Chrysler’s Iconic 300 Is Coming Back in 2029, With a Twist

What It Is ?

We're hearing that Chrysler is working on a full-size electric family sedan reprising the “300” name, taking design elements and tech from the stunning Halcyon concept. The previous 300 (pictured below and in the gallery) was notable for its muscular elegance that was also culturally cool. It was powerful, with an available Hemi V-8 engine. For an idea of its importance, when Chrysler was on the brink of bankruptcy in 2008 and removing lightbulbs from empty Detroit offices to cut its electricity bill, the next-generation 300 was one of the few vehicles that continued development. The Halcyon, while futuristic, signals Chrysler’s continued belief in the viability of an elegant sedan, but with functionality, perhaps courtesy of next-generation Stow ’n Go seats. (The concept’s seats retracted into the rear trunk area.)

Why It Matters?

Chrysler’s thin portfolio would get a big boost from a sedan that harks back to the seemingly timeless 300, dubbed the poor man’s Bentley. The Chrysler 300 full-size sedan was discontinued in December 2023 when Stellantis shuttered the Brampton, Ontario, Canada, plant for retooling to pivot to an electric future. Plans were to replace it with an EV based on the Chrysler Airflow concept in 2025. That concept has been revised many times, as has the corporate strategy and timelines for a new Chrysler model. Stellantis is now looking at 2027 for a crossover and later than that for a potential revival of a sedan.

Platform and Powertrain

Chrysler revived the nameplate with the front-wheel-drive 300M in 1999 and in 2004 returned it to rear-wheel drive with the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8-powered 300C. Returning on the STLA Large platform means it can accommodate all drivetrains: internal combustion engines, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, extended-range hybrids, and battery electric vehicles. Initial plans were for all future Chrysler models to be electric-only, but a hybrid could be an option as consumers are still slow to embrace pure EVs. And while the Hemi is hugely famous, the latest Hurricane 3.0-liter turbocharged I-6 engines are smoother and more in keeping with the premium status the car will aspire to while also providing more power.

Another option is the eTorque powertrain from the Ram 1500 that pairs the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 with a hybrid battery system. The sedan is expected to be all-wheel drive. STLA Large provides both 400- and 800-volt electrical architecture, with a range of up to 400 miles. The 300 will also use the STLA Smart Cockpit, STLA Brain for connectivity and software-defined-vehicle capability, and STLA AutoDrive for autonomous driving capability. The platform can also accommodate all body styles in case Chrysler balks and opts for a coupeish crossover instead of a sedan.