Brand Rx for Chrysler

The company's namesake brand still strives to be exactly what Walter P. Chrysler wanted it to be when he took over the company in 1925. The former head of General Motors' Buick division, Chrysler thought it would be possible to make a car that was every bit as good as the high-priced luxury models but at a lower price.

The latest version of the Chrysler 300, introduced in 2005, fills the bill perfectly. It's a massive brick of rolling theater. Behind the wheel, you can convincingly play the part of a well-off corporate raider while, really, you just got promoted to middle management.

The 300 never disappoints, either. The interior, while cut-rate in a few spots, is just as glamorous as the exterior. The car's performance, particularly when equipped with the 5.7-liter Hemi engine, is remarkable for a car with such bulk.

The 300 quickly became Chrysler's "halo car," the current template for what Chrysler should be. If every Chrysler were this good, Walter would be proud.