The Chrysler 300 series has rolled off the assembly line for the last time in its storied history.
Like its corporate siblings the Dodge Charger and Challenger, the Chrysler 300 is being discontinued after the 2023 model year. Moving forward, Chrysler and its parent company Stellantis are focusing their efforts on their continued pursuit towards total electrification.
Although the Charger and Challenger have the potential to return with new electric variants, every indication from Chrysler is that the 300 series has genuinely reached the end of its epic line. Courtesy of Northpointe Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, here’s a look back at the 300 series’s origins, why it’s ending now, and what’s next for Chrysler.
The History of the 300
Chrysler introduced their 300 series way back in 1955 with the debut of the C-300 (retroactively called the 300A). In its early years, the 300 was famously referred to as the “letter series,” where each new model was assigned a subsequent letter. The 300B got revamped into the 300C, which then saw a redesign as the 300D, and so forth.
The initial set of 300 cars came equipped with a muscular 5.4-liter Hemi engine boasting an impressive 300 horsepower, establishing it as the top performer among American vehicles of its time. The letter series eventually wrapped up in 1965 with the 300L, which boasted an improved horsepower of 360.
Another powerful version of the luxurious 300 model, known as the Hurst 300, emerged in 1970, albeit with a limited production of just 485 units. However, it wouldn’t be until many decades later that a true renaissance of the 300 would take place.
In 1999, Chrysler unleashed the 300M, which got its name from a scrapped redesign from 1966. This new ride was a luxurious full-size car equipped with a V6 engine, and it stayed in production until 2004. Then, in 2005, the 300 as we know it now finally made its grand entrance as both a sedan and a station wagon. The first generation of this revamped 300 lineup lasted from 2005 to 2010. When 2011 rolled around, the second generation bid adieu to the station wagon option and focused exclusively on the four-door sedan, bringing us to where we are today.
One Last Ride
The very last limited edition of the 300 series, known as the 300C, made its debut in 2022. Production of the current-generation 300 model officially comes to an end next week on New Year’s Eve, but the final 300C successfully completed its assembly on December 8th at Chrysler’s Brampton Ontario Assembly Plant.
The last vehicle to roll out of the factory was a Velvet Red 2023 Chrysler 300C with the iconic 6.4-liter Hemi engine. With 485 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque, it’s a fitting farewell to a line of vehicles that was defined by power and swagger.
However, Chrysler and Stellantis have been moving away from eight-cylinder engines consistently over the past several years. Instead, they continue to march towards total sustainability in the form of electric and hybrid alternate energy sources.
“As we celebrate the last Hemi-powered 300C off the line with our Brampton team members,” said Chrysler CEO Chris Feuell, “we’re also excited to work together as Chrysler brand moves forward to a sustainable all-electric future as part of the Stellantis Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan.”
The Future is Electric
For those keeping track at home, Chrysler is now down to a sole remaining vehicle: the plug-in hybrid Pacifica minivan. However, when the successor to the 300 is eventually revealed, we fully expect that to be an electric vehicle as well. Clearly, Chrysler is all-in on a green tomorrow.
You can become part of that electric future when you make the change to an EV today. Come in to Northpointe Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and see for yourself why you belong behind the wheel of a Pacifica, a Dodge Hornet R/T, or Jeep Wrangler 4xe. The 300 series may now be in the rearview, but here at Northpointe, we’re just getting started.
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