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The 2023 Chrysler 300C emerges as the sedan’s most robust variant to date with its upgrade to Dodge Charger Scat Pack spec. What it is not, however, is a Hellcat-infused send-off, which may have been more fitting considering this will mark Chrysler’s final gas-guzzling muscle car. Despite sharing a platform with the Charger that boasts the Hellcat V8, the 300C continues without it in its ultimate year.
This lingering question prompted us to seek answers from Chrysler. As it turns out, the issue does not lie in selling Hellcat-powered 300Cs; rather, it lies in producing them. As per a source familiar with the program, all of the automaker’s Hellcat engines are earmarked for other vehicles. Simply put, the shortage of Hellcat engines is the reason why the 300C lacks one. With Dodge observing high Hellcat sales, and the Durango Hellcat reentering the scene along with ongoing Ram TRX production and crate engine sales, Chrysler seems to have been sidelined.
Furthermore, those interested in a four-door Hellcat can easily opt for a Charger. The absence of a 300C Hellcat has had minimal impact on sales thus far, and the development costs, even if marginal, would have still incurred expenses. For what purpose? To generate buzz around a nameplate whose relevance has been overshadowed by the Charger’s enduring popularity?
Don’t misunderstand me, I too yearned for a 300C Hellcat to materialize before the opportunity vanished — to witness Chrysler enjoying another moment in the limelight. However, from a practical business perspective, I understand the reasoning. The returns from equipping a Chrysler with a Hellcat would have been minimal, with potential financial losses. If a 300C Hellcat was deemed unworthy of development in the past, it holds even less value as the sun sets on the era of full-size, V8 American sedans.
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