(Mon 04 Jan 10)

Chrysler has rearranged the line-up of the 300C saloon and introduced a new entry-level version which is on sale now for £23,995.

The new car is called the SE, and like most of the others in the range it has a three-litre V6 turbo diesel engine which produces a maximum of 215bhp and gives a top speed of 143mph and a 0-62mph time of 8.7 seconds. Standard equipment includes 18" alloy wheels, xenon headlights, automatic wipers, leather seats, front, rear and side airbags, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control air-conditioning, LED interior lighting, front foglights and front and rear parking sensors.

For an extra £1000, the SR provides a dimming interior mirror, an upgraded Boston Acoustics audio system, GPS satellite navigation, a phone with voice-recognition controls and Bluetooth connectivity. The SR also has an optional powered sunroof for £750 and heated rear seats for a further £250.

At the top of the diesel range is the SRT, which costs £27,995 and gets 20" alloy wheels, a mesh front grille with chrome surround, body-coloured doorhandles and mirrors, wheelarch extensions, leather/suede seat trim and carbonfibre interior detailing.

The range topper is still the SRT-8, with its 425bhp 6.1-litre Hemi V8 petrol engine. The Hemi gives the 300C a top speed of 165mph and a 0-62mph time of five seconds, and the brakes, steering and suspension have all been adjusted to suit the extra power. In fact, the engine and brakes combined give the SRT-8 the ability to accelerate from rest to 100mph and brake to a standstill in just over 16 seconds, though we don't recommend that you try this at home. The SRT-8 costs £41,795.

The Touring range has not been revamped for 2010 and therefore remains as before.

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