance Tyres
Rear: 20" x 9" - Goodyear 255/45ZR20 AS Performance Tyres

Dimensions
Exterior
Overall length: 5,015 mm
Overall width: 1,880 mm
Overall height: 1,462 mm
Wheelbase: 3,050 mm
Track, front: 1,600 mm
Track, rear: 1,605 mm

Interior
Front
Headroom: 983 mm
Legroom: 1,061 mm
Shoulder room: 1,510 mm
Hip room: 1,421 mm

Rear
Headroom: 959 mm
Legroom: 1,020 mm
Shoulder room: 1,466 mm
Hip room: 1,421 mm

Cargo Volume, cu. cm.
All seats in place 545L ISO

Weights
Curb weight – Est.: 1,965 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight: 2,345 kg
Towing – 1,650 kg (maximum braked)

Fuel Consumption (L/100 km)
ADR8101 14.2