CHRYSLER PT CRUISER

PT. For Personal Transportation.  A shape molded to the next millennium.  Utility that can be shaped to any task.  A distinctly American look that updates classic design.  A surprisingly large-sedan-sized interior packed with flexible functionality and innovation.  

THE DREAM.  Without a purpose, there can be no dream.  Before a designer ever imagined its shape, practical objectives for PT Cruiser were clearly established.  It would carry the Chrysler nameplate and engineering heritage.  Its styling would echo memorable times and its utility would delight the busiest people.  It would be affordable enough to be widely attainable but its appointments would be premium.  Now, the designer could instill the passion that would create the unparalleled, as seen in an early sketch.

THE AWAKENING.  In carrying the PT Cruiser from conception to reality, the aim was this:  Preserve the essence, but maximize the utility.  Early research verified the designer's intuition that the nostalgia-stirring lines of the newest Chrysler would recall an era when value was highly prized; when personal transportation had the distinct classic looks and design themes of high beltlines, massive sheet metal, sculptured hoods and fenders; when a car's character was molded from style... like the very American style of PT Cruiser.

THE EXECUTION.   Chrysler's "heritage approach to design," a technique that contemporizes classic forms, influenced PT Cruiser's looks.  Another influence was the commitment to produce a roomy car by containing the greatest volume of space in a shape that would bring a new look and feel to the Chrysler family.

With its delicately sloped roof, its raised beltline and windows, its shaped fenders and pronounced grille, PT Cruiser fits beautifully into the heritage design idea. 

*PT Cruiser will roll onto the road spring of 2000