The Chrysler PT Cruiser is a "retro"-styled
station wagon built by Chrysler, a marque of DaimlerChrysler.
It has become Chrysler's entry-level vehicle (replacing
the Plymouth Neon after the demise of the Plymouth
marque), slotting below the Sebring in the lineup.
It
was designed as a modern interpretation of the
Chrysler Airflow with Dodge Neon components, but
the final design used a separate platform. The
PT Cruiser bears a resemblance in size and shape
to the 1997 Chrysler CCV prototype as well as
the Plymouth Pronto concept from the same year.
The styling of the latter elicited a better response
from the auto show circuit, and would evolve into
the styling of the PT Cruiser.
It
is a front-wheel drive 5-passenger vehicle, classified
as a truck by the EPA for CAFE fuel economy calculations
but as a car by most other metrics. A turbocharged
GT model was introduced for the 2003 model year.
A convertible was introduced for the 2005 model
year.
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