If it lost a little weight and added a 5th gear, the 300M would be a lot more sporty. (Photo: Chrysler)

Chrysler could make it sportier by reducing its curb weight by a couple of hundred pounds, and by sticking in more aggressively bolstered seats to complement the tight handling and performance capabilities. The seats in the brand's Town & Country luxury minivan are the best they build and something similar should definitely be in this car. Now that I'm writing a wish list, a 5th cog in the transmission would be appreciated - not only to keep up to the competition that have recently raised the bar, but for added flexibility when in AutoStick mode. And maybe take those audio controls out from their hiding place behind the steering wheel (where I discovered them by chance) and put them up front where they're easier to find and use.

So why isn't Chrysler selling more 300 M Specials? In a word, price. Or maybe two words; image and price. Dealers have whispered to me that people have trouble saying "Chrysler" and "$45,000" in the same breath. Although DaimlerChrysler is aiming at raising Chrysler to premium brand status, maybe a division name change is in order. It worked for Honda with Acura, where buyers are now willing to spend $42,000 on a re-badged and re-contented Accord (Acura 3.2TL) and $45,000 G35s are flying out the door at Nissan's Infiniti Division, though the car shares its engine with the Altima. Why not this worthy top-of-the-line Euro-style performance sedan?

The 300C is on the horizon, setting the stage for a Chrysler revival. (Photo: Chrysler)

That may be about to change. DaimlerChrysler's replacement for the 300M, expected to resemble the 300C concept car that debuted in New York last month, incorporates many Mercedes-Benz parts, albeit with a more Chrysler-like price tag. Said to offer a Hemi V8 powering the rear wheels with a rumored priced in the $50,000 range, this could be the car that sets the stage for a Chrysler sedan revival.