Vehicle Type: Sedan

Price: $28,885 to $31,000

Engine: 3.5-liter, 253-horsepower V6 Front Engine Front Drive

Transmission: 4-speed automatic transmission

Safety Features: Driver and passenger side airbags; ABS anti-lock brakes

Fuel Economy: 18 mpg city/27 mpg highway

Dawsonville, Georgia -- Here in the heart of NASCAR country, here where Bill Elliott lives, here where people revere big cars and big engines, Chrysler chose to show us their flagship models. The reborn LHS is posh and comfortable, but I hungered to sample the 300M, which fascinated me in my youth.

Allow me some recollections.

When I barely had my license I worked for a wheeler dealer who would buy recent model luxury cars from friends in Texas and sell them in California for a good markup. My job was to get them there. I would leave school in mid-afternoon Friday in San Antonio, and by noon the next day I was in La Jolla, having lunch with my grandparents, having driven straight through. This enabled me to party with some friends before flying back Sunday night.

Most of the time these cars were the big Chryslers, and their hemi engines quickly powered them to speeds close to 100 mph, about all my confidence would handle on the pre-Interstate roads, especially with the suspension and tires of the day. Even with the empty, straight western roads, at those speeds, any ripple or gust was an adventure. The modern namesake did not disappoint. Despite being smaller outside and with a overhead cam V6 instead of the hemi V8, it sped to extra legal speeds briskly, and even on the narrow Georgia mountain roads, I was able to reach speeds that would have had me white knuckling those big older steering wheels of my youth.

And my old boss would have been thrilled with the difference in fuel economy.

On a less laudatory note, I was disappointed that there were no innovations with this car. We had seen the engine in the new Prowler, the AutoStick selectable automatic transmission in a variety of Pentastar products . . . what Iām missing is something new to highlight this brand-leading product. According to Chrysler/Plymouth/Jeep boss, Marty Levine, "Watch this space!"

I will, since he is a real car guy, and hasnāt disappointed me yet. Chrysler proclaims a new level of automotive design architecture with the 300M -- more elegant, more comfortable and more sophisticated than ever. Flowing exterior lines create a sense of motion while the car is standing still, and are combined with the sporty look of a coupe that belies an even roomier interior. By using a front-end treatment reminiscent of classic Bertone Ferraris and Aston Martins of the fifties and sixties, 300M stylists create an impression of a small, taut vehicle, while projecting a statement of elegance and treasured memories.

The winged medallion badge first appeared on the Atlantic show car, and combines the heritage of a proud corporation and the direction it is going in the future. Perched above a classic egg-crate grille, it is one of the most appealing features of this sensuous design.

Even with all the bold styling, Concorde has the styling cues that make it easy to recognize as a Chrysler.

"A major goal was to improve aerodynamics," says styling chief John Herlitz. "By optimizing the shape of the car and elements like mirrors, we were able to achieve a coefficient of drag equal to that of some of the best sports cars in the world."

Incorporated into the design are sculptured quad headlights that provide world-class illumination and sweep around the front corners, carrying an illusion of speed while the car is standing still. The trunk is shortened to convey the elegant personal car effect, but still it is large enough for any trip and/or golf outing.

World-class air conditioning and new seating features make this the most comfortable Chrysler ever. To further address passenger comfort, the rear-seat heating and air-conditioning ducts are adjustable. Even with the sleek design, there is extra foot room for the rear passengers -- a benefit of cab-forward design.

While the interior is totally elegant and comfortable, I could not help fixating on the classic styling of the instruments, which sat in the dash like fine jeweled clocks from a bygone age. Instead of the glowing digital clock, there is a small timepiece crafted into the center of the dash, easily viewed by all the occupants, and looking like my grandfatherās railroad pocket watch.

This is one of the first products totally designed using Chrysler's CATIA computer system, which allows design sketches to progress into engineering prints and production tooling, all on the same interactive system. Dedicated communication lines linked Chrysler engineers to their counterparts at supplier firms, resulting in immediate feedback and less development time and confusion.

Better isolation in the suspension and stiffer, sophisticated, computer-enhanced body structure refinements give the 300M interior the hush of luxury to go along with the styling. Handling is enhanced by low profile tires on 16" wheels, and it feels smaller than it is due to its agility. Dual airbags and four-wheel anti-lock disk brakes are standard. The designers went far beyond the obvious competition in setting benchmark standards, comparing features with Lexus LS 400, BMW 7 series, and Buick Park Avenue.

All-new aluminum engines were computer modeled for maximum power and outstanding efficiency. The 253-horsepower 3.5-liter 24-valve V6 offers more horsepower per liter than any other production engine in its class. And it rivals the performance numbers of its predecessors of four decades ago.

Even though they are smaller than previous engines, they have better performance and fuel economy than before. They are powerful, smooth and flexible, and are a good match for the fine four-speed automatic transmission. When added to the Auto Stick, it scrambled through the Cumberland mountains with grace and aplomb.

These luxury variations carry Chrysler's banners right into the face of the enemy at their strongest point. You have to admire a company that has been recovering its health with family and utility products, yet has the temerity to aspire for a part of the luxury gold.

Chrysler has built its recovery on trend-setting minivans, trucks, sport utilities, small cars and limited production, sporty image vehicles such as the Viper and Prowler. The hardest segment of the market to play in is the full-size family sedan group, and with a new LHS and 300M, they will gain some attention and credibility for their entire large-car line.

Most of the successful passenger sedans are distinguished by their bland styling, less aimed toward not offending than exciting any emotions. There are going to be those who are not captivated by this bold styling statement, but following President Bob Lutz's dictum to 'design products that some part of the market really loves,' Chrysler will surely capture its share of the sales.