The Chrysler 300M is a full-size luxury sedan that was produced by Daimler/Chrysler from 1999 to 2004. It is a front-wheel drive, V6 engined car using the Chrysler LH platform. Versus its platform mates, the 300M was roughly shorter to make it more easily exportable to Europe. Priced above the Concorde and identically to the LHS, the 300M shared Chrysler's flagship position with the LHS until the LHS's discontinuation after 2001, upon which it became Chrysler's sole flagship model. Design Prior to Chrysler redesigning the LH-cars in 1998, the Eagle Vision filled the "import-fighter" segment. Its second-generation replacement was reportedly benchmarked against the BMW 5 Series, yet with Chrysler discontinuing the entire Eagle line after 1998, the automaker shifted this vehicle to the Chrysler lineup, bringing back the famed "300" model name. Although the cars were not rear-wheel-drive, special-production models, nor V8-powered with engines rated at 300 horsepower as did the historic models, the 300M used the next letter available in the 300 Letter Series, following the 1965 300L. The 300M also lacked the traditional "cross-hair" grille of previous 300 models, as by the mid-1980s it had been adopted by sister division Dodge for its entire model line. Had the Eagle brand not been dropped, the 300M reportedly would have been sold as a redesigned Eagle Vision. Test cars, factory manuals, and design images were prepared for the second-generation Vision featuring a prominent Eagle badge on the grille. Sharing its powertrain and interior with the Chrysler LHS, the 300M was some ten inches shorter in overall length, allowing it to fit the European "5-metre" (16.4 ft) size class for exports to Europe. Despite this, wheelbase was shared with all other second generation LH cars, with reductions in length coming from shortened front and rear overhangs. Powertrain Only one engine was available, the Chrysler-engineered 3.5 L V6, initially created for first-generation LH vehicles and revamped for the newer LH line. It was shared with the Plymouth Prowler and a limited edition R/T variant of the second-generation Dodge Intrepid. The engine was shared with the LHS and rebadged Concorde (2002–2004). For 1999, it was rated at , and of torque. It was connected to the 42LE, a four-speed automatic transmission with Autostick, which allowed manual selection of gears. Standard gear ratio on the 300M was 3.66:1. Year-to-year changes In 1999, automatic headlamps were added, and the Handling Group removed the speed limiter.