CHICAGO MOTOR SHOW: Badass Mopar '12 300 debuts in windy city

If ever there was a car that lent itself to a gangsta-style makeover, it’s Chrysler’s brawny 300C.

It’s therefore fitting that Chrysler’s in-house performance parts arm used this week’s Chicago motor show to roll out its take on the heavy-duty sedan – dubbed Mopar ’12 300 – following in the wake of Mopar versions of the 2010 Dodge Challenger and 2011 Dodge Charger.

The limited-edition model – just 500 will be offered for sale in the US, priced from $49,700 – coincides with Mopar’s 75th anniversary and showcases an array of high-performance parts and cosmetic items that are available via the Mopar parts catalogue.

Although the 271kW 5.7-litre Hemi V8 and five-speed auto haven’t been tampered with, Mopar ditched the standard 3.06:1 diff ratio for a shorter 3.91:1 final-drive ratio, allegedly enabling “0-to-60mph (0-96km/h) blasts in the low 5-second range”.

The new Mopar ’12 300 also scores 42 percent stiffer front and 23 percent stiffer rear spring rates compared to the Chrysler 300 models with touring-tuned suspension, and the low-volume special rides on stickier P245/45R20 Goodyear Eagle F1 three-season tyres in place of the all-season radials that US-spec 300Cs are equipped with as standard.

Meanwhile, stopping power is uprated via high-performance brake linings mounted to dual-piston front and single-piston rear calipers.

Visual tweaks include Gloss Black paintwork complemented by a Mopar Black Chrome seven-bar grille and grille-surround, along with black-accented headlamp bezels and fascia accents. Large 20x8-inch Mopar forged-aluminium wheels are also painted in Gloss Black and include Mopar centre caps.

Providing at least some relief from the all-black exterior are Mopar Blue A-line body-side stripes, along with “Mopar 75” fender badges that feature the Mopar Blue ‘omega’ logo.

On the deck lid, a “Mopar Design” badge hints at the Mopar parts and accessories that enhance performance and distinguish the Mopar ’12 300 from garden-variety Chrysler 300s.

Inside, there’s monotone black trim with Mopar Blue accents throughout, while the thick-rimmed steering wheel comes with die-cast paddle shifters and a unique Mopar shifter handle wrapped in black leather and stitched with matching Mopar Blue thread. Mopar sill plates and a serialised “Mopar ’12 Limited Edition” badge round off the interior tweaks.

Buyers who splash out the $48k needed for one of the 500 limited-edition Chrysler 300 models also receive a personalised owner kit in a customised Mopar ’12 300 box, Mopar-branded key fobs and Mopar ’12 300 merchandise. The kit includes a certificate with the vehicle identification number (VIN) and an original sketch of the car signed by the designer.

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