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2008 Chrysler 300 lineup includes seven models: two V6 engines, two V8s, all-wheel drive, and two long-wheelbase models.
The Chrysler 300 LX ($24,595) has a 2.7-liter dual-overhead-cam V6 generating 178 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque and matched to a four-speed automatic transmission. It's equipped with cloth upholstery, power driver's seat, cruise control, solar-control glass and 17-inch steel wheels with hub caps.
The 300 Touring ($28,590) upgrades to a 3.5-liter single-overhead-cam V6 making 250 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque. It has a five-speed automatic transmission with Chrysler's AutoStick manual-shift feature. The Touring comes with leather seating, 17-inch aluminum wheels and fog lamps. The all-wheel-drive Touring AWD ($31,445) is identically equipped.
The 300 Limited ($31,620) adds 18-inch chrome wheels, a slightly firmer Touring suspension, heated front seats, a power passenger seat, automatic headlamps, automatic climate control, power-adjustable pedals, an electronic vehicle information center, and one year of Sirius satellite radio. The Limited AWD ($33,815) is identically equipped.
The 300C ($35,395) features a 5.7-liter overhead-valve V8 (Hemi), delivering 340 horsepower and a substantial 390 pound-feet of torque. It also has a power tilt/telescoping steering column, leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob, remote starting, and rain-sensing wipers. The 300C AWD ($37,495) is equipped the same. An SRT Design Group option ($1,495) for the 300C adds many of the SRT design cues, 20-inch wheels, and more significantly, engine tweaks and special exhaust that raise the output to 350 horsepower.
The SRT8 ($41,385) features a 425-hp, 6.1-liter Hemi V8 with loads of performance tweaks, 20-inch wheels, and unique design features.
Options are plentiful with many available packages that require research. One of the most popular is Protection Group II ($890), which adds curtain-style head-protection airbags, torso-protecting front side airbags, rear park assist, self-sealing tires and cabin air filtration. Stand alone options include rear-seat DVD entertainment with a seven-inch LCD screen, a sunroof ($950), UConnect hands-free communication with iPod interface ($250), and a Boston Acoustics audio upgrade with six-CD changer, subwoofer and 368 watts of output. Also available for 2008 are Sirius Backseat TV, with three channels of children's programming, and Chrysler's MyGig. MyGig comes in two versions: the MyGig Entertainment System, which has a 6.5-inch touchscreen and a 20-gigabyte hard drive to hold songs and pictures, and the MyGig Multimedia Infotainment System, which adds a navigation system with voice control and real-time traffic information.
Safety features include multi-stage front airbags. Curtain-style head protection airbags for outboard passengers and torso-protecting front side-impact airbags are optional. An Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Traction Control System (TCS) and anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Brake Assist are standard on all but the LX model, where they are optional. Other safety-related options include rear obstacle detection, high-intensity discharge headlamps, a tire-pressure monitor, and all-wheel drive. The Chrysler 300 has earned a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for front-impact crash protection.
The W.P. Chrysler Executive Series, or long-wheelbase option ($10,600), is offered on the 300 Touring and 300C with rear-wheel drive. This package must be ordered from a dealership through the Acubuilt coachworks, which finishes the cars in partnership with Chrysler. next page