For the past decade, the Chrysler 300 SRT8 has been steadfastly offering incredible horsepower and performance while surrounding drivers in confident opulence. Alas, for the 2016 model year the Chrysler 300 SRT with the 6.4 liter with 470 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque has been discontinued, at least here in North America, as Fiat-Chrysler prepares for a next-generation of cars.
But in the Land Down Under, i.e. Australia, the Chrysler 300 SRT will live on for at least a few more years reports Motoring.com.au, and it will even get a minor facelift and a handful of other improvements before saying goodbye for the last time.
Yup, for the new model year the Chrysler 300 SRT gets a mildly refreshed front fascia, along with a new eight-speed automatic transmission behind the 6.4 liter Hemi V8. The interior also recieved minor updates, but for the most part this is still the same Canadian-built 300 SRT we all knew and loved…just not for Americans anymore.
Supposedly the removal of the Chrysler 300 SRT from the American lineup has to do with realigning the SRT moniker with the Dodge name after Fiat-Chrysler failed to spin SRT off into its own brand. In addition to Australia, the Chrysler 300 SRT will also be exported to 15 other global markets in Africa, Asian, and the Middle East. Seriously, South Korea gets the new 300 SRT, but we don’t? What gives? We did see an interesting 300 cruising around in LA with a different rear fascia and better brakes. But no word on that one yet.
It’s a shame that where the Charger and Challenger Hellcat will go out with a bang when they’re inevitably replaced in the next couple of years, the Chrysler 300 SRT will retire without so much as a whimper. We guess there was no love for a Chrysler 300 Hellcat at the board meeting when this decision was made.