2005 Chrysler 300 Limited on 2040-cars

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Detroit automakers mulling helping DIA avoid bankruptcy looting

It's not really a secret that the city of Detroit is in lots and lots of trouble. Even with an emergency manager working to guide it through bankruptcy, a number of the city's institutions remain in very serious danger. One of the most notable is the Detroit Institute of Arts, a 658,000-square-foot behemoth of art that counts works from Van Gogh, Picasso, Gauguin and Rembrandt (not to mention a version of Rodin's iconic "The Thinker," shown above) as part of its permanent collection.
Throughout the bankruptcy, the DIA has been under threat, with art enthusiasts, historians and fans of the museum concerned that its expansive collection - valued between $454 and $867 million by Christie's - could be sold by the city to help square its $18.5-billion debt.
Now, though, Detroit's hometown automakers could be set to step up and help save the renowned museum. According to a report from The Detroit News, the charitable arms of General Motors, Ford and Chrysler could be set to donate $25 million as part of a DIA-initiated campaign, called the "grand bargain." As part of the deal, the DIA would seek $100 million in corporate donations as part of a larger attempt at putting together an $816-million package that would be paid to city pension funds over 20 years. Such a move would protect the city's art collection from being sold off.

2017 Chrysler Model Year Preview and Updates

FCA's now-iconic minivan is all-new. The 'Town & Country' tag is out, a resurrected CHRYSLER PACIFICA tag is in, and both the design and content are transformational – at least in the context of a minivan available in North America. And for those looking to both capacity and efficiency, Chrysler now offers a plug-in Pacifica hybrid with 30+ miles of all-electric range. While all Pacifica trims represent good value, with federal tax credits the Pacifica Plug-In is great value. 200: In 2017 Chrysler offers a 200 with both a new Dark Appearance package and an Alloy Edition. The 'Alloy' offers a sport-tuned suspension in combination with an all-wheel-drive system featuring a 'sport' mode for better all-season traction. And then, of course, Chrysler discontinued the 200, citing a lack of all-season sales traction. 300: The venerable (translation: 'old') 300 continues the long run with fourth-generation Uconnect, along with the addition of both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Beyond that, it's a new year with new colors, trims and packaging. And while the platform may be showing its age, it remains a compelling option for those wanting upmarket content at a reasonably accessible ($30K to $40K) price point.

Chrysler reportedly showed its dealers an electric 300 replacement

The Chrysler 300 is nearly ready to retire after almost 13 years in production. Details about its successor haven't been released, but a recent report claims that the Stellantis-owned brand privately showed some of its dealers an electric model that will take the sedan's torch. Citing anonymous dealer sources, enthusiast website Mopar Insiders wrote that the yet-unnamed model takes the form of a sedan with a fastback-like roof line. Some attendees drew a parallel between the EV and the prototype shown in renderings (pictured) in 2021; others pointed out its proportions and size are reminiscent of the Dodge Charger Daytona concept, which will reach production in the coming years. Nothing is official, but we wouldn't be surprised if the Charger Daytona spawns a Chrysler; the current-generation Charger shares its basic platform with the 300, after all, and building several vehicles on the same platform is a way for carmakers to reap economies of scale. One point worth noting is that Dodge executives have confirmed the architecture that will underpin the next Charger is compatible with the straight-six engine found in several Stellantis products. If it fits in the Dodge, it's reasonable to assume it fits in the Chrysler. Dodge hasn't announced plans to offer the Charger with the straight-six engine and neither has Chrysler; executives haven't revealed what comes after the 300, though company CEO Christine Fuell told Autoblog that there are "quite a bit of new products in our roadmap." The rumor echoes an earlier report that details an alleged 300 successor due out in 2026 with battery power, between 201 and 443 horsepower depending on the variant, and an 800-volt electrical architecture for faster charging. This hasn't been confirmed, however. As of writing, the only upcoming model that Chrysler has announced is a production version of the Airflow Vision we first saw as a very futuristic concept at CES 2020, as a more realistic design study at CES 2022, and with a black finish at the 2022 New York Auto Show. Regardless of whether the 300 gets replaced and what replaces it, at least Chrysler seemingly has a future — it was skating on perilously thin ice when Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and PSA Peugeot-Citroen merged to form Stellantis in 2021. Greg Migliore, Autoblog's editor-in-chief, argued in favor of keeping the brand alive, and dealers pleaded that letting the 97-year-old carmaker die wasn't an option.