2006 Chrysler 300 Custom Front

Badge engineering rarely works, but it did in this case because the engineering lurking underneath is the work of Mercedes. Credited with nothing less than the single-handed revival of Chrysler, the flashy 300 is selling so well in spite of triple production shifts that Chrysler still feels the need to open a second plant. The 300 was important for bringing rear-wheel-drive and the Hemi engine back to Chrysler (Hemi cars are badged 300C). Two V6s are also available, and an even bigger 6.1-liter 425-horsepower Hemi comes in the new $40,000 300C SRT-8, allowing you to smoke those 20-inch dubs all the way to 60 MPH, which takes less than five seconds.