There was a period of time in the early part of the last century when a class of cars defined an era. These were large, luxurious, imposing vehicles with an excess of power, but a gentility that allowed them to trundle about with more pedestrian vehicles without protest. In America, this "fist in a velvet glove" type of vehicle was perhaps best exemplified by Duesenbergs; a vehicle that is at home taking one to the opera as it was flying down the road at breakneck speeds.

I doubt anyone will equate Chrysler’s 300C in any form with a Duesenberg, especially since the latter was a cost-no-object technology piece aimed at the wealthiest members of society. The Chrysler 300C – even in SRT-8 form – most certainly is not. In fact, one could even term the car "affordable" in light of its high content level, 425-hp Hemi V8, and $39,920 base price. To that one could add the word "luxurious" as the SRT-8 is nicely appointed both inside and out. Another descriptor of note would be "capable" as this car is capable of dispatching the daily duty cycle or of pinning you back in your seat with a rush of surprisingly refined – and just short of galactic – acceleration.

Fast comes in all sorts of flavors, from scary fast to crazy fast, but the 300C SRT-8 is a different kind of fast. Keep the traction control engaged – a good idea if you are not willing to watch the rear tires go up in peals of smoke – and the car launches as if of a flight deck with a sound that is both commanding and pleasing at the same time. For acceleration that is so calmly insistent, it is amazing how quickly single digits turn to double and double digits turn to triple. Yet the 300C never feels ruffled, or as if it is going to surprise you with unexpected gymnastics because the fully independent suspension (Bilstein shocks up from, Sachs Nivomats in the rear), firmer spring and anti-roll bars, and 20-in. wheels and tires do a surprising job of making sure the chassis is planted without adding the insult of a rough, jittery ride.

Chrysler’s design team thankfully resisted any temptation to festoon their big sedan with anything other than tastefully restrained reminders of the power hidden under the hood. The front fascia is mildly revised to include a splitter at its lower edge to control airflow under the nose, while the trunk lid gets an almost invisible spoiler to reduce lift. In combination with the huge 20 x 9-in. wheels, the look is what one would expect if asked to produce the automotive equivalent of a self-made man who has learned to enjoy his station in life.

And enjoy it you shall, though the opportunities to step deeply into the throttle and enjoy the mellifluous tones of the 6.1-liter Hemi are sadly few. Mated to a Mercedes five-speed automatic, the combination is good for an EPA-rated 14 mpg city/20 mpg highway, and 17 mpg in the real world. This combination also will push this full-size sedan from standstill to 60 mph in about five seconds, while the large (14.2-in. front, 13.8-in, rear) disc brakes clamped by four-piston Brembo calipers arrest the forward motion almost as quickly.

Say what you will about this level of power and performance in a world where gasoline is about $3.00 per gallon, but time behind the wheel will prove Lord Acton correct: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." That is especially true when that power is wrapped in as compelling a package as this.