Chrysler 300C

The new Chrysler flagship, the 5.7-litre, V8 Hemi-engine 300C is one reason why this manufacturer's US sales have not flagged alongside Ford and General Motors. In its first three months 80,000 of the 300 series were sold.

Bruce Ohms, Director, Sales and Marketing, Chrysler Jeep and Dodge, Middle East told AME Info recently that with production now moving to Gratz in Austria, the embarrassment of product shortages would soon be over.

This 340 bhp, five metre-long sedan is a modern classic for the lovers of big US cars, and AME info was fortunate to be included in the initial test-drive.

At the heart of the 300C is a massive 5.7-litre, V8 Hemi engine which offers effortless, smooth power through a Mercedes-designed transmission that rockets from 0-100 kph in just 6.4 seconds, a performance that leaves many sports cars standing.

One of the things that Americans liked about the 300C is that this is the first modern vehicle to be fitted with automatic cylinder deactivation. This means that at lower speeds it switches from V8 to V4 automatically, to give the fuel consumption of a V6.

There is also rear-wheel drive for the 300C which allows a longer wheelbase and smoother ride, better cornering, better acceleration and better braking. Rear-wheel drive is new for Chrysler but brings the manufactuer into line with our European rivals.

Indeed, this is a highly competitive market segment, and the 300C squares off against the Jaguar S-Type, BMW 5-Series, Audi A6, Volvo S-80, Cadillac CTS and Lexus GS. But the 300C is an impressive looking, high performance car with a character of its own, and at a shade under $38,000 very strong on pricing.

There is also no compromise on safety with a small arsenal of features from ABS, ESP, BAS and TCS to side curtain airbags. The Boston Acoustics 380W, 7-Speaker sound system is also awesome, perhaps one of the reasons rap-star Snoop Dog became an early buyer of the 300C.

There is more than a subtle infusion of engineering imported from Mercedes. This involved basic things like deciding on front or rear wheel drive, and choosing to include technology from Stuttgart such as the front and rear suspension, transmission and steering column.

AME Info can certainly testify to the smoothness of the 300C which performed beautifully on a 300km test-drive through the desert interior of the UAE. And there is something of the feel of a Mercedes about the 300C, not surprising really given the inclusion of key components from Stuttgart.

The BBC's Jeremy Clarkson has even been so rude as to suggest that the 300C is a Mercedes E-Class in an American body. But some might see this as a plus point, the E-Class is a very good car indeed and far more expensive.