Autoblog

2013 Dodge Caliber replacement to be unveiled at 2012 Detroit Auto Show

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Hatchback, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat

We know it's coming, we just don't know when. During the long-winded marathon set of product announcements and long-term strategies laid out by Fiat and Chrysler head Sergio Marchionne, it was revealed that both Chrysler and Dodge would get new compact vehicles to replace the no-longer-in-production PT Cruiser and unloved Caliber hatchback.

Both machines were scheduled for release mid-year 2012, and, assuming things are still on track, you can be sure the Detroit-based automaker plans to make a splash with the unveiling of its new compact warriors. After all, both the Ford Focus and Chevrolet Cruze have been extremely well received by both the press and new car shoppers, and Dodge has nothing that can directly compete.

That said, there's no bigger place to make a big splash for an American automaker than the Detroit Auto Show. Wowing the home-town crowds and receiving international coverage from the media would be a major boon for Chrysler, so it comes as little surprise to read reports that Dodge is eying the Detroit show floor in January of 2012 for a hopeful debut of its 2013 Dodge Caliber replacement.

According to Wards Auto, only the Dodge small car is confirmed for debut in Detroit; we don't know what that means for a would-be PT Cruiser replacement (Chrysler 100 anyone?). In any case, expect the next-gen compact (which may or may not keep the Caliber moniker) to be based on the Fiat C-Evo platform with slightly larger dimensions for the U.S. market.

We don't yet know what it will look like, but if you're thinking Alfa Romeo Giulietta with a Dodge-appropriate fascia and styling cues, we bet you're probably not far off.

2013 Dodge Caliber replacement to be unveiled at 2012 Detroit Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Chrysler PT Cruiser RT/10 pickup

Noah Joseph — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:25:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Auctions, Chrysler, Dodge, Specialty

Chrysler PT Cruiser RT/10 custom pickup - Click above for image gallery

Over the years, Chrysler has built some awesome cars, and some... less than awesome. In one corner sits the Dodge Viper, that V10-powered beast of a car that arguably more aptly demonstrated the blue blood running through Auburn Hills' veins more than anything else in the company's history. In the other, the rather unfortunate Chrysler PT Cruiser, a retro hatch that may have demonstrated some originality when it first came out, but by its demise had long since outworn whatever charm it may have had in the first place.

The solution? Why, a marriage of the two, of course! One of only two reportedly built, this PT Cruiser featured some rather extensive modifications. For one, it did away with the rear doors and hatch back in favor of an enclosed pickup bed to give it a similar profile to the Chevrolet SSR. But as you might have guessed, that wasn't the end of it. Not by a longshot.

The builders also replaced the PT's four-banger with a V10 engine from a Dodge Viper. Now, the 500-horsepower 8.3-liter engine didn't come along until the 2003MY Viper, but given that this vehicle was said to have been built in 2000, we'll have to assume it's the original 8.0 tuned up a little. Although the notion that it was built more recently - say, after 2005 when the PT Cruiser convertible was introduced - seems a distinct possibility.

Along with the engine, the builders also transplanted the Viper's six-speed gearbox, rear suspension, steering rack and more. It's up for grabs now on eBay Motors, with bids standing - reserve unmet - at $12,322 as we went to press.

eBay Find of the Day: Chrysler PT Cruiser RT/10 pickup originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Terrafugia flying car to start production by end of year

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:02:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Plants/Manufacturing, Technology, Specialty

Terrafugia Transition flying car - Click above for high-res image gallery

Terrafugia, the Massachusetts-based flying car company, has announced that it is one step closer to putting a road-and-air-going flying car in your driveway. A suitable production facility has been located in Woburn, MA, just down the road from the company's headquarters. A story posted on USAToday.com states that production could begin within three months, and that Terrafugia plans to hire 50 skilled workers over a period of three years. Extensive testing will begin on two prototypes - one will focus on flight behavior while the other will stick to the ground. If that's the case, three months seems pretty optimistic.

Regardless, we are getting closer to realizing many a young person's dream. A flying car evokes romantic visions of picking up a date then soaring through the clouds. Sure, the styling of the Terrafugia Transition is a cross between a PT Cruiser and a Paul Walker Pep Boys special, and yes, we are also aware that the skies will eventually become clogged with traffic and flying down the Air-405 will be a nightmare. Still, it's not often you get to see a childhood fantasy come to life.

Gallery: Terrafugia Transition - First Flight

[Source: USA Today]

Report: Terrafugia flying car to start production by end of year originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Sep 2010 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Woodward: Smoke on the Woodward

Chris Shunk — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 16:06:00 EST

Filed under: Misc. Auto Shows

Smoke on the Woodward - Click above for high-res image gallery

What do you do at the Woodward Dream Cruise when it's raining cats and dogs? Well, we were keeping dry up on the second floor of an office building looking through the windows at the few cruisers left when we finally found something worth posting on. It's a PT Cruiser. Not post-worthy in and of itself, but this plum beauty was smoking hot. Literally.

Just as we were debating whether or not to go back out in the wet for more pics, this PT Cruiser rolled to a stop in front of us - and our livestream - with its grill doing its best Larry King impression. Just as we were about to run down to help the downed PT, we saw a few guys, who coincidentally were dressed in clothes that matched the PT perfectly, jump out of the back seat to push the now defunct Chrysler off of Woodward Ave.

So instead we did the next best thing and took a bunch of pictures because we're bored. It was the least we could do. We're just disappointed this PT wasn't one of the 30 Chrysler Cruisers on Woodward with faux flame stickers on the sides.

Gallery: Smoke on the Woodward

2010 Woodward: Smoke on the Woodward originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Aug 2010 16:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #186 - The PT Cruiser is dead, blind drivers, Tesla and Toyota, and more!

Dan Roth — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts, Etc., Buick, Chevrolet, Chrysler, GM, Lexus, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Toyota, Tesla

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Chris Shunk, Alex Nunez, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan Roth convene yet again for Episode #186 of the Autoblog Podcast. Topics are the final passing of the long-suffering Chrysler PT Cruiser, General Motors' "Build your own engine" for Chevrolet Corvette buyers, Tesla and its dalliance with Toyota prototypes, and the work being undertaken to develop vehicles that can be driven by the blind. There's the inevitable tangential excursions, and we finish up by responding to your feedback and questions before wrapping at an hour and twenty-five minutes. Thanks for listening, see you next time!

Autoblog Podcast #186 - The PT Cruiser is dead, blind drivers, Tesla and Toyota, and more!

In the Autoblog Garage:

Porsche Boxster Spyder
Buick LaCrosse CX
Lexus LS 460L AWD
Subaru Legacy 2.5i

News:

Hosts:
Dan Roth, Sam Abuelsamid, Alex Nunez, Chris Shunk

Runtime: 85:46

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Joystiq Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #186 - The PT Cruiser is dead, blind drivers, Tesla and Toyota, and more! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #186

Dan Roth — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Click above to subscribe to The Autoblog Podcast in iTunes

Got a question for our intrepid team of podcasters? Now's the time to ask away. Don't forget to vote on which questions deserve our attention the most, though we'll try to get to as many as we can. Discussion topics for Autoblog Podcast #183, which we'll record tonight, can be found below. Finally, subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven't already to hear your question answered.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #186

Subscribe to the Autoblog Podacast and hear your questions asked:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator

Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #186 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Chrysler PT Cruiser production ends today, Sha Na Na sends it out with a song

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:28:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Plants/Manufacturing, Videos, Chrysler

Sha Na Na tribute to the Chrysler PT Cruiser - Click above to watch video after the jump

Hear that? It's the lid on the dustbin of history about to close on Chrysler's PT Cruiser, which ends production today. In case you don't remember how popular the retro hatch used to be, in 2006, none other than Sha Na Na composed a song about "The Cat in the PT Cruiser," 'cause "he's where it's at."

That, and the fact that the final example being made today looks almost exactly like the ones featured in this video might just answer all of your questions about why the once maniacally popular PT Cruiser has a date with Charon this evening. Follow the jump for a look at history.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser

Photos copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: YouTube via USA Today]

Continue reading Video: Chrysler PT Cruiser production ends today, Sha Na Na sends it out with a song

Video: Chrysler PT Cruiser production ends today, Sha Na Na sends it out with a song originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Rental car companies 'routinely' letting recalled vehicles on the streets [w/ video]

Zach Bowman — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:27:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Recalls, Safety, Videos, Hatchback, Chrysler

Recalled Chrysler PT Cruiser after the fatal crash - Click above to watch video after the jump

We don't typically think of rental cars as the most well-loved vehicles on the planet, but we do expect them to be well maintained and reasonably safe. According to findings from a recent lawsuit against Enterprise, that may not always be true. In a case involving the death of two California women who were killed after their rental Chrysler PT Cruiser caught fire and struck an oncoming semi. Enterprise admitted that it routinely rents out vehicles that are under recall and haven't been repaired. The PT Cruiser was one of those vehicles.

In September of 2004, Chrysler issued a recall for the car. In certain instances, the vehicle's power steering unit could leak, causing an engine fire. Enterprise continued to rent the vehicle for a full month after receiving the recall notice before Raechel Houck, 24, and her sister, Jacquie, 20 rented the vehicle for a trip to visit their parents.

In further testimony, it was revealed that Enterprise routinely rents out vehicles under recall, and that the company has no standing policy against doing so. ABC News also indicates that other major companies like Hertz and Avis conduct themselves similarly.

In the case of the PT Cruiser, a jury awarded the womens' parents a $15 million settlement. Click past the jump to watch the ABC News video report.

[Source: ABC News]

Continue reading Report: Rental car companies 'routinely' letting recalled vehicles on the streets [w/ video]

Report: Rental car companies 'routinely' letting recalled vehicles on the streets [w/ video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Final PT Cruiser to roll off Chrysler assembly line on July 9

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:39:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Chrysler

2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser - Click above for high-res image gallery

Chrysler's long-lived PT Cruiser will finally roll off into the sunset next month after a decade in production. According to the Detroit Free Press, when the 2010 model year winds down at Chrysler's Toluca, Mexico plant on July 9, the final Cruisers will be produced. The retro-styled five door hatchback was a sensation when it debuted and inspired customers to pay a premium over the sticker price to get one. Over the years, the styling was tweaked only slightly its competitiveness declined significantly as DaimlerChrysler steadfastly refused to invest in it.

The Cruiser was originally earmarked for discontinuation a year ago, but when Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy, it needed product, so the automaker kept it alive for another 12 months. The Toluca factory will now be re-tooled for production of another retro-design small car, the Fiat 500 which joins the Chrysler lineup later this year.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser

Photos copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Report: Final PT Cruiser to roll off Chrysler assembly line on July 9 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Two Fiat-based small cars to replace PT Cruiser, Caliber in 2012

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Crossover, Hatchback, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Alfa Romeo, Fiat

Late last year, Alfa Romeo previewed the all-new Giulietta ahead of its reveal at next month's Geneva Motor Show. While the five-door hatch is enough to make Stateside consumers weak in the knees - particularly in Quadrifoglio Verde trim - the impact in the U.S. figures to be much more substantial.

According to a new report by Automotive News, the underpinnings of the Giulietta are set to proliferate throughout Fiat's range in the coming years, and of the one million vehicles the automaker plans to build off the new architecture annually, the Chrysler group will account for around 700,000.

Fiat and Chrysler are currently working on a widened version of the platform - appropriately dubbed "Compact Wide" - and seven new models for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep will use the new underpinnings, including the replacement for the Chrysler PT Cruiser and Dodge Caliber in 2012. And judging by Fiat's description, it's a helluva platform.

Aimed to compete with the new Audi A1 and BMW 1 Series, the platform uses 84 percent high and ultrahigh strength steel, a McPherson front and a dual-link rear suspension, both of which will use aluminum components (front and rear arms, along with the crossmember).

The platform comes in around 10 percent lighter than its predecessor thanks to the use of aluminum and magnesium, and is designed to fit a transverse engine and can be adapted for either front- or all-wheel drive applications.

On a related side note, during last week's Economic Club of Chicago luncheon in which Ralph Gilles, Dodge CEO and Chrysler Group design head, dropped a a handful of interesting tidbits about the future of the automaker, he also showed a few teasers of upcoming products. Included in the presentation were images of the new 300C and Jeep Grand Cherokee, along with the the rendering above, a new subcompact product from Dodge, almost assuredly the next Caliber. Combined with the new platform and Fiat's Multiair engines, we may finally have a credible contender in the compact arena from Chrysler. And it's about damn time.

Gallery: Alfa Romeo Giulietta

[Sources: Automotive News, AutoBird]

Report: Two Fiat-based small cars to replace PT Cruiser, Caliber in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler reveals slew of special-edition models for 2010

Dan Roth — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Chrysler, Design/Style

2010 Chrysler 300 S8 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Chrysler has carefully picked its words, saying that the 300 S6 and 300 S8 are all-new models that build on the rear-wheel-drive sedan's roots. Don't fret, the cosmetic updates are welcome; there's a new blacked-out grille this year and 20-inch alloys to fill out those classic bold wheelarches. The S6 and S8, while blatantly ripping off Audi nomenclature (do we smell a lawsuit?), denotes whether the car's packing a six- or eight-cylinder powerplant.

Interiors have been updated as well, and the words that Chrysler chose to describe them make them sound like Xanadu on wheels. In the pictures, however, the changes appear to include more heavily bolstered seats with embroidered logos and leather and cloth surfaces. The dashboard and other surfaces don't seem to be much different than what we've criticized in the past, though it could be the same design (which is fine) just rendered in improved materials.

Other vehicles are also coming in for a refreshing in 2010. The continually dead/not-dead PT Cruiser gets a Couture Edition with a dressed up interior and two-tone paint. The Town & Country Walter P. Chrysler Signature Series also looks to get much-needed interior attention, though we'll only be convinced of its quality after running our mitts over the nicely-photographed wares.

Gallery: 2010 Special Edition Chrysler models

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Chrysler reveals slew of special-edition models for 2010

Chrysler reveals slew of special-edition models for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Chrysler rehiring white collar workers to get new product out fast

Chris Shunk — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee - click above for high-res image gallery

The new product picture at Chrysler appears to be mighty thin, as the only new products scheduled to come out of the Pentastar over the next year are redesigns of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Ram Heavy Duty and the Chrysler 300. As you may recall, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne recently said that he was surprised to see how little has been done in the way of product development over the past two years, which is hardly a ringing endorsement from the new boss.

Marchionnne and his management team are now putting the final touches on a new plan to reverse Chrysler's fortunes, and the key to the company's renaissance will be new product. The Detroit Free Press is reporting that Marchionne's plan includes quick turnarounds on the refreshing of the Town & Country and Grand Caravan minivans, the Dodge Caliber, as well as the Jeep Patriot and Compass. According to company sources, the PT Cruiser is also scheduled to be redesigned in a compressed time frame, with the expectation of a mid-2011 arrival.

To execute the aggressive plan, Marchionne is reportedly calling for design and engineering workers to work overtime, and some workers who took packages or were separated involuntarily will be hired back on a contract basis. Beyond the refreshes already mentioned, Fiat has already committed to build the hot little 500 in Mexico by mid-2011, and the Pentastar will also complete the launch of its Phoenix V6 engine program.

Marchionne is scheduled to deliver his latest proposal to overhaul Chrysler to the Obama Administration's Auto Task Force by next Wednesday. It looks like there is finally going to be some serious action in Auburn Hills, MI, and we're hoping that Fiat and Chrysler can buy two years' time to bring the greatly-needed product to fruition.

Gallery: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

REPORT: Chrysler rehiring white collar workers to get new product out fast originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser is a tarnished Golden Oldie

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Crossover, Hatchback, Chrysler, New Car Reviews

2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser - Click above for high-res image gallery

It wasn't so many years ago that Chrysler's design department was considered among the best in the industry. Attractive, innovative shapes came one after another, then they took a sharp detour into the crash test building and the rest is Sebring/Compass/Caliber history. In the late Nineties when Chrysler design was still on a roll, one of the highlights was the debut of the PT Cruiser.

As insolvency fast approached, CEO Bob Nardelli and his staff were scrambling to find cars to kill and, unsurprisingly, the nearly decade-old PT wound up on that list. Surprisingly, after exiting bankruptcy court in July, Chrysler decided to keep the PT alive through the end of 2010 when new models start arriving. After perusing our review list and realizing that, like the S2000, we've never tested the PT, we called Chrysler to get one last go-'round in the retro-hatch.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser

Continue reading Review: 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser is a tarnished Golden Oldie

Review: 2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser is a tarnished Golden Oldie originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler to restart seven North American plants by end of month

Chris Paukert — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler

Hot on the heels of news that the Dodge Viper's Conner Avenue facility would be the first Chrysler plant to fire up after the company's bankruptcy proceedings/Fiat tie-up comes official word that the automaker will resume production at seven plants the week of June 29. In addition, Chrysler will bring the supporting powertrain and stamping plants online that supply the assembly factories listed below with parts.

According to Ed Garsten, Chrysler's manager of electronic media communications, the following assembly plants will resume production as part of a "phased production ramp-up" -

Sterling Heights Assembly Plant (Sterling Heights, MI) - Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger
Warren Truck Assembly Plant (Warren, MI) - Dodge Ram and Dodge Dakota
St. Louis North Assembly Plant (Fenton, MO) - Dodge Ram
Toledo Supplier Park (Toledo, OH) - Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
Brampton Assembly Plant (Brampton, Ontario, Canada) - Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Challenger
Windsor Assembly Plant (Windsor, Ontario, Canada ) - Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan
Toluca Assembly Plant (Toluca, Mexico) - Dodge Journey and Chrysler PT Cruiser

Despite the start-ups, all Chrysler plants will again idle for two weeks in the second half of July as part of a previously scheduled summer break.

Source: Chrysler | Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty]

Chrysler to restart seven North American plants by end of month originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Chrysler PT Cruiser gets unlikely stay of execution thanks to Fiat tie-up

Chris Shunk — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler

We've been telling you that Chrysler's PT Cruiser is destined for death for years now, yet the little wagon continues to endure. Inside Line is reporting that the PT has yet again escaped the gallow's pole, and instead the Little Paddy Wagon That Could will soldier on until December 2010.

The move will reportedly keep Chrysler's Toluca, Mexico plant running until the Fiat 500 and Panda arrive to fill the space. Inside Line says the two models will be built at the site beginning summer 2011, and the six or so months between the final demise of the PT and the beginning of the Fiat era will be utilize to retool the facility.

With the PT Cruiser possibly around for another year and a half, we have no choice but to continue to "enjoy" its retro-ness. Heck, with an 11-year-old platform and a design that hasn't changed much since its inception, the little PT is practically a living, breathing classic car in its own right.

[Source: Inside Line]

REPORT: Chrysler PT Cruiser gets unlikely stay of execution thanks to Fiat tie-up originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler PT Cruiser production to end this summer

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Wagon, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Chrysler

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Chrysler PT Cruiser Dream Series 5

Ye old Chrysler PT Cruiser is going the way of the dodo this summer, and according to Chrysler LLC President Tom LaSorda, the automaker is actively pursuing a sale of the equipment used to build the PT in Toluca, Mexico.

Speaking with Bloomberg, LaSorda was kind enough to both ask and answer his own questions, saying, "Would we sell those assets? Yes. Do we have any offers to sell those assets? No. Would we be pursuing a buyer? Yes." That makes for an easy interview...

Sales of the PT dropped by 49% last year, with only 50,910 vehicles leaving dealer lots. That's down from the PT's peak when Chrysler was able to offload 144,717 models in 2001. The PT's demise doesn't come as a surprise, particularly considering that Chrysler's owner, Cerberus Capital Management, has slashed six other models from the automaker's lineup since it took control in August 2007. For those of you keeping count, the PT's timely death means that the Chrysler badge is only affixed to three models: the Town & Country minivan, Sebring and 300C.

Gallery: Chrysler PT Cruiser Dream Cruiser Series 5

[Source: Bloomberg]

Chrysler PT Cruiser production to end this summer originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler could be broke by New Year's, Nardelli would work for $1

Dan Roth — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Chrysler, Earnings/Financials

Chrysler still makes cars? Apparently so, and CEO Bob Nardelli was on Capitol Hill yesterday with his colleagues from Ford and General Motors, warning that the Pentastar is in serious danger of exhausting its reserves by early 2009. Chrysler's share of the $25 billion in aid the automakers are asking for stands at $7 billion, though at the current rate, that money wouldn't last long, possibly about one fiscal quarter. Senators are concerned that the automakers will turn into a monetary black hole, but the Detroit CEOs are trying to plead the case that securing some federal help will make it easier to emerge out the other side of this downturn.

Nardelli did pledge to accept a $1 per year salary if it would help sway those with the purse strings. It would have been nice if he'd made that pledge to help his company and workforce, instead of it just being a token gesture to help him pick the pocket of the American taxpayer, but the $1 salary, which mimics what Lee Iacocca did during Chrysler's last near-failure, may play better than Alan Mulally's concern over a potential retention problem if the management is actually held accountable. Rick Wagoner divulged that he'd cut his salary by half. We think CEO salaries of a buck are fair - shoot, you can still afford a PT Cruiser on that pay.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Chrysler could be broke by New Year's, Nardelli would work for $1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Woodward '08: Chrysler gets things started with PT Cruiser Dream Cruiser Series 5

John Neff — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Chrysler, Misc. Auto Shows

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.

Gallery: Chrysler PT Cruiser Dream Cruiser Series 5

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading Woodward '08: Chrysler gets things started with PT Cruiser Dream Cruiser Series 5

Woodward '08: Chrysler gets things started with PT Cruiser Dream Cruiser Series 5 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PT Cruiser will survive through 2009, barely

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Hatchback, Chrysler

It seems as if earlier rumors of the PT Cruiser's death may have been slightly exaggerated. According to PTCruizer.com, the retro-style hatch from Chrysler is still alive, though perhaps on some sort of artificial life support. At least for the 2009 model year, the Cruiser is expected to be built alongside the Dodge Journey, though this could change in the blink of an eye. The plant in Toluca, Mexico where the two vehicles are built is capable of switching at a moments notice between the Journey and the Cruiser. So, if the Journey picks up sales or Chrysler does the unthinkable and launches its own version of the Dodge crossover, the PT could wave good bye for good.

If you are in the market to do some Cruisin' of your own, our suggestion would be to act fast. Reports indicate that Chrysler is reducing the options on the vehicle as much as possible to make them as easy, and therefore as cheap, to build as possible. For instance, the Limited is the only way to get the turbo engine, though air conditioning is now standard across the line. And if the PT makes it all the way through 2009, Chrysler will almost for certain cancel it after that.

[Source: PTCruizer.com]

PT Cruiser will survive through 2009, barely originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay find of the day: All-terrain PT Bruiser

Dan Roth — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 09:56:00 EST

Filed under: Tuners, Auctions, Etc., Chevrolet, Chrysler

When offering an item for sale, a fuzzy key selling point like "may be legal in some states already" might not be the deal clincher you'd hoped. On today's episode of "Fun With Centers of Gravity" we have the delightful union of the neuter-car PT Cruiser with the greasy unmentionables of a 29 year old Chevy Blazer. It may very well be legal in some states, but it'll still be unholy everywhere it goes. Build quality appears on par with a dollar store habachi - are those pop rivets on the fender liners? The battery sitting on a folded back seat is the crowning feature of the interior and there's also no heat or air conditioning, making this a fun year-round ride. The zip-ties and extra-fun spark plug wire routing in the engine bay dress up the 350, and the seller believes so much in this powertrain that there's a warranty to sweeten the pot. Let's ignore the fact that the nearly $10,000 Buy It Now price would buy a used Jeep Wrangler with a suspension lift, because the seller is being truthful when stating that this is a true one of a kind.

Gallery: PT Bruiser

[Source: eBay via Winding Road]

eBay find of the day: All-terrain PT Bruiser originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Apr 2008 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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