The EFTM Garage – Chrysler 300c SRT8 Core

As far as large luxury sedans go, the Chrysler 300 series does it pretty darn well. Well how about chucking an enormously large capacity V8 under the hood? This week EFTM has in the garage the SRT8 Core, a stripped back, financially more accessible variant of the flagship SRT8.

Chrysler 300c SRT8 Core

Make: Chrysler

Model: SRT8

Variant: Core

Engine / Transmission: 6.4L V8 petrol engine / 5-Speed automatic transmission

Vital Stats: Power 347 kW @ 6,100rpm / Torque: 631Nm @ 4,150rpm

Fuel Economy: 13.0 l/ 100km

MRRP Price: $56,000 (plus on-roads)

Standard Features:

SRT Telemetry via 8.4 inch touch screen
SRT body kit
Standard cruise control
6-speaker Alpine sound system.
20-inch polished aluminium wheels
Automatic headlamps (ON/OFF)
Bi-Xenon High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps with auto-levelling
Front and rear fog lamps
LED daytime running lamps
Rain-sensing automatic wiper system
Dual rear exhaust
Automatic Dual-Zone Temperature Control
Steering wheel mounted cruise control
Three 12-volt power outlets located in the front cubby bin, centre console, and rear of centre console
Cloth sports seats
8-way power driver and front-passenger seats with 4-way power lumbar adjust
60/40 split-folding rear bench with armrest
Shift Knob – Leather-wrapped
Steering Column – Power tilt/telescoping
Steering Wheel – Leather-wrapped with audio, trip computer, EVIC, voice recognition and cruise controls
Windows – Power with driver’s and front-passenger one-touch auto-up

Safety highlights:

Reactive Head Restraints
Air Bags – Advanced multi-stage driver and front-passenger
Supplemental front seat thorax side air bags
Air Bags – Supplemental side-curtain for front and rear outboard occupants
Driver knee air bag
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) – Includes brake assist, rain brake support, ready alert braking and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)
All-speed Traction Control (ASTC)
Electronic Roll Mitigation
Parksense® – Front and rear park assistance system(4) with sensors and audio-visual indicators
Keyless Enter’N Go
Premium Security Alarm

Wow Factor: Epic road presence, thunderous V8 soundtrack. Red SRT badging that announces to the world your engine is big, real big.

Most Impressive: Can’t look past the 6.4-litres of sheer American muscle under the bonnet. Cheaper than entry level HSV’s.

Not so impressive: An irresistible urge to plant the right foot endears the SRT8 to oil companies. It may be $10,000 cheaper than a fully fledged SRT8, but surely a reversing camera could have survived the cuts?

Chris Bowen

Chris was EFTM’s Motoring Editor for many years, driving everything from your entry level hatch to the latest Luxury cars through to the Rolls Royce.

He has been in the media for 20 years, produced three Olympic games broadcasts, attending Beijing 2008 & London 2012.

Strangely he owns a Toyota Camry Hybrid, he defiantly rejects the knockers.

Chris is married to Gillian and resides in Sydney’s North West. They have Sam the English Springer Spaniel and Felix the Burmese cat to keep them company, and recently welcomed baby Henry to the family.

He has now left EFTM, and writes freelance and runs his own Facebook Page “Bowen’s Garage”