look out PT

Looks like Bryan Nesbitt was able to further refine his design under GM after he switched companies. The similarities between these two cars are no mistake at all.

The two new vehicles will replace the Neon, not the PT Cruiser. Neon replacements, co-designed with Mitsubishi, using the "World Engine." The Dodge Rebel is the sedan or coupe version, due a year after the Dodge Caliber, a small SUV with coupe styling. It is expected to have Volkswagen diesel and Honda CVT options. Visit the relevant pages for details: Caliber - Rebel. The PT Cruiser, which is on its own highly modified version of the Neon platform, is likely to move to this new platform a year or two after the Caliber first comes out, shedding some weight

"tomkanpa" wrote

I read the same material too, but I gather this last statement is speculation, unless you've seen something recent. I've also heard that the Dodge Caliber is too similar to the PT for the latter to survive - except maybe as simply a Chrysler badge of the same vehicle.

According to the September 2005 issue of Motor Trend Magazine: Base PT Cruiser: $14,850 HHR LS:$15,990

The base PT engine is a 2.4L, 150 hp while the HHR's engine is a 2.2L 143 hp engine.

Motor liked the HHR better, but they tested a $24,000 HHR model against a $19,000 PT Cruiser. If they had spent the same $24,000 on a PT Cruiser GT, they could have gotten a 230 hp turbo charged engine, along with all the options that come with the GT.

PT, or expand the market for everyone.

You might have seen comments, but that isn't true.....

The PT was never, ever, "based on", or as you put it "highly modified" Neon platform. Chrysler has always denied this.

Not so. The PT Cruiser is put together in Mexico on an active Neon production line, and the two products share many parts. The industry always does this to save time and money. But the PT Cruiser is not a Neon, but it is a close relative.

Richard.

I worked for DC at the time of PT introduction, and the engineers specifically stated IT WAS based on the Neon Platform! Basically a lengthened chassis (floor pan) Which basically means nothing anyway! Considering a regular neon chassis does not fit on a PT. It is basically a computerized CAD engineered streeeetched picture which has a totally diffent stamping. The similarity to the PT platform is it utilizes the same mounting points for the chassis to be moved down the assembly line as with the Neon, so as not to waste time in changing the line over for producing the different models.

Originally posted by Daimler Chrysler Press Release

Dan Knott, Director, Vehicle Development, Small Car Platform Engineering. "Neon and PT Cruiser are two distinctly different vehicles and you can't combine or compare the two," Knott said. "They are of two distinctly different platforms. The reality is the two vehicles share more in process than parts or design.Much of the early VR technology we used on PT Cruiser came from knowledge we gained on the 2000 Neon program.We were able to solve unique issues because of what we learned and that early information sharing is what saved so much time."

I hate it when they don't make fair comparisons.

The final production versions of the next-style PT Cruiser headlamp (US and Export) I saw earlier this year at the engineering facility of the Tier-1 who makes them must, then, have been a figment of my imagination.

Or perhaps the comments you saw were uninformed.

The first year PT and first year HHR compare in one respect. As much as the manufacturer touts the low cost base model, I did a search for the HHR in the local dealerships and found only one that was less than $20,000. Most of them were in the 22-24K 4 range.

nice vehicle i been seeing them all over and i heard they come with a 5.3 v8 ???which is a

327 ci. eng> I just saw one of those new Chevy HHR jobbies. It's very much the same

No V8 or V6, I think the bigger engine (still 4 cyl)is rated at 174 hp....

I'm talking about the headlamps going on the upcoming *restyled* PTC.

sure your not talking about the 2006 headlights?

"tim bur" wrote

They are a Cobalt with a high roof. That means 4-bangers only.

cool, I've also heard rumours now they may just drop the pt cruiser.??