In 2011, Chrysler brought buyers its 300 flagship sedan in three trims: Base, Limited and 300 C. The Base and Limited were available with a 3.6-liter, 24-valve V6 (with variable valve timing) that produced 292 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque and fuel economy of 18 mpg city/27 highway. The 300 C offered even more power with a 5.7-liter V8 Hemi engine with Fuel Saver Technology that delivers 363 hp and 394 lb-ft of torque (and fuel economy of 16/25) with the standard rear-wheel drive. While the power remained for the available all-wheel drive, the fuel economy in the 5.7-liter dropped slightly to 15/23. Each trim was equipped with a 5-speed automatic transmission with AutoStick to provide clutchless manual shifting.

The 300 Base came nicely equipped with a tilt and telescoping steering wheel with integrated audio controls, air filtering for the air conditioning and dual-zone automatic temperature control. A standard 6-speaker CD/DVD/MP3 was equipped with an 8.4-inch touch screen and included an SD card slot, remote USB port, Sirius XM satellite radio (with a 1-year subscription), audio jack, hands-free phone, Uconnect voice-controlled radio and Bluetooth streaming audio. Cloth seats included 8-way power adjustment for the driver with 4-way lumbar support adjustment.

The Limited added several features for the price, with the Chrysler ParkView rear backup camera, a remote start system and foglights. The stereo included upgraded speakers, as well as adding a 276-watt digital amplifier. Inside, the seats were leather-trimmed and heated, and both the driver and front passenger were able to adjust their seats 8 ways for comfort.

The 300 C stepped up the luxury a bit further, with rain-sensitive windshield wipers and memory for the tilt and telescoping steering wheel, adjustable pedals, driver’s seat position and radio. SmartBeam headlights automatically adjusted the brightness of the high beams depending on surrounding light and traffic conditions. The steering wheel was heated, and the cupholders in the front console were heated or cooled. The Uconnect system added a Garmin navigation system, as well as a 1-year subscription to Sirius TravelLink. The front seats were trimmed in perforated luxury leather with heating and ventilation, while the rear seats added heating, as well.

While Chrysler will likely bring back last year’s trims in a similar format, the real news for the 300 is the introduction of 3 new trims for 2012: an all-new 300 S series, 300 C Executive Series and, generating the most buzz about town, the 300 SRT8.

The 300 S is designed to convince buyers that the Chrysler sedan is not really your rich elderly aunt’s preferred mode of transportation, with Chrysler trumpeting the series as having a “youthful and aggressive appearance with athletic style and sophistication.” The athleticism begins with the exterior and its large, 20-inch polished aluminum wheels with black painted pockets. Rather than bright, shiny chrome details, the 300 S promotes “attitude and street-cred,” according to Chrysler, with body-color fascia accents and mirrors, combined with black-accent headlight bezels and black chrome horizontal grille blades.

Inside, no chrome or wood now sullies the youthful version of the 300, replaced instead with matte carbon fiber finishes. The 12-way power-adjustable heated front seats offer extra bolstering and a monotone cloth cover. The interior scheme is black or Radar Red with Piano Black (for a lacquered appearance) for the center stack, instrument panel, steering wheel, gauge cluster and door panel. The 8.4-inch touchscreen (the largest in the segment) not only controls the car’s infotainment system, but also Beats, the first integration of the audio system designed by Dr. Dre and music industry bigwig Jimmy Iovine. The 522-watt, 12-channel amplifier includes 10 speakers that deliver the “power to play music as the artist intended it to be heard,” according to Chrysler.

The 300 S will be available in several configurations under the hood. A 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 will produce 292 hp. The 2012 rear-wheel-drive V6, however, will be linked to an 8-speed automatic transmission from German supplier ZF and include new steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters for manual control. When equipped with the available 363-hp, 5.7-liter Hemi V8, however, the 300 S will drop back to its old 5-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and Auto Stick (both of which offer manual control of the shifts). The V8 will also feature a performance-tuned suspension and larger disc brakes.

Both the 300 S V6 and V8 are available with all-wheel drive that runs with an active transfer case and front-axle disconnect system designed to improve fuel economy over competitors’ full-time AWD systems, according to Chrysler. The system automatically switches between AWD and RWD, disengaging the front axle when not needed to maximize fuel economy.

The V6 can be upgraded with the available Luxury Group of options. This will add Nappa leather sport seating, memory for two drivers’ settings (seat, exterior mirrors, steering-wheel position, pedal and radio), as well as heated rear seats, a heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel, power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, power-adjustable pedals, power sunshade and even heated/cooled cupholders, among others. The V8 comes equipped with the features found in the Luxury Group, but adds LED illumination to the instrument panel, rain-sensing windshield wipers, Homelink universal remote, ParkView rear-view camera and Smartbeam headlights.

While Chrysler bills the 300 S as young, athletic and sophisticated, the new 300 C Executive series targets a different demographic. The 300 C Executive is promoted as having “premium materials and world-class refinement,” delivering the “most luxurious Chrysler sedan ever.” The 300 C Executive is designed to meld the feeling of old-world handcrafting with new technology. The interior is covered in hand-stitched Italian leather with hand-sanded real wood accents. The front seats include 12-way power adjustment for the driver and front passenger, as well as dual-mode ventilation and heat for both the front and rear occupants. Similar to the 300 S, the shiny chrome is gone, replaced by a signature platinum chrome finish for the fascia, mirror and door handle accents, as well as the front grille. The Executive series can include the Uconnect Touch system with a Garmin navigation system, Sirius Traffic and Travel, as well as an LED-lit instrument cluster, heated, leather-wrapped power seats, tilt and telescoping steering wheel with memory, as well as memory for the power-adjustable pedals. The floors are covered with 18-inch berber mats, and the cupholders include heating and cooling. Other techno-features include the HomeLink universal remote, as well as power-folding exterior mirrors with memory, auto-dimming and auto-tilt when the car is shifted into reverse. Similar to the S series, the 300 C Executive series is available in either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive and comes equipped with the Hemi V8 engine for 363 hp.

But for real power, the new 300 SRT8, combining luxury with power and performance, is generating the most fervor. Unlike the youthful 300 S or seriously luxury-oriented 300 C Executive series, Chrysler states that the SRT8’s audience “seeks heart pounding, adrenaline filled excitement, without sacrificing comfort and innovative features.” Designed by the Street and Racing Technology engineering team (thus the SRT moniker), the SRT8 delivers 0-60 mph times close to the high 4-second mark, with a top speed of 175 mph, according to Chrysler. The power to do all of this comes with a new 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine with 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque—an increase of 45 hp and 50 lb-ft over its 6.1-liter predecessor. Chrysler claims, however, that despite the massive power increase, it has managed to also increase highway fuel economy by 25% due to the new 2012 active valve exhaust system.

The SRT8 pairs its V8 with a 5-speed automatic, much to the chagrin of some who covet the 8-speed for the high-performance trim. On the upside, however, this year the 5-speed will come equipped with new steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, as well as the console-mounted Auto Stick, and the ability to switch between a “Drive” (for automatic shifting) and “Manual” mode. The new 2012 adaptive damping suspension system (ADS) operates in two modes, Auto and Sport, fine-tuning the suspension accordingly. In addition, driver steering feel and response are increased this year with a new pump for the performance-tuned hydraulic steering system. A 60-0 stopping distance of 120 feet can be attributed to the large vented and slotted rotors with 4-piston Brembo calipers.

The exterior of the SRT8 will sport new 7-spoke, 20-inch aluminum wheels, as well as a trim-specific new front fascia and a late-availability Black Chrome package that outfits the 300 SRT8 with new black chrome grille surrounds, as well as a rear valence strip and available black chrome wheels. The 300 SRT8 will ride lower than the non-SRT trims and feature two new 4-inch exhaust tips as well as unique rear decklid badging.

Inside, the 300 SRT8 never lets you forget which trim you’ve selected, with a trim-specific heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel with the SRT logo. The steering wheel not only includes the paddle shifters but also integrates audio and electronic vehicle information center (EVIC) controls. Chrysler notes that the interior promotes a high-performance look with real carbon fiber interior trim on the instrument panel, door spears and shifter bezel, as well as new race-style brake and gas pedals as standard. The new EVIC includes full-color and trim-specific Performance Pages that can help drivers track their 0-60 times, 1/8- and 1/4-mile times and braking distances (60-0 mph), among other data.

The leather heated and ventilated front seats (rear seats include heat only) include an embroidered SRT logo. While Nappa leather seats are standard, an optional Premium Leather Package upgrades the interior with Poltrona Frau “Foligno” leather for the upper door trim panels, instrument panel and other interior panels, while Nappa leather is added to the door bolster and armrests.

Safety is also upgraded in the 2012 SRT8. In addition to the standard airbags and electronic stability control, the high-end Chrysler includes Ready Alert Braking and Rain Brake support to improve braking in potential emergency or inclement weather situations. Chrysler’s SafetyTec Group package of options can be added to the SRT8, as well, including HID projector headlights, adaptive forward lighting, forward collision warning with adaptive cruise control (maintaining a safe distance between the Chrysler and other cars on the road), blind-spot monitoring, park assist systems for the front and rear, LED rear foglights, and exterior mirrors equipped with turn signals and illumination when approaching the vehicle.

The 2012 300 SRT8 comes with the Chrysler Uconnect Touch system with the 8.4-inch touchscreen offering navigation, Sirius Travel Link and Traffic, as well as voice command for hands-free Bluetooth phone use. While last year’s Uconnect included AM/FM/Sirius/CD/DVD, as well as the ability to play music through an auxiliary jack, a USB port, or the SD card reader, this year’s SRT8 will offer an additional choice. New for 2012, a Harman Kardon performance audio surround-sound system is available, featuring 900 watts and 19 speakers. The system is also designed to save energy with GreenEdge speaker and amplifier technology.