(from Chrysler Press Release)
Another dream comes true with the introduction of the new 2004 Chrysler
PT Dream Cruiser Series 3. Just in time for Detroit's Woodward Dream
Cruise, the latest offering in the limited-production series of Chrysler
PT Cruisers includes a standard 220-horsepower High Output turbo engine,
unique Midnight Blue and Bright Silver two-tone paint scheme and
blue-tinted glass, the latter of which are both firsts in the PT Cruiser
lineup.The PT Dream Cruiser
Series 3 will sell for an MSRP of $28,810 (excluding $590 destination).
"With the increased horsepower from
turbocharging the engine and the 245 lb.-ft. of torque at the most
useable portion of the power band, this addition to the Dream Cruiser
Series is certainly no 'sleeper,'" said Larry Lyons, Vice
President-Small Vehicle Product Team Engineering. "It offers both 'show
and go,' with the highest level of performance in our range of PT
Cruiser engines, which includes a new 180-horsepower turbo option for
the very first time in 2004."
Announced in conjunction with Detroit's
famous Woodward Dream Cruise, production of the 2004 Chrysler PT Dream
Cruiser Series 3 will begin this month, with vehicles arriving in North
American dealerships just in time for summer cruising.
Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) for
all Chrysler Dream Cruiser Series 3 vehicles will be reserved in a
continuous sequenced block to enhance their collectibility.
Together, the High Output turbo engine
and the special Dream Cruiser Series 3 styling cues make this, the
eighth addition to the overall PT Cruiser lineup, truly a unique
offering from the Chrysler brand.
"With this new version, we're giving PT Cruiser owners another
limited-production Dream Cruiser vehicle, already customized with the
most exclusive options available on any 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser," said
Tom Marinelli, Vice President-Chrysler Marketing.
"We received inspiration for this, the
third member of our limited-production PT 'dream team,' from the
hundreds of Chrysler PT Cruiser owner events held across the globe,'"
said Marinelli. "It's all about upping the ante and making your PT
Cruiser just a bit more unique than the one parked next to you. Our new
Chrysler PT Dream Cruiser Series 3 does just that and comes with the
assurance of our seven-year/70,000-mile warranty not found on
owner-customized vehicles."
The exclusive Midnight Blue over Bright
Silver exterior two-tone paint treatment sets the Chrysler PT Dream
Cruiser Series 3 apart from anything else in the parking lot. Available
only on the Chrysler PT Dream Cruiser Series 3, this color combination
harkens to the bold, multi-tone paint schemes the company made popular
in the 1950s.
"Chrysler hit its heyday with custom
paint options in 1955, including bold, contrasting bodyside inserts
called 'color sweeps' on its upscale Plymouth and Chrysler vehicles,"
said Dave McKinnon, Vice President-Small, Premium and Family Vehicle
Design and Color Fabric Mastering. That year, Chrysler offered 56 solid
hues, 173 two-tone combinations and several three-tone choices, which
usually included White, Black and one additional color like Fuchsia,
Bright Yellow or Lavender.
"These combinations might seem a little
flamboyant by today's standards, but they were extremely popular and
helped the company sell 1.6 million vehicles in 1955, more vehicles than
in any year prior to that time," said McKinnon.
Assuring that there will always be blue
skies above, the PT Dream Cruiser Series 3 features unique blue tinted
glass on the windshield, windows and backlight. The blue glass extends
the line of the upper Midnight Blue body panels, which adds to the
vehicle's customized look.
Notable exterior chrome accents on the
Chrysler PT Dream Cruiser Series 3 include bright bodyside moldings and
chrome horizontal accents on the front grille. "Dream Cruiser Series 3"
badging with bright accents also appears on the lower left side of the
liftgate, while a "2.4L Turbo/High Output" badge is featured on the
lower right.
Available for the first time on a
Chrysler PT Cruiser, the PT Dream Cruiser Series 3 includes 17-inch
chrome-plated Empire cast-aluminum wheels as standard equipment. The
wheels include special Midnight Blue center caps with a bright "PT
Cruiser" logo.
Passengers in the PT Dream Cruiser Series
3 may find it easy to daydream when they settle into the vehicle's
unique two-tone seats, which feature Dark Slate leather with Light Slate
accents. The front surface of the head restraints is covered with a
Light Slate material embossed with the Chrysler brand winged badge.
Heated front seats are standard in all Chrysler PT Dream Cruiser Series
3 models.
Door trim panels are covered with a matching Dark Slate material and
include Light Slate bolsters, which are unique to the Chrysler Dream
Cruiser Series 3. Front floor mats with silver embroidered "Dream
Cruiser" logos match the two-tone interior treatment, while the
instrument panel is accented with Midnight Blue cluster bezels and a
passenger air bag cover with a prismatic foil "PT Cruiser" graphic.
The leather-wrapped steering wheel
features Satin Silver spokes. Other bright interior accents are found on
the chrome AutoStick® shifter bezel (for automatic transaxle vehicles),
the Satin Silver shift knob and the chrome lock knobs. Bright pedals and
black front sill plates with bright inserts embossed with the winged
Chrysler brand logo round out the Dream Cruiser Series 3 interior chrome
touches.
Additional standard equipment on the Chrysler PT Dream Cruiser Series 3
includes a five-speed Getrag manual transaxle, four-wheel disc brakes,
ABS with traction control, a power moonroof with an "express open"
feature, a liftgate-mounted rear spoiler, AM/FM/6-CD changer radio and a
factory-installed SIRIUS satellite band digital radio system.
An automatic transaxle with AutoStick is
available as a Chrysler Dream Cruiser Series 3 option.
The Chrysler PT Dream Cruiser Series 3 is the latest in the ever growing
PT Cruiser lineup, which to date, has included the Flames, Woodie, PT
Dream Cruiser Series 1, PT Turbo, Chrome and Dream Cruiser Series 2
vehicles. The previously announced Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible will
be available early in 2004.
The first in the PT Dream Cruiser Series,
the 2002 Chrysler PT Dream Cruiser Series 1, was painted Inca Gold,
which is the same color featured on the original Chrysler Pronto Cruizer
concept car revealed at the 1998 Salon de l'Automobile in Geneva,
Switzerland. The 2003 Chrysler PT Dream Cruiser Series 2 featured a
215-horsepower High Output turbo engine and a Tangerine Pearl Coat paint
scheme.
All Chrysler PT Cruiser models continue
to represent great value, as evidenced by a first-place tie for the best
ownership experience in the Compact Car category of Strategic Vision's
2003 Total Quality Index™. The Index measures customers' overall buying,
owning and driving experiences 90 days after new vehicle purchases |