This special-edition PT Cruiser, which was first available in Chrysler’s UK dealerships from the spring 2002, made its debut at the 72nd Geneva Motor Show. This is the first in a series of factory-customized Street Cruisers.

The car joins a PT Cruiser range that already features a 2.2 CRD version and 2.0 petrol in manual and Autostick.

Available with the four-cylinder 2.0-litre DOHC 16-valve petrol engine and also the choice of manual or Autostick transmission, this new model has an equipment specification that matches the PT Cruiser Limited version.

Street Cruiser (available in North America as “Dream Cruiser”) is painted in Inca Gold, an evolution of the colour first shown on the Chrysler Pronto Cruizer concept car (see pictures below) revealed at the 1998 Geneva Motor Show. This special colour, exclusive to the Street Cruiser Series 1, is a chrome-yellow gold with a metallic sparkle.

PT Cruiser has already become something of an icon on British roads, and with the introduction of Street Cruiser, the appeal for PT Cruiser will be broadened further while keeping the brand and nameplate fresh in people’s minds. This is just Series 1. There are lots more exciting developments on PT Cruiser to come.

Matching Inca Gold coloured accents appear throughout the interior – on the instrument panel, including the passenger-side air bag door, and instrument cluster bezel. Door bolsters are a matching Gold “Royale” leather and floor mats come embroidered with special “Street Cruiser” badging in gold thread.

Seats are light pearl beige leather with gold leather inserts. “Axis” perforated leather is used on the seat cushion and seat back inserts, while a unique textured leather, called Matrix leather, is used on the steering wheel and shift knob on automatic transmission models.

The Chrysler PT Street Cruiser cost £17,775 on-the road (£18,575 with Autostick). As with all Chrysler models, PT Street Cruiser comes with a full peace-of-mind warranty package which provides three years/60,000 mile cover plus seven years/unlimited mileage anti-corrosion warranty and three years roadside emergency cover.

The Chrysler PT Cruiser has been a sales success in the USA and in international markets. For the calendar year 2001, more than 157,000 PT Cruisers were sold in North America, and almost 31,000 were sold outside of the NAFTA region. Since launch, over 310,000 PT Cruisers have been sold worldwide, with over 47,000 sold in international markets. Only about 200 PT Street Cruisers where brought to the uk.

PT Street Cruiser Route 66 Edition

“Like the historic highway it’s named after, the new 2006 Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Route 66 Edition celebrates the journey, as well as the destination,” said Jeff Bell, Vice President—Chrysler. “With its proud heritage styling, colorful exterior and fun-to-drive character, Chrysler PT Street Cruiser captures the adventurous essence of Route 66,” Bell added. “It’s Route 66 personified.”

Aglow in an exclusive Solar Yellow paint, this limited-production vehicle features Solar Yellow brake calipers, body-color grille, solar-tinted sunscreen glass, liftgate mounted spoiler, 17-inch all-season performance tires, four-wheel anti-lock brakes with low-speed traction control, speed control and a sport suspension. Brightwork accents include chrome body-side moldings, a chrome exhaust tip and 17-inch, chrome-plated, five-spoke Empire aluminum wheels. A unique “Street Cruiser” badge, complete with Solar Yellow accents, is featured on the liftgate and complemented by “Route 66” Edition badges on the front doors.

The 2006 Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Route 66 Edition’s striking color also shines from the interior. A Solar Yellow cluster bezel and passenger air bag door with a PT Cruiser graphic accents the instrument panel. Pastel Slate Gray premium cloth sport seats with Alias/Albi trim include a six-way power driver seat feature and driver manual lumbar adjuster. The Pastel Slate Gray door trim features Medium Slate vinyl bolsters. The Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Route 66 Edition also has a leather-wrapped steering wheel with Satin Silver spokes. The Street Cruiser’s standard AM/FM radio with six-disc CD player has MP3 play capability, as well as an audio-input jack that can be used to connect portable MP3 players or other auxiliary audio devices.

The 2006 Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Route 66 Edition is powered by a standard 2.4-liter naturally aspirated engine that produces 150 horsepower (112kW) and 165 lb.-ft. (220 N•m) of torque coupled with a five-speed manual transmission. An optional four-speed automatic transmission also is available. The Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Route 66 Edition will be available in some markets outside of North America, arriving at the end of 2005. The vehicle for international markets will be available in Solar Yellow and Black, and with a choice of the 2.4-liter naturally aspirated engine or a 2.2-liter common-rail turbo diesel engine with a five-speed manual transmission.

Starting prices for the PT Street Cruiser (Route 66 Edition) are £15,440 manual and £16,240 auto.

The Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Route 66 Edition is the eleventh version of the segment-busting Chrysler PT Cruiser since it was first introduced in 2000. The Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Route 66 Edition joins the Flames, Woodie, PT Dream Cruiser Series 1, 2, 3 and 4, Two-tone, PT Turbo and Chrome Accents models, and the Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible. The Street Cruiser Route 66 Edition is the first factory-customization of the newly refined 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser.

Chrysler PT Cruiser and Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible vehicles are built at the Toluca Assembly Plant in Mexico. U.S. sales of the PT Cruiser lineup in July totaled 13,077 units, up 54 percent from the previous July. Year-to-date, Chrysler PT Cruiser sales in the United States totaled 71,451 units, up 11 percent from last year. Since its launch as a production vehicle in February 2000 through July 2005, 894,186 Chrysler PT Cruiser vehicles have been sold worldwide.