First official pics: New Chrysler 300C

These are the first official images of Chrysler's revitalised 300C, which will be unveiled at next month's Detroit motor show.

The newcomer follows almost eight years after the original 300C concept, which debuted at the 2003 New York motor show, and went on sale in the US in the first half of 2004.

The 300C launched in Australia in November 2005, and a 2008 refresh brought more safety kit, added features and higher quality trim -- but the styling was left virtually unaltered.

This time around the crayon wielders have been given more leeway, and the result is a heavily revised face with bejewelled LED-laden headlights, a chrome-intensive grille with seven horizontal slats and a cleaner bumper/spoiler assembly.

Meanwhile the flanks gain Mercedes-esque sculpted swage lines to alleviate the slightly slab-sided styling of the now long-in-the-tooth original. The A-pillars are also slimmer and slightly more rakish.

The updated derriere is distinguished by a scalloped bootlid with a pronounced lip, along with a new-design bumper and taillights.

The cabin should offer an airier feel -- thanks to a double-length sunroof -- and its refinements include a larger touch-screen (8.4in), better-quality leather seats, soft-touch dashboard materials and a revised infotainment package.

Technical details are yet to be revealed, but expect the new 300C to gain the 210kW/347Nm 3.6-litre Pentstar V6 that debuted in the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, as well as the 259kW/520Nm 5.7-litre Hemi V8.

Of course, there will also be the inevitable diesel version (likely to be a carryover 3.0-litre V6 with 150kW/510Nm.

The eventual SRT-8 range-topper is expected to score the thumping 6.4-litre Hemi that recently debuted in the Challenger coupe. This unit kicks out 351kW and 637Nm, which should be enough to endow the car with Merc AMG-rivalling performance.

Although it will retain its Chrysler badges in most markets, the new 300C will be sold in continental Europe as a Lancia (thanks to the Fiat tie-up), which might seem almost sacrilegious to devotees of the venerable Italian brand.

We're not sure the latest visual changes are entirely successful, but all will be revealed when we view it in the metal in Detroit in a few weeks. Stay tuned...

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