Chrysler’s revival is due in mid-to-late 2024 with a series of electric and possibly “electrified” (hybrid-electric) vehicles. That makes the marque’s recent Facebook post all the more puzzling:
The range of explanations includes a special-edition Chrysler 300C, powered by the 392 engine—an engine whose displacement intentionally replicates that of the biggest and most powerful of the first-generation Hemi V8s. The company still makes 392-powered Chrysler 300s, but only for export. Making a last run for North America would be expensive because of crash, emissions, and economy tests, but it would not be a real engineering problem—especially since there is already a 392-powered Dodge Charger.
This seems most likely since it would be a 2023 model; a Chrysler 300 special edition was already confirmed by the company, but at the time it seemed more likely to be an appearance-and-Mopar-add-ons package. The first 300 “letter car” was the 1955 C300; the 1956 300B had a 354 Hemi (5.7 liters) with up to 355 bhp. The classic 1957 Chrysler 300C boasted a 392 Hemi V8 with 375 and 390 bhp forms. (Brake horsepower, bhp, is roughly 30-50 lower than today’s net horsepower, so the hotter 392 likely produced the equivalent of 350 hp by today’s standards. It was enough to be the highest-power engine of any standard-production car in America.)
The other likely explanations could be reveals of other battery-electric cars. Indeed, it’s possible that the company will show off prototypes or concepts of its 2024-calendar-year cars in 2023, just as it showed the Airflow concept already in 2022.
Update: Chrysler has announced a reveal of a “special edition Chrysler vehicle” on September 13, at 6 pm at the Spirit of Detroit plaza (press pass required). The presentation will be made by Chris Feuell, Chrysler’s chief executive. This makes a revival of the 300C most likely; and the most faithful rendition of a 1957 300C, if not the 21st-century comeback, would have a 392 Hemi.
David Zatz started what was to become the world’s biggest, most comprehensive Mopar site in 1994 as he pursued a career in organizational research and change. After a chemo-induced break, during which he wrote car books covering Vipers, minivans, and Jeeps, he returned with Patrick Rall to create StellPower.com for daily news, and to set up MoTales for mo’ tales.
David Zatz has around 30 years of experience in covering Chrysler/Mopar news and history, and most recently wrote Century of Chrysler, a 100-year retrospective on the Chrysler marque.
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