- The reason there won’t be a Chrysler 300C Hellcat is simple
- Does the 300C really need a Hellcat engine?
- When will the 2023 Chrysler 300C be released?
The 2023 Chrysler 300C was recently unveiled to much fanfare. The high-performance update is a swan song for the brand’s aging full-size sedan, and it sold out within 12 hours of its debut. It shouldn’t be too surprising, considering there are only 2,200 units planned for production and it’s the most powerful 300 ever created. But why didn’t Chrysler make it a Hellcat?
2023 Chrysler 300C | Stellantis
The reason there won’t be a Chrysler 300C Hellcat is simple
The 6.4-liter HEMI V8 engine in the 2023 300C. | Stellantis
Although the thought of a 717-hp luxury sedan sounds amazing, the Dodge Charger Hellcat already exists. However, its existence in the Stellantis lineup isn’t the sole reason a Chrysler 300C Hellcat was never in the works. According to The Drive, “Simply put, the 300C doesn’t have a Hellcat engine because there aren’t enough.” To clarify, there aren’t enough Hellcat engines to go around despite the fact that the 300C shares platforms with the Dodge Charger and can accept the engine.
The editors at The Drive continued: “Dodge has been moving a lot of Hellcats lately, and with the Durango Hellcat coming back to add demand on top of the Ram TRX production and crate engine sales, it figures that Chrysler was left out in the cold.” Bummer. But the good news is that there is still a lot to like about the 2023 Chrysler 300C.
Does the 300C really need a Hellcat engine?
The wheel and Brembo brake setup in the 2023 Chrysler 300C. | Stellantis
No, not really. After all, it’s hard to use 717 hp on the street, especially since most Chrysler 300C owners will only drive the car to the grocery store or a golf course. Instead, the 2023 300C will come with a 6.4-liter V8 engine that sends a more usable 485 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission. That’s up from 470 hp in the previous 300 SRT model.
According to Chrysler, the new 300C can get to 60 mph from a standstill in 4.3 seconds and cover the quarter-mile in 12.4 seconds. Those unfamiliar with those numbers only need to know that they are really quick for a street car, let alone a large luxury sedan.
Other enhancements include a newly refined interior, Brembo brakes, and an adaptive suspension – which can also be found on the Dodge Charger and Challenger Scat Pack. There will also be a new tri-color badge. Otherwise, the car is largely unchanged.
When will the 2023 Chrysler 300C be released?
The 2023 Chrysler 300C tri-color badge. | Stellantis
The 2023 Chrysler 300C will show up at dealerships soon. However, as stated before, all 2,200 copies have been sold out. So, if you’re looking to get into a new Chrysler 300, you may need to settle for the lower 300S model. That model is no slouch, considering it comes equipped with a 5.7-liter that generates 363 hp and 394 lb-ft of torque.
You just won’t have the exclusivity of saying that your Chrysler 300 is the “last C model ever produced.” But that shouldn’t matter anyway since it would just be bragging rights at this point. You know, it’s kind of like saying that you have a Chrysler 300 Hellcat.
Keyword: Why Didn’t Chrysler Send Off the 2023 300C as a Hellcat?