2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser

Touring Edition Wagon

4-Cyl. 2.4 Liter

Automatic

3C4FY58B72T300162

Clear

Gasoline

The Chrysler PT Cruiser is a front-engine, front-wheel drive, small family car/Compact MPV manufactured and marketed internationally by Chrysler in 5-door hatchback (2000–2010) and 2-door convertible (2005-2008) body styles.The PT Cruiser is noted for its exterior design reminiscent of 1930s styling, executed by Bryan Nesbitt,[1] and its interior design featuring a high-roof, high h-point seating, and flexible cargo and passenger configurations — a multi-level cargo shelf as well as fold, tumble and removable rear seating.Originally conceived as a Plymouth model, the PT Cruiser was ultimately marketed as a Chrysler model, after retirement of the Plymouth brand. By the end of production in July 2010,[2] worldwide production had reached 1.35 million.[3]Internally at Chrysler during development, "PT" stood for "Plymouth Truck", as it was intended to be a Plymouth model, and certified as a truck by NHTSA standards. The name stuck, but Chrysler never revealed what PT was supposed to mean. The PT Cruiser is a front-wheel drive 5-passenger vehicle, classified as a truck in the US by the NHTSA for CAFE fuel economycalculations but as a car by most other metrics. Chrysler specifically designed the PT Cruiser to fit the NHTSA criteria for a light truck in order to bring the average fuel efficiency of the company's truck fleet into compliance with CAFE standards.[citation needed] A turbocharged GT model was introduced for the 2003 model year. A convertible was introduced for the 2005 model year.The PT Cruiser was manufactured at Toluca Car Assembly in Toluca, Mexico. On March 8, 2006, DaimlerChrysler announced that it had built 1,000,000 PT Cruisers at the Toluca plant.[4] The final PT Cruiser built rolled off the assembly line there on July 9, 2010. A Chrysler spokesperson said the last model was Stone White and was destined for a U.S. dealership. In all, a grand total of 1,050,281 PT Cruisers were sold in the United States.European Chrysler PT CruiserThe PT Cruiser was also assembled at the Eurostar Automobilwerk in Graz, Austria, for global markets (outside North America) in 2002, using the production code PG. European PT Cruisers built in 2001 or from 2003 onwards were built in Mexico under the PT production code. The US version came standard with a 2.4 L four-cylinder gasoline engine. In addition to this standard model, a 2.2 L four-cylinder diesel engine built by Mercedes Benz was also available in Europe, Asia, and South Africa. A 2.0 L engine (D4RE) was also available outside the US. It produced 140 hp (100 kW) SAE at 6500 rpm with 130 lb⋅ft (180 N⋅m) of torque at 4800 rpm. In July 2000, the PT Cruiser replaced the Neon in Japan as their small car offering. Chrysler sold over 10,000 PT Cruisers in Japan. Both the five door hatchback and the two door convertible, and the GT turbo engine package were sold in Japan in right hand drive configurations. Japanese versions were manufactured at the Austrian factory and were equipped very similar to European specifications.From 2002 until 2007, the PT Cruiser was used in the city of Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture by the Maihama Resort Cab company to serve as a taxi in the vicinity of Tokyo Disneyland because of its fun, retro appearance. The PT Cruiser taxis augmented the Maihama Resort Line service to Tokyo Disneyland. Unfortunately, the PT Cruiser wasn't built for the rigors of taxi service, and the fleet became expensive to maintain, with eventual retirement in 2007. The PT Cruiser was offered in Japan until April 2010, when it was replaced by the Dodge Caliber.[citation needed]In 2001 Car and Driver acknowledged the PT Cruiser on its Ten Best list and the PT Cruiser also won the North American Car of the Year. In 2013, Top Gear named the PT Cruiser Convertible as the worst car of the last twenty years.[5]