Autoblog

Click above for high-res gallery of the Chrysler PT Cruiser DCS 5

The festivities leading up to the annual Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit begin to ramp up around this time every year, and you know the world's largest traffic jam of classic, custom and exotic vehicles is nigh when Chrysler debuts another limited edition version of its PT Cruiser. This year it's the limited edition Dream Cruiser Series 5 that will be available for purchase in the fall. The DCS 5 is actually more done up than past editions with Midnight White Pearl Coat paint that's topped by a Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl roof. Up front the standard grilles have been swapped out for aluminum mesh, and the 17-inch wheels have clearly been swiped from the SRT parts bin. Chrome trim and a pair of new "PT" badges on the driver and passenger front doors round out the exterior mods. The interior also gets done up with light-colored plastics, silver (plastic) trim and dash panels painted in the same glossy Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl as the roof. The seats are new and feature an interesting texture that Chrysler calls Embossed Momentum seat fabric. If you were hoping for a hot rod, however, you'll be disappointed as the DCS 5 features the PT Cruiser's standard 150-hp 2.4L four-cylinder mated to a four-speed automatic. The DSC 5 will be available with either a 2.4L four-cylinder producing 150 horsepower or a turbocharged version producing 180 hp. With that, we rate the PT Cruiser DCS 5 as one of Chrysler's better Woodward-inspired PT Cruisers. If you're down with the factory mods, you'll need to scrounge up at least $22,700 (plus $670 for destination) by this fall and get in line as only 1,750 units will be made.


[Source: Chrysler]

click image above for high-res version

While we harbored hope that Chrysler would break with tradition and formally launch the 2008 Dodge Caliber SRT-4 at Duggan's Pub on Woodward this morning, already the new Pentastar instead did what it's been doing for years: unveiled another special edition PT Cruiser. The Sunset Boulevard Edition is the latest in the Street Cruiser series and is powered by the 150-horsepower 2.4L four-cylinder mated to a 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual. The vehicle is highlighted by its "Sunset Crystal" paint, bevy of shiny metal trim and 16-inch, nine-spoke chrome wheels. Uplevel features include a power moonroof and dark tinting for the rear windows, while the interior includes more chrome trim in the places you'd most expect it (sorry, no interior shots were released). Being limited to only 500 units for the 2008 model year, this PT Cruiser is also adorned with a number of "Sunset Boulevard" badges to let passersby know it's no normal PT. It's also the 11th special edition PT Cruiser that Chrysler has pumped out, and this one will set you back $16,650 for the manual model and $17,475 for an automatic. That's not a bad price for a car that wants to be a collectible, despite the fact over 1.2 million PT Cruisers have been sold in the past seven years. It's still no Caliber SRT-4, though.

[Source: Chrysler]

Allpar is again on top of the JC49 game with spy shots of the crossover in even less dress than the last time we saw it. Looks like the news is pretty much the same, with Dodge getting a version of the Sebring-based crossover to be called Crew, and later on, Chrysler replacing the aging PT Cruiser with a distinctly non-retro variant.

Allpar predicts Chrysler will retain the PT Cruiser name, but cease production of the curvaceous hatchback in 2009 and replace it with a version of this car. Insiders say the current Cruiser's throwback design cues will be totally left to history.

The Dodge version is expected in showrooms in January for around $20,000, while the new Cruiser is expected sometime nearer 2010.

The dual exhaust seen on some test cars seems to indicate an optional V6 alongside a standard four-cylinder.

Allpar also says that Dodge plans to produce European versions of the car at its plant in China's Fujian province.

[Source: Allpar]