Chrysler opens a new chapter in Brunei

OVER the last few years, Brunei has seen a resurgence of American cars on its roads.

At one point, you could find plenty of American cars in Brunei; Cadillacs, Dodges and Fords were just as commonplace as any other make of car before the the energy crisis meant smaller and more economical cars were the order of the day around the world.

While it meant car makers would downsize their cars in the face of growing oil prices, Bruneians would change their vehicular diet to cars which were either available in abundance locally or regionally, suc as from neighbouring Japan.

The result was cut and dry. No American cars would really be around to shake up the market here in the Sultanate. Thankfully, as American car makers decided to venture out and export their vehicles, with a massive push to RHD (right-hand drive) markets the turning point, Brunei is now getting a taste of what it has been missing for a very long time.

Now some people, like the wonderful folk at "Top Gear", would tell you that it isn't a bad thing. Most cars to have come out from the the other side of the Atlantic, or Pacific, depending on which way you look at it, have an ungainly reputation. Big and obnoxious, cumbersome and generally not very good at all for a variety of reasons spanning build quality and style.

So with all this being bandied about in the motoring press, and such a long time inbetween since a real American car was available in the Brunei market, seeing a Chrysler 300C arrive in Brunei was somewhat of a shock. It looks nothing like its contemporary rivals.

While the teutonic German manufacturers Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz opt for curves that highlight their elegance and the Lexus LS460 takes a more sophisticated approach claiming to aim for perfection, Chrysler's 300C, however, takes a very different route.

You will never mistake any for its contemporaries simply because it has its own style and presence. Relying more on creases than curves, the 300C from the outset looks like a "brute in a suit". The low-slung roof and high mid-line mean that you peer in and out of the car, an effect akin to lowering a tinted window in Mafia movies.

The contrast is added courtesy of chrome detailing, the identity of the car is unmistakable especially with the choice of several styles of a large chrome grill ensuring you can stamp your own mark on the car.

A spokesperson from GHK Motors here in Brunei said that there are a number of options available, encouraging people to come to the showroom and see for themselves. "We have lots of choices, for example the wheels and grills can be changed and other details for those interested in the car," said the spokesperson.

All well and good, but what sets the car apart from other manufacturers is the general package available from the showroom floor. The car shown to The Brunei Times was the SRT8 version of the 300C.

Now let us start with the most obvious things, aside from the unique look provided by the rakishly long body, the wheels are eye-grabbing: 20 inches in diameter, with a markedly low profile, it all adds to the already "handsome brute" demeanour that is pervading from the car. A quick walk around the car and you will spot the Brembo caliper brakes and the twin piping exhaust.

Why would any car, this size, need any kind of equipment which screams out "look at me", when it already accomplishes a debonaire character? A closer look and the disc brakes on the car are large and slotted to ensure any surfeit of speed is taken off quickly and safely. You see, underneath the hood of the SRT8 model of Chrysler's 300C is a 6.1 litre V8 HEMI engine. This explains the dual exhausts at the back. V8 HEMI engines in America have their own lore. It is what was missing from Brunei all those years ago: big bore and large displacement engines in larger than life cars. The engines are there for a reason, to push the heavy set cars down the dragstrip with alarming alacrity, in a brash and bold attempt to defy physics.

So yes, this is the same engine, now found in the SRT 300C, albeit a more modern one. The numbers are impressive, with 426bhp from the 6000cc displacement engine, you won't be lacking in the speed stakes.

Before setting off, I could not resist hearing the V8 burble and requested to dab on the throttle while set in Neutral. The baritone V8 is subtle but clearly as a result of refinement and not a lack of ability.

The engine plays a very big role in giving this car its character, because a book should never be judged by its cover, or in this case, a car should never be stereotyped because of how it looks. At low speeds, the engine does all the unexciting aspects of daily driving as expected. Thanks to the large reserves of power, it can meander slowly through car parks without the touch of the accelerator. While the weight will play on the cornering performance of any big vehicle, the Bilstein suspension does a very convincing job of making such a big car manageable under speed, without sacrificing too much of the ride's comfort.

Traffic is negotiated with ease, thanks to a decent steering feel and again the power on hand is there should it ever be needed. It will be on the open road where the 300C really strut its stuff. With a clear stretch on hand, the engine is happy to show its full credentials. In the well-isolated cabin, a firm prod of the pedal and the power is unleashed. The engine bellows and the desired speed is achieved assuredly. It sounds great, like any V8 should, even though slightly muted.

The reason being is that not everyone wants a hot rod, as exciting as they are, the 300C caters for those people who are looking for luxury, refinement and performance but do not want to get thrown in the same boat as the cars that are available. The draw of being different cannot be underestimated, the 300C does offer a whole host of multimedia options for those who want functionality, and at the same time offers a unique driving experience.

For those who prefer to be chauffeured, an interior which is sharp and out of place amongst the elite luxury vehicles on offer today allays any fears that the car lacks in that department. With ample seating in the front and the back, this is a serious contender. Even more so when you consider the price, at $108,000. It is by no means cheap, but the SRT offers so much.

The engineers from SRT have made sure that despite being a big car, it will stop and accelerate like a smaller one. For this package in Brunei, expect to pay a premium upwards of $30,000 almost every where else.

Where the 300C fails is mastering the forte of its peers. Where Audi has been impressive in the design elements of its interiors, BMW makes sure that the sporting credentials are unmatched and Mercedes-Benz reminds everyone that its ride comfort reigns supreme, the 300C loses itself by being unable to make a breakthrough on a specific front.

At the same time, it delivers a hearty promise, that should you choose to spend your money on one, the 300C will not disappoint because it will deliver by doing things differently. Its break away from the pack is down largely to wanting to establish its own identity, and for the most part, it will give the majority of car buyers who are scrutinising the market everything that they desire.

The rest would have already chosen their next purchase, by virtue of reputation and loyalty. What is very probable is that those who eventually purchase a 300C, will begin a new chapter for its presence here in Brunei; one which restarts a whole following with its own loyalty and reputation.

The Brunei Times