Intricate refinement and an impressive powertrain make the 2012 Chrysler 300 one of the most appealing vehicles in its class; the special edition Luxury Series makes it the most luxurious full-size sedan ever built by Chrysler, and a real threat to old-school luxury thinking.

 

Built on the award-winning base of the beautifully redesigned Chrysler 300 Sedan, the 300 and 300C Luxury Series models introduce an unprecedented list of style, performance and luxury appointments to the celebrated four-door. From ultra-premium leather and handcrafted wood to a state-of-the-art transmission and class-leading fuel economy, these models usher in a new era of unparalleled and surprisingly affordable luxury.

 

Outside, the Luxury Series adds a number of distinctive and attractive features to the already iconic 300 design. A powerful stance is magnified by the addition of 20-inch polished aluminum wheels (19 inch on all-wheel drive models). The signature grille’s surround and mesh filler get a dip in shiny chrome, as do the side mirror caps, door handles and front fascia accents – sophisticated refinements that complement the vehicle’s boldness nicely.

 

One of the most attractive additions of the Luxury Series is a state-of-the-art ZF-brand eight-speed automatic transmission. Built to accompany the 292-hp, 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 in the 300, the advanced transmission is the first eight-speed ever to find its way into a domestic luxury sedan.

 

More often found on imports that double the sticker price of the 300, the new world-class ZF gets dynamic die-cast paddleshifters and three additional gear ratios, allowing for quicker up- and downshifting, a smoother overall ride and a 17 percent improvement in fuel economy over the previous generation – up to a class-leading 31 highway mpg. The 300 and 300C Luxury Series models are also available with Chrysler’s advanced All-Wheel Drive system for significantly improved footing and efficiency (best-in-class AWD economy).

 

Inside, the aptly named Luxury Series gets an exclusive coating of ultra-premium leather. The heated steering wheel (with segment-exclusive, fully heated rim), instrument panels, armrests and consoles are beautifully stitched with the highest grade of soft black or Mochachino Poltrona Frau^Ò “Foligno” Italian leather and is complemented by hand-sanded, specially-selected Natural Pore Mocha matte wood trim. Front and rear seats, including the 12-way power-adjustable driver and front passenger seats, feature two-mode heating and two-mode ventilation and are covered in premium black or two-tone Mochachino Nappa leather.

 

Luxury Series models also see premium cabin appointments like subtle LED and ambient lighting, power-adjustable pedals, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and heated and cooled cupholders. Up front, the new 300 gets the largest touch-screen infotainment system in the segment, the advanced 8.4-inch Uconnect^Ò Touch 8.4N, which integrates Garmin^Ò navigation and real-time SiriusXM Traffic.

 

The 2012 Chrysler 300 Luxury Series MSRP starts at $39,320, a fraction of the price of European luxury imports with the same or lesser features. With world-class appointments, handcrafted refinement and class-leading performance and fuel economy, the 2012 Luxury Series isn’t merely the finest 300 ever built, it’s a living, breathing testament to how new-school innovation can shake up an old-school segment.