Wind-Blown Performance Options Available On the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible

- Only vehicle in its class with two turbocharged engine options - Designed as convertible from onset of development for superb ride characteristics - Handling tuned specifically for convertible driving

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 29 -- To satisfy convertible customers' need for speed, the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible offers two turbocharged engine options under the hood.

"The new Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible offers both 180-horsepower and 220-horsepower High Output turbocharged 2.4-liter engine options, giving convertible customers performance choices not found on competitive vehicles in its class," said Larry Lyons, Vice President-Small Vehicle Product Team Engineering.

The Chrysler PT Convertible is available with a 180-horsepower turbocharged engine on the Touring model, and a 220-horsepower High Output turbocharged engine as the standard GT model powerplant.

Optional Touring model powertrain features include an automatic transaxle along with the 2.4-liter 180-horsepower DOHC turbocharged engine.

The GT model powertrain features a 2.4-liter 220-HP High Output turbocharged DOHC engine with a heavy-duty Getrag five-speed manual transaxle as standard equipment. The same engine equipped with a four-speed automatic transaxle with AutoStick(R) also is available as an option.

Robust Body Structure for Superior Handling

Another attribute important to performance-minded convertible customers is handling, which the Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible has covered as well.

Designed with all the reinforcement necessary to make it a great convertible rather than a chop job, the Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible's superior handling characteristics have been built into the car's structure.

"With more than half of its parts unique from the sedan, the new Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible represents a vehicle specifically engineered with convertible drivers in mind," said Lyons. "We engineered more stability into the body structure itself and fine-tuned the handling to deliver the type of ride a convertible deserves."

Computer-aided Engineering (CAE) was used extensively to refine the PT Cruiser Convertible's body performance, which resulted in high levels of structural integrity. This structural integrity leads to a stiffer body with less twist and bend, which means PT Cruiser Convertible customers enjoy a quieter ride, better handling and reduced shake.

"The traditional convertible challenge of how to tie the whole vehicle back together once the roof is gone was solved on a computer screen long before the first prototype models were produced," said Lyons. "Creating a rigid structure using computer-aided engineering helped us eliminate body twist and bend in the early phases of vehicle development."

The Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible's rigid structure not only gives customers a more solid ride, but it also makes the car handle more precisely and gave engineers more suspension-tuning latitude without sacrificing low NVH levels. Using CAE, the front strut, rear suspension Watt's linkage, rear shock absorber and rear trailing arm mounting structures were stiffened, while their natural frequencies were tuned to separate them from the noise and vibration inputs of tires and suspension components. This allowed engineers to tune the suspension bushings for optimum handling without affecting NVH levels.

Besides the PT Cruiser Convertible's longer wheelbase (103.0" versus 99.1" for the VW Beetle and 101.3" for the Mustang), several other factors contribute to the car's stable ride and superior handling, including:

  - A unique combination of sport bar, a stamped cross-vehicle kick-up
    reinforcement and rear seat support for rear-end stiffness
  - An innovative design of the joint that runs from the front hinge pillar
    through the hydroformed sill tube and into the B-pillar that creates a
    stronger door opening area for less body twist and bend
  - Engine mounts that are tuned to use the powertrain as a mass damper for
    less body shake
  - Spring rates that are adjusted to compensate for added front and rear
    mass of a convertible
  - Sway bar rates that are increased in the front and lowered in the rear
    to maintain ride balance
  - Damper tuning that is adjusted to compensate for changes to mass and
    spring rate changes
  - A new rear seat anchor structure for increased body rigidity

The overall result of these factors combined is an impressive body-in- white stiffness of 4693 ft.-lb./deg (twist) and 42,800 lbs./in. (bend).

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