Price Guide (recommended price before statutory & delivery charges): $56,000
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): N/A
Crash rating: TBA
Fuel: 98 RON PULP
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 13.0
CO2 emissions (g/km): 303
Also consider: HSV ClubSport (from $60,990); FPV GS/GT (from $57,870)
Confession: I have a soft spot for Chrysler’s born-again 300 SRT8. I had the pleasure of sliding one around Adelaide’s billiard-smooth race tracks (errr, closed public roads) for a couple of days a few years back during the Classic Adelaide tarmac rally.
I also floored one down the hallowed quarter-mile drag strip at Calder Park during the multi-coloured Mopar Nationals event, stopping the clock at just over 13 seconds with barely a chirp from the tyres or protest from the 6.1-litre Hemi V8 donk crammed under the long black bonnet.
But that was the first of the new-generation 300C, which was lauded for its gangster-style retro looks but handicapped by a somewhat clunky five-speed auto ‘box.
The latest ‘300’ is a more sophisticated beast, sporting more conservative but still distinctive styling, latest safety tech and a new eight-speed auto, although the big-bore SRT8 still makes do with the five-speeder albeit with paddle shifters to make cog-swapping less hit-and-miss when attacking corners.
But it seems the SRT8’s biggest issue, at least in Australia, has been its $66,000 pricetag, with the latest crop of Aussie muscle contenders from the blue and red camps recently closing the price gap.
Enter the 300 SRT8 Core, which as its name alludes, is a bargain basement version of the SRT8, retaining the ‘core’ elements (stonkin’ 347kW/631Nm 6.4- litre Hemi V8, 8.4-inch touchscreen with ‘SRT Performance’ modes, 20x9.0-inch SRT wheels, Brembo brakes...) while stripping some of the ‘juicy bits’ from Chrysler’s range-topping, luxury-lined sports sedan.
Priced $10,000 less than the full-fruit SRT8, at $56,000, it’s designed to undercut the locals, comparing favourably (in output, features and pricing) with the entry-level, 317kW/550Nm HSV ClubSport auto ($62,990) as well as 335kW/570Nm FPV GT auto ($70,790).
By ticking the cheaper Core option, 300 SRT8 buyers miss out on dual-mode adaptive damping, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, reversing camera, satellite navigation, 19-speaker stereo, heated leather seats (front and rear) and heated/cooled front beverage holders. Chrysler has even ripped the carpet out of the boot of its ‘stripper’ model to save costs.
Of the deletions, we missed most during our week-long test the satnav and reversing camera, although the front and rear parking sensors remain. And we had little to complain about the 276-watt six-speaker stereo from the entry-level 300 Limited (apart from some ‘jumpy’ Bluetooth audio), begging the question: what sort of ear-popping noise emanates from the SRT8’s 19-speaker/900W amp unit?
Instead of leather/suede, the Core makes do with ‘premium black cloth’ seats, which still look good with white stitching and SRT logos, while retaining the same comfy cushioning and side bolstering in the pricier version. Otherwise, a predominantly black yet classy muscle car look remains, highlighted by blue backlit instruments, leather inserts on the centre console box and side armrests, retro analogue clock and aluminium pedals.
There’s also a suitably chunky leather covered steering wheel with audio and cruise controls, and the aforementioned multimedia touchscreen with Bluetooth phone as well as all the usual iPod connection options.
While it remains a big, imposing car behind the wheel, it’s not the roomiest large sedan on the market, despite the Chrysler sitting in the same sales segment (upper larger, under $100K) as the long-wheelbase Holden Caprice. That said, there’s ample room for four large adults, and the decent-sized boot holds a tyre repair kit in lieu of a spare wheel, freeing up extra storage space.
Apart from the cost savings, another thing the Core has in its favour over its rear-wheel drive cousin is in providing a slightly fresher take on the ‘bad boy’ Mopar look, thanks to new, five-spoke black painted/silver alloy wheels and 'HEMI 6.4L' red badging on the car's front flanks and 'Core' badge on the boot, that combine well with copious chrome detailing on the body.
Like less potent 300s, the Core gets self-levelling rear suspension. We’re not sure if dual-mode adaptive damping would have helped iron out the somewhat jittery ride, but it’s a small price to pay for a very firm suspension set-up designed to keep two tonnes of four-door sedan in check in the twisties.
However, the highlight remains the Hemi V8. Docile at idle and when pottering around town, it offers more than enough grunt when asked. While it likes to rev -- a good thing as peak torque of 631Nm kicks in at 4150rpm while peak power of 347kW arrives at 6100rpm -- it’s also flexible, pulling from fourth gear around 1000rpm, and cruising comfortably on 1800rpm in top gear at 100km/h.
Although like the latest HSVs the exhaust note from two big rear pipes is a bit subdued for my liking, at least from inside the cabin. The sound deadening measures are appreciated on the freeway though, where there’s little disturbance except for some tyre noise.
The hydraulic steering is not as meaty as some of the locals’, but the big brakes are reassuringly powerful. And the inclusion of paddle shifters and a ‘Sport’ mode help liven up an otherwise lethargic transmission.
It also grips hard and corners reasonably flat with a touch of roll depending on speed, but the biggest thrill in any SRT8 is undoubtedly in a straight line from the traffic lights, just like muscle cars of old.
And like those ‘golden era’ muscle cars of the late 1960s, the best thing about the SRT8 Core is the amount of bang you get for your buck. While lacking some of the athletic abilities of the locals, you have to pay thousands more for similar performance and equipment from either HSV or FPV.
And the fact the SRT8 Core looks tougher than its more expensive cousin, goes just as hard, and barely suffers from the exclusion of a few luxuries, makes it all the more enticing.
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