The Morning Call and Mcall.com's view

Thank you, DaimlerChrysler, for the Chrysler 300C Hemi.

Thank you for finally taking this segment of the market seriously.

For too long, buyers of large American cars were treated with contempt, offered old platforms, old engines and mediocre build quality. Those most loyal of loyal American car buyers were expected to buy just about anything large that domestic producers offered.

But the rear-wheel-drive Chrysler 300C Hemi changed all that. For not only did it serve notice that mediocrity would no longer suffice in the large car segment, it also meant that competitors would have to pay attention.

That’s not all.

Not only has this new sedan (and its radical wagon brother, the Dodge Magnum) attracted traditional Detroit buyers, it also has attracted younger buyers. That’s pretty amazing since Detroit has long believed that this buyer wouldn’t touch a large car.

Actually, it’s not that younger types wouldn’t buy a large car; this age group wouldn’t buy the large cars that were being offered.

And where is the competition?

The rear-wheel-drive Cadillac STS is the same size, but costs from $5,000 to $25,000 more. Otherwise, GM doesn’t offer anything this large in a rear-drive automobile. Ford’s rear-drivers, the Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car have a chassis that dates to the Carter administration and have less horsepower than most V-6 engines. (Of course, foreign luxury automakers offer large, rear-drive vehicles, but we’re talking about American iron here. Besides, the foreign makes are all much more expensive.)

And the goodness goes beyond the 300C Hemi’s big, blocky looks and tough-guy stance, beyond the glittering chrome and bold grille. Sit in its large, supportive, comfortable front seat and turn the key. Listen to the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 come to life. Take it for the proverbial spin around the block. Heck, take it for a spin around the state, coast or nation. I did. I drove to Detroit in January.

But I opted for the new 300C all-wheel-drive, now available on the Hemi-powered 300C, as well as lesser 300s equipped with the 3.5-liter V-6. All-wheel-drive is not available on base models with the 2.7-liter V-6.

The all-wheel-drive system transfers up to 38 percent of available power to the front wheels if needed. Rather than a Chrysler transmission, Hemi buyers get Mercedes-based five-speed automatic transmission with Chrysler Group’s AutoStick, which allows the driver to manually select a specific gear.

This is the perfect car for those on a power trip. It not only looks the part, it performs as if born to it.

With a healthy 340 horsepower on tap, quick responses to driver’s demands are delivered in a seamlessly smooth fashion. Transmission response also is smooth and speedy without undue harshness.

When cruising, the car deactivates up to four cylinders, improving fuel economy up to 20 percent.

Of course, a lot of cars deliver power, but the 300C does it with amazing grace. Handling is very secure, body lean squelched and bump absorption sublime. Despite some snowy and icy conditions, the 300C never lost its poise, balance or traction. This is a result of its many electronic nannies, including brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control and anti-lock-brakes, all of which kept the car on the straight and narrow.

Gilding the lily is its incredible amount of equipment. The 300C has dual-zone automatic climate control, heated leather seats, power tilt, telescopic steering wheel and power everything, plus tortoiseshell accents.

Options on the test car included side curtain airbags, cabin air-filtration system, self-sealing tires, parking sensors, 380-watt Boston Acoustic audio system with seven speakers, automatic rain-sensing wipers, walnut trim, Sirius satellite radio and power-adjustable foot pedals. The bottom line was $36,715, reasonable compared with the competition.

Driving though the unrelenting flatness that is Ohio, it occurred to me that this is not just one of the best cars I have driven this year, it is one of the best cars I have ever driven at any price.

If this seems like an overstatement, just look at the amazing number of awards and accolades bestowed upon this car:

Automobile Magazine Automobile of the Year, AutoWeek’s Best American Sedan; Edmunds.com’s Top 10 Hippest; Car and Driver’s 10 Best “Full-Size Sedan;” SmartMoney magazine’s “Best Full Size Sedan;” Money Magazine’s Car of the Year, Life Magazine’s “The Sexiest Cars of 2005;” Maxim Magazine’s Car of the Year; African Americans On Wheels/Urban Wheel Awards Car of the Year; Executive Life Top 10 Cars for CEOs; Automotive Rhythms Urban Elite Car of the Year; Automotive Fleet, Fleet Car of the Year; Road & Travel Magazine “2005 International Car of the Year;” Advertising Age’s “10 Hottest Cars;” Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, December 2004’s “Best New Car.”

I might have left out a couple, but you get the idea.

The Chrysler 300C bats a thousand when it comes to fulfilling the needs of buyers of full-sized cars. For the price, nothing really can top it.

Thank you, Chrysler.

lprintz@mcall.com

610-820-6713