After six years Chrysler felt it was time to drag the hard-as-whatever 300C saloon into the makeover chair. The result is more sophistication and more bling, though it may be a while before it's offered to Irish buyers.
The most noticeable change is to the iconic grille, which is a softer shape now and highlighted by horizontal chrome bars. The lights are shaped differently too and incorporate daytime LEDs, while the side mirrors are topped in chrome.
You might not notice it instantly, but the windscreen is raked back by three inches for better aerodynamics. There's a panoramic glass sunroof now too.
At the back there's a new spoiler and the taillights are ringed in chrome, as well as being connected together by a strip of... you've guessed it.
Nappa leather is available for the re-designed interior, but it comes as standard in 'cast-skin... with three-dimensional dual gloss graining for a premium appearance and suppleness.' Or, as some people used to call it, 'leatherette'. The instrument backlighting is blue.
The new Chrysler 300C also features the segment's largest touch screen display - a whopping 8.4 inches. Through it the stereo and heating controls can be accessed.
It will debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January, but the release date in Ireland has not yet been confirmed. It is believed that the Fiat Group will launch the new Chrysler 300C saloon in Ireland once a new turbodiesel engine goes into production. That may not be until 2012.