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Chrysler PT Cruiser Cabrio (convertible)

Chrysler brought the PT Cruiser to Australia midway through 2000 and with a starting price of $33,000 and the wacky Gangster styling the PT Cruiser proved a definite head turner where ever it went. So 6 years has passed, we still don't have the PT Cruiser Turbo (from Chrysler's Street & Racing Development - SRT unit) but instead we have the new, and somewhat awkward Chrysler PT Cruiser Cabrio - Or as most people would call it, a Convertible PT Cruiser (or Cabriole).


The new addition to the PT Cruiser line up brings the price up from the standard $30,000 to $36,000 for the low range Convertible and all the way up to $40,500 for the top of the range PT Cruiser Cabrio. Powered by a 2.4L engine producing a dismal 104KW of power and 214Nm of Torque, the PT Cruiser Cabrio suffers from the same problem as the other PT Cruisers. No bloody power. I would love for Chrysler to bring out a turbo (or super) charged convertible Pt Cruiser to match the cars look.

The Cabrio weighs 1605KG, giving it a power to weight ratio of 64kw per tonne which means that it has even less power than a 6 year old Hyundai Excel. Still want one? I seriously wouldn't recommend it, even if power isn't part of your decision to buy a car, the fact that you need to actually merge onto the highway should make you question the PT Cruiser Cabrio. Shame to have such a cool looking car powered by an engine better suited to a small budget car.

Official Press Release Below:

Chrysler has expanded the appeal of one of motoring’s coolest cars launching the PT Cruiser Cabrio, a spacious four-seat soft-top. Priced from just $35,890, with its power-folding soft retractable roof, which can be raised or lowered in just 10 seconds, and versatile cargo-carrying ability, the PT Cruiser Cabrio takes the outspoken retro design of the popular hatch to the next level.

“Few, if any other, cabrios on sale today can rival the PT for its combination of unique good looks, immense practicality and value,” said Gerry Jenkins, managing director, Chrysler Group Australia. "Ever since the PT Cruiser hatch was launched in Australia there has been consistently strong demand for the one-of-a-kind cruiser and now the Cabrio expands it’s appeal.
“The PT Cruiser Cabrio challenges convention and offers customers a different kind of convertible – it’s a genuine four-seater convertible and the engineers have put a lot of thought into making this one of the quietest soft-tops around.
"Nearly all PT Cruiser customers tell us that one of the key reasons they buy a PT is the stunning design, so our designers have made sure that we haven’t lost the car’s unique looks," he said.

Designed as a soft-top from the outset, the Chrysler PT Cruiser’s B-pillar mounted Sport Bar is shaped to guide airflow over rear seat passengers and to generate the minimum turbulence and noise. With the exceptionally low levels of noise generated when the roof is lowered, passengers can easily carry on conversations while driving. The added thickness of the three-layer, top-grade standard cloth top and state-of-the-art, best sealing ‘smart glass’ side windows also reduces road noise when the top is up.

The exterior of the new PT Cruiser Cabrio shares the new look of the hatch that was refreshed at the end of 2005. Exterior enhancements include smoother front and rear fascias – including a distinctive front grille with chrome accents and the Chrysler winged badge – and re-styled headlamps that feature a scallop along the bottom edge, plus fresh-look circular front fog lamps.

The new exterior is only part of the story –while the all–new interior is quieter and boasts a host of improvements. The PT Cruiser Cabrio gives owners the versatility of nine different seating combinations and an unusually large boot.
The interior has a tip-and-slide front passenger seat for easy access to the individually styled twin rear seats. These rear seats can be split 50/50, and folded and tumbled to greatly extend boot space.

The PT Cruiser Cabrio is powered by a 2.4-litre, normally-aspirated engine generating 105 kW. The cabrio is available as a Touring model or a Limited model, with five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. The PT Cabrio is available from June 2006 priced from $35,890 for the manual and $37,890 for the auto.

DESIGN AND STYLING
Chrysler PT Cruiser Cabrio replaces the Cruiser’s three-window glass-house profile with a large expanse of glass, topped by a curving fabric top which lowers the roof line by 62 mm and, together with the single but much larger (185 mm longer) driver and passenger doors, make an even more streamlined and aggressive visual statement.

Engineered to be built alongside the Cruiser on the same production lines, the 4.3 metre long Cabrio shares its major dimensions with its Cruiser sibling. Wheelbase (2,616 mm), front track (1,481 mm) and rear track (1,478 mm) are identical, but in terms of overall height, the Cabrio is 62 mm lower (at 1,539 mm) than its five-door hatch compatriot.
Aerodynamic development of the Cabrio primarily concentrated on minimising the wind noise generation that is inherent with a convertible roof car, and on water flow management and component cooling.

A range of subtle exterior features reduce drag and smooth the passage of air. A new windscreen frame masks the leading edge of the folding roof, a flexible seal is fitted around each headlamp, the trailing edge of the bonnet has a raised lip to lift airflow over the windscreen wipers, side window weather seals have flow-friendly profiles, and the door mirrors have unique low-drag housings.

REFINEMENT AND NVH CONTROL

Chrysler engineers were determined that the Chrysler PT Cruiser Cabrio would be an exceptionally quiet vehicle to travel in.
Regardless of whether the top is up or down, one thing convertible customers typically have to sacrifice for their day in the sun is the ability to carry on a conversation. Not so with the very ‘untypical’ Chrysler PT Cruiser Cabrio.
The natural vibration frequencies of the vehicle’s structure and all its components and the aerodynamic signature of the Cabrio were scrutinised with the goal of ensuring that occupants could carry on a ‘normal’ conversation while travelling at speed with the roof down.

Other benefits from the wind tunnel programme include the folded-roof ‘top cover’, door mirrors, seatbelt mountings, window seals and mouldings – all shaped for the smoothest airflow and lowest noise generation. Close attention to detail in the door and boot lid sealing, glass sealing and sealing of body panel seams, makes the Chrysler PT Cruiser Cabrio one of the most tightly sealed bodies of any DaimlerChrysler convertible cars. In the search for refinement, attention was not focused solely on the vehicle occupants. The bonnet features weather stripping around its complete perimeter, minimising engine noise outside the vehicle, reducing drive-by noise.

The strength of the Cabrio’s bodyshell structure, with its high static bending and torsional stiffness, gives a good foundation on which to create a ‘refined’ vehicle. A full-body finite element analysis was undertaken and the natural frequencies of the bodyshell were identified and isolated from those of the powertrain, suspension and steering column. There are 47 attachment points, and fine tuning each one individually has largely eliminated noise and vibration paths to the passenger compartment.

Inside the bodyshell structure, expanding foam baffles block noise paths within the larger sections, including the door-hinge pillars, the windscreen surround and the areas between the wheel wells and the beltline. The engine is fitted with ‘low-rumble’ intake manifolds, four-point ‘torque-axis’ mounts and upper and lower rubber-isolated bracing struts. A bracket between the engine and transmission increases powertrain stiffness, reducing noise and vibration at high rpm, and the rigid mounting of the air-conditioning compressor to the engine cylinder block prevents compressor vibrations from reaching the cabin.

In addition to these structural and engineering solutions, throughout the vehicle a total of 27 acoustic treatments are used to absorb or dampen noise and block its entry to the passenger compartment.

Powered roof

Chrysler PT Cruiser Cabrio’s powered folding roof is designed and engineered to be ‘best-in-class’ for fit and finish, while generating minimal noise levels in both top-up and top-down driving modes. Operated by a multi-position switch on the cabin’s central stack, the roof can be raised or lowered in just 10 seconds.

The high-grade fabric roof is secured to the windscreen frame by twin latches – released by a single D-ring handle – and features a glass heated rear window. For a clean appearance and low wind noise, the roof fits flush with the windscreen header rail. Made from strong, durable, soft-to-touch cloth, the three-layer roof is fully-lined and incorporates a thermal insulating pad.

An entirely new C-channel weather strip wraps the top edge of the four side windows at the sealing edge of the convertible top. The front door and quarter side glass is adjustable (on the assembly line) in three directions for a custom fit to the roof top and sealing system.

The roof’s folding mechanism is powered by a high-pressure hydraulic pump, mounted on the vehicle centreline, in a well behind the rear seats. The pump is fitted with a sound-proof cover. The roof frame, which is mounted to the bodyshell by twin stamped main pivot brackets, incorporates a two-piece stamped header rail and four transverse, extruded high-strength steel roof bows and forged side rails. The trailing-edge steel rail is a ‘floating bow’ design that is extremely compact and helps to give the Cabrio a cleaner look when the roof is folded down.

The convertible top is designed to be a single ‘package’ and the complete mechanism – including hydraulics, insulated headliner, weather stripping and latches – is installed in a single operation during manufacturing and is attached to the body with just six fasteners.

When folded, the roof can be covered with the (standard equipment) soft tonneau cover. This fabric cover is stored in the boot and can be quickly and simply fitted using two snaps, to provide an attractive and aerodynamically efficient cover. Each tonneau cover is colour keyed to the vehicle’s interior.

Operating the top is easy. A single D-ring release handle at the centre of the windscreen/top header provides one-handed release of the two latches located at the front corners of the top. Latches at each corner of the A pillar secure the top when it is up. The power top switch is conveniently located in the accessory switch bank in the instrument panel centre stack area.

Smart Glass for a quiet life

All four side windows in the PT Cruiser Cabrio are electrically powered and incorporate Chrysler’s two-stage ‘Smart Glass’ technology which is a key contributor to the superior wind noise performance and ease of door operation of the Cabrio.
Whenever a door is opened, that door’s glass is automatically lowered by 10 mm to prevent ‘hang-up’ with the top or upper window seals. After the door has been closed, the glass automatically rises 10 mm to its original position.
When the convertible top is lowered, the front glass is automatically lowered by 40 mm and the quarter glass by 55 mm when the first down detent is selected on the central stack mounted roof operating switch. All four windows are lowered completely when the second detent is selected.

Solar-control glass is fitted as standard in all windows to block ultra-violet light and minimise interior heating. Both the door and quarter window glass is 25 per cent thicker than in the PT Cruiser hatch, to accommodate the higher stress loads of frameless design.

"Developing a glass system that didn’t need a window frame was critical in helping retain the ‘PT-ness’ of the new Convertible," said Larry Lyons, Vice President – Small Vehicle Product Team Engineering. "Smart glass technology and some engineering ingenuity led to the same distinct Chrysler PT Cruiser profile on the Convertible as the segment-busting hatch."
As an added benefit, the system’s thicker window glass increases vehicle rigidity and contributes to noise reduction in the cabin. This technology is a key contributor to superior wind noise performance and gives the Chrysler PT Cruiser Cabrio one of the easiest door opening and closing efforts in the industry.

ALL-NEW INTERIOR

The Cabrio model receives the all-new PT Cruiser interior, to add refinement to the well known versatility and interior space of the vehicle. This interior includes new seat trim and fabric. The new three-dial instrument panel has a satin silver finish and larger, more visible graphics, while the dashboard features a total of four new flush shut-off circular air vents and a round analogue clock. The glove box has increased capacity, with a new strut-assisted lid opening.

For 2006, the centre stack is all-new, with the new AM/FM single CD radio mounted higher for easier operation, just below the power window switches and twin air vents. Beneath the stack, the front cup holders on the Limited model feature bright accents. Mounted behind the new centre stack is a completely revised heating and ventilation system that gives as much as 20 per cent more airflow, while reducing operating noise.

A new tall centre console with a sliding armrest and covered storage space replaces the previous seat-mounted armrests and front passenger seat storage bin. This console includes a standard battery-fed power outlet for mobile-phone charging and, at the rear, two fold-out cupholders for rear-seat occupants, who will also find the powered rear window switches easier to operate now that they are positioned higher on the back of the centre console.

New convenience features for the Chrysler PT Cruiser include: courtesy map lamps, a six-way power adjustable driver seat with manual lumbar adjuster, individual overhead lighting in the B-pillar mounted Sport Bar, and an Electronic Vehicle Information Centre (EVIC). This system displays compass headings, temperature, audio information, fuel economy, distance to empty, elapsed time and personal settings in the lower half of the fuel/engine temperature dial.

The Chrysler PT Cruiser Cabrio boasts an impressive 474 litres of interior space. Seating arrangements include a position that creates a pass-through opening from the boot when the rear seats have been folded and tumbled. The suspension design allows the wheels to be located at the extreme corners helping maximise rear legroom and increasing cargo space and functionality. The large, flexible interior is enhanced by wide-opening doors and tailgate and 50/50 split-folding rear seats.

ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE

2.4-litre DOHC 16V petrol engine
The front-wheel-drive hatch is powered by a normally-aspirated 2.4-litre petrol engine, producing a healthy 105 KW at 5, 200 rpm and 214 Nm of torque @ 4,000 rpm. With a cast-iron block and aluminium cylinder head, this 2,429 cc twin-overhead camshaft, 16-valve engine is fitted with sequential multi-point fuel injection and dual vibration-reducing, counter-rotating balancer shafts.

Limited and Touring models come with a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.
The optional four-speed automatic transmission features driver-adaptive shift logic, Full Automatic or AutoStick® manual gear selection and a lock-up torque converter. The transmission control computer also adapts the shift points to suit individual driving styles, driving situations and road conditions.

AutoStick allows the driver to manually select the next higher or lower ratio sequentially, by tapping the lever to the left (-) to shift down and to the right (+) to change up. The shift range [P, R, N, D] or gear range [1, 2, 3, 4] currently in use is displayed in the instrument cluster.

SUSPENSION

The suspension of the PT Cruiser has been designed to deliver a comfortable ride and responsive handling – and it has been specially tuned to suit international market demands. Compared to US vehicles, cars sold in Australia feature revised damping, greater front and rear roll control and higher specification tyres, all of which further hones the handling and ride to suit our roads and driver preference.

The Macpherson strut front suspension features a high-roll centre that contributes to responsive steering while reducing body lean during brisk cornering. Low-lean geometry achieves the desired suspension handling performance. A stiff front suspension cross member attaches the front suspension to the body structure and supports the steering gear of the power rack and pinion steering.

At the rear, coil springs support the twist beam layout. Trailing arms and a Watt’s linkage provide longitudinal and transverse location of the axle, respectively. The rear suspension’s transverse beam causes the tyres to remain vertical relative to the road during cornering, contributing to stable handling, even under load.

The Watt’s linkage is used for lateral location of the axle and includes two transverse links pivoting on the body structure at the outer end and on a third link at the inboard ends. The third link pivots at its centre on the axle, moving in a vertical plane relative to the body. This system controls lateral movement of the axle.

Compared with the more commonly used track bar, the Watt’s linkage reduces lateral suspension movement relative to the body, induces less side-to-side variation in handling, and distributes transverse loads through two links with four bushings, which substantially increases lateral stiffness for more precise handling. This also reduces body structural stiffness requirements and allows the use of softer bushings, limiting the transmission of road noise and harshness.Also contributing to the solid ride and handling characteristics is the rigid support of the PT Cruiser’s body structure. The tightly sealed body shell lowers wind and road noise, resulting in a quiet and refined ride through all driving ranges.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Safety issues figured extremely highly on Chrysler’s priorities for PT Cruiser – so that while the car may have the appearance of a throw-back to American cars of the past, it combines this image with very high modern-day safety standards.

The vehicle features large 280 mm diameter ventilated front disc brakes with solid rear discs and ABS. Electronically variable brake proportioning (EVBP), automatically adapts the braking performance in line with the vehicle weight and road conditions. Low speed traction control stops the wheels from slipping below 56 km/h.

The PT Cruiser also has three-point seat belts and its next-generation driver and front passenger airbags are supplemented by side airbags.A clutch-starter interlock prevents the engine from starting until the manual transmission clutch is depressed and, for security, the PT Cruiser is fitted with DaimlerChrysler’s Sentry Key theft deterrent system and a security alarm.

The Chrysler PT Cruiser range offers enhanced occupant protection with many new and continuing safety and security features:
• Four-wheel disc brakes with Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) and low-speed traction control
• Advanced multistage driver and front passenger airbags
• Brake/Park interlock (on vehicles equipped with automatic transmission)
• Front seat-mounted side air bags
• Three point seat belts in rear seat positions
• Sentry Key® engine immobiliser

PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION

The prefix ‘PT’ stands for ‘personal transportation’, which reflects PT Cruiser’s flexibility and versatility for each individual owner. The vehicle has borrowed design cues from classic American cars and interpreted them with a strong dose of American fun, freedom and spirit to bring down the barriers of conventional car design and function. The resultant blend of contemporary and nostalgic design ideas has created a look and personality that is unmatched around the world.

CHRYSLER PT CRUISER CABRIO MODEL RANGE

The Chrysler PT Cruiser Cabrio will be available in two versions with the 2.4-litre petrol engine.
Available engines 2.4 manual 2.4 auto
PT Cruiser Cabrio Touring √ √
PT Cruiser Cabrio Limited √ √
STANDARD FEATURES
Touring Model
Standard features on the Chrysler PT Cruiser Cabrio Touring model for 2006 include:
• 16" alloy wheels
• Body coloured bodyside mouldings
• Chrome door handles
• Coloured interior panels
• Chrome horizontal grille bars
• Electrically operated and heated door mirrors
• Front fog lamps
• Power retractable soft roof
• Wing mounted radio antenna
• Day/night rear view mirror
• Fold-and-Tumble rear seats with 50/50 split
• Front door storage pockets
• Locking glovebox
• Soft tonneau cover
• Electronic Vehicle Information Centre (EVIC)
• Cruise control
• Air-conditioning with recirculation control
• Analogue clock
• Electric windows – front and rear
• Fold flat front passenger seat
• Power Steering
• Tilt adjustable steering column
• Single CD/radio with RDS
• Speakers - 6
• Tachometer
• Power adjustable driver’s seat – 6 way
• Front and rear door storage pockets
• Full length floor console + sliding armrest/storage bin
• Power outlet in dash

Limited Model

In addition to the features on the Touring models, standard features on the Limited hatch include:
• 16" chrome finish alloy wheels
• Bright finish exhaust
• Driver’s lumbar support
• Chrome door lock knobs
• Chrome gear knob
• Leather and suede faced seats
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Heated seats

MODEL RANGE AND PRICING

The Chrysler PT Cruiser Cabiro is available in two versions – Touring and Limited.
Recommended retail prices:
Cabrio
PT Cruiser Cabrio Touring Manual $35,890
PT Cruiser Cabrio Touring Automatic $37,890
PT Cruiser Cabrio Limited Manual $38,490
PT Cruiser Cabrio Limited Automatic $40,490
Hatch
PT Cruiser Classic Manual $29,990
PT Cruiser Classic Automatic $31,990
PT Cruiser GT Manual $31,390
PT Cruiser GT Auto $33,390
PT Cruiser Limited Manual $33,990
PT Cruiser Limited Automatic $35,990

SALES SUCCESS AND MANUFACTURING

More than 875,000 PT Cruisers have been sold around the globe since its introduction in 2000, including over 5,000 in Australia, testifying to the world wide appeal of the retro styling and one of a kind motoring and helping raise the profile of the Chrysler brand.

All Chrysler PT Cruiser vehicles are manufactured exclusively at the Chrysler Group’s Toluca Assembly Plant in Mexico. Since starting PT Cruiser production in 2000, this facility has become one of the corporation’s most efficient plants.

WARRANTY

In Australia, the Chrysler PT Cruiser Cabrio is covered by Chrysler’s three-year, 100,000 km warranty. All Chrysler PT Cruiser vehicles are manufactured exclusively at the Chrysler Group’s Toluca Assembly Plant in Mexico.

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