[tundrakiller]

Putting Fresh Spin on Iconic Chrysler 300 Presents Challenge
By Christie Schweinsberg
WardsAuto.com, May 22, 2008 9:27 AM
DETROIT – Redesigning an iconic car is a challenge, one faced by Chrysler LLC designers as they work on the next-generation 300 sedan.
Putting a fresh spin on the successful rear-wheel-drive model, which debuted to great buzz and strong sales in spring 2004, is the hard part, vehicle designer Lou Gasevski tells Ward’s.
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The shape is so unique, “you keep repeating the same thing,” he says following a presentation to the Automotive Press Association here. “It’s easy to design something that’s new, like a concept car. But to design a new model and make it successful, that takes a master.”
Joe Dehner is in charge of the 300 redesign, but all of Chrysler’s relatively small design staff of 23 is working on the vehicle, which Gasevski says is “in process – almost done.”
He invokes Porsche AG when describing how Chrysler is approaching the 300 redesign. “They change a little bit about the car, but it’s still modern,” Gasevski says of the brand’s iconic sports cars.
Not wanting to mess too much with success means the new 300 will have an “evolutionary” exterior, he says. However, the interior will make a “huge leap.”

Current Chrysler 300 to see change in next-generation model.
Chrysler has been widely criticized for what many industry analysts consider subpar interiors. Gasevski admits it was difficult to work with the cheap, hard plastics the auto maker once relied on.
But things are different under new owner Cerberus Capital LP, he says, noting 80% of the design changes to existing models instituted under CEO Bob Nardelli are complete.
“The products coming out in 2011, 2012 will be very competitive with Asian (models) as far as content, materials, fit-and-finish,” Gasevski says of future Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles. Cerberus Chairman Steven Feinberg is “tough and he wants to deliver a quality product with advanced technology.”
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One advanced technology for the next-generation 300 may be a dual viewing screen. The design allows the primary screen to project a movie to the front-seat passenger, while the driver can view maps or vehicle information. Drivers are prohibited by law from watching movies.
On another front, Gasevski says Chrysler “is working on multiple small-car projects,” including one in Japan. He declines to confirm if the Japan-based project is the new subcompact Chrysler will be building on Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.’s B-platform.
The two auto makers announced such a model will be built at Nissan’s Oppama, Japan, plant and debut in North America in 2010.
Chrysler also has a deal with China’s Chery Automobile Co. Ltd. to build 12 vehicles in three segments for various markets.
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[jkennedy293]

“The products coming out in 2011, 2012 will be very competitive with Asian (models) as far as content, materials, fit-and-finish,” Gasevski says of future Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles.

At the rate Chrysler is losing sales, 2011 maybe too late to start a comeback.

 

[GMfan1111]

At the rate Chrysler is losing sales, 2011 maybe too late to start a comeback.

I agree by the time 2010 2011 hits Chryslers chances of a successful comeback will be cut significantly. Chrysler needs to start these redesigns sooner in order to curtail the already huge loss in sales

 

[tundrakiller]

lol everone knows the end of time is 2012

 

[mbukukanyau]

2012 is about the time I will be buying another car

 

[F14CRAZY]

Aside from the 4 speed auto what's so bad about them? I drove a Charger and thought it was a great car. These didn't get the awful cheap, hard plastic Chrysler interiors like the others did. I thought the Charger's interior was definitely right for the price

 

[escapen]

hmm, I agree. I imagine Ford will be in much better shape and GM, before Chrysler makes it slow turn-around. GM and Ford will have very good midsizers already on sale to tackle what ever the Avenger/ Sebring refresh has to throw into the market.
-The 300/ charger will be good RWDs but i imagine the next 2012 Taurus and Impala (even a fwd one) will be better rides.
-Finally, how can they sell a chinese made sub compact when Ford and GM are turning to their euro resources for great offereings? (Astra, DeltaII, Focus, Fiesta).

 

[Andonis]

new 300

http://www.leftlanenews.com/next-ch...eceive-significant-interior-improvements.html

 

[CJ Thunder]

Re: new 300

http://www.leftlanenews.com/next-ch...eceive-significant-interior-improvements.html

Well as long as you can tell but not tell. Like new lights, slants around corners and of course the inside.

 

[Michael_S]

Madness? THIS. IS. CHRYSLER! *boot*

 

[Michael_S]

Okay, so I was thinking about the other 300.

The 300 and Charger look great, and that's certainly important. But they aren't particular good for trunk space, V6 gas mileage, or crash safety, which are all pretty important for large family sedans. Side and rear visibility also isn't as good as the Impala, Avalon, Taurus, and other competitors because of the quasi-chop top roof line.

 

[Hitman1970]

An immensely upgraded interior would get me to consider Chrysler again.

 

[Uzzy]

Madness? THIS. IS. CHRYSLER! *boot*

:laugh::rotf:

That's what I was thinking.

The 300 did what I thought it would. It blew everyone away by having a whole new style, then got old quick. The Charger already needs some fresher sheet metal IMO. And not that they did to the Magnum...no thanks!

 

[Michael_S]

Thanks.

The price of gas is up, and the large sedan market now has the G8, new Maxima, and Hyundai Genesis in play, the Taurus and Sable with a new RWD Taurus planned, and (we hope) decent albeit FWD replacements for the LaCrosse, Lucerne, and Impala in the works.

The 300 needs a nicer interior, better crash safety, Chrysler's Phoenix V6s with better than four or five speed automatics, and matching improvements to fuel economy.

 

[GMfan1111]

i can't wait to see the new 300 and i did get a chance to go to CTC today (now that my dads truck is drivable again). Nothing out of the ordinary to report but there were alot of car transport trucks over there today. They were mostly hauling current models but one was hauling new rams and luckily for me parked over at Chrysler museum. I had to answer a phone call anyway so it was perfect timing. Unfortunately the truck driver saw me reach for my camera after i hung up and started closing up shop Luckily I did get a pic just before the truck driver closed his trailer up. Its not a prototype by any means but its not too often i run into one of these transports out in the open so enjoy. Also the other two transports were in the CTC compound one of them did have a 300 in it but i could not snap a pic of that one (I did not want to find out what the CTC welcome wagon is for folks like me)

 

[Stéphane Dumas]

Thanks.
.

The 300 needs a nicer interior, better crash safety, Chrysler's Phoenix V6s with better than four or five speed automatics, and matching improvements to fuel economy.

+1 and add the diesel engine offered in Europe who should be available here

 

[GMfan1111]

+1 and add the diesel engine offered in Europe who should be available here

+1 the diesel would be a nice addition but with the price of diesel fuel right now its not likely. however i can't wait to see how much of a leap the 300's interior will be. Unlike its other siblings which got stuck with rubbermaid like interiors the 300 has always had a pretty decent interior but there was room for some improvement