2012 Chrysler 300 S concept car from Chrysler (at Spring Festival)

The Mopar 300 S concept car, based on the Chrysler 300C, debuted at the Spring Festival celebration in California in March 2011. It featured color matched chrome, 22" Savini wheels with 295-width tires in the rear, coilovers, exhaust, rear wing, front lip, new grill, and the S/SRT black headlights. it also presaged the “real thing,” the 2012 Chrysler 300 S V6 and V8. (Photos by smoove7410 are the Mopar concept. All other photos are the production 300 S. The main differences appear to be the headlights and interior.)

Olivier Francois, Chrysler brand CEO, said: “No chrome . . . no wood . . . matte carbon fiber finishes . . . unique black or Radar Red leather . . . our biggest wheels, and world’s first integration of Beats by Dr. Dre audio technology – the best standard audio system period. With the Chrysler team working with Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine for months, I know the new 300S with its mapped sound waves, designed algorithms and unique Beats Audio components ...”

With 20-inch polished-face aluminum wheels with black painted pockets, wider all-season performance tires, 25 percent quicker steering and 20 percent heavier on-center feel than the entry-level 300 model, the all-new Chrysler 300S V-6 and V-8 models are engineered for driving enjoyment.

The interior of Chrysler 300S models have 12-way power driver and passenger front seats with large-bolstered and heated monotone cloth sport seats surrounded by an interior environment in black or Radar Red. Exclusive use of Piano Black on interior center stack, instrument panel, steering wheel, gauge cluster and door panel elements provide a uniquely lacquered and highly detailed appearance. Matte carbon hydrographic finished accents replace wood.

Uconnect Touch controls the 522-watt 12-channel amplifier that integrates the Beats proprietary equalizer algorithm, creating the high-definition sound specified by Beats Audio founders Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine, Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records.

Behind the world’s first integration of Beats™ by Dr. Dre™ audio technology, the 2012 Chrysler 300S has a 10-speaker system with three 3.5-inch speakers in the instrument panel and two 3.5-inch speakers in the rear doors. Two 6 x 9-inch front-door woofers provide bass, while two 6 x 9-inch speakers and a center-mounted 8-inch speaker in the rear-shelf area provide full-range audio. An 8-inch Beats Audio trunk-mounted dual-voice coil subwoofer with sealed enclosure delivers tight, powerful, punchy bass.

The 2012 Chrysler 300S V-6 has 292 best-in-class six-cylinder horsepower with a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and steering-wheel mounted magnesium paddle shifters. When equipped with the optional Luxury Group, the Chrysler 300S V-6 includes premium Nappa leather sport seating in black or Radar Red, memory seat/mirror/radio, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, power tilt and telescoping steering column, power-adjustable pedals, power sunshade, alarm, driver’s side auto-dimming mirrors and auto-tilt in Reverse, heated/cooled cup holders, satin chrome lower door sills, and LED illuminated front-footwells and front and rear map pockets.

The V8 has the 363 horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 engine, a five-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and Auto Stick, performance-tuned suspension and larger performance disc brakes.  The eight-cylinder 300S model adds 160-mph LED-illuminated instrument cluster, rain-sensing windshield wipers, Smartbeam headlamps, ParkView® rear back-up camera, and HomeLink universal transceiver. 

Providing additional all-season confidence, the Chrysler 300S V-6 and V-8 all-wheel-drive (AWD) models drop down to 19-inch polished-face aluminum wheels with black painted pockets, P235/55R19 all-season performance tires and the most advanced AWD system in its class. This exclusive AWD system transitions between rear-wheel drive (RWD) and AWD with no driver intervention. When AWD is not required, the system automatically disconnects the front axle to maximize fuel economy while still providing the outstanding performance and handling inherent in RWD vehicles.