• New Chrysler PT Cruiser Edition introduction kicks off America's annual Woodward Dream Cruise
• Limited-production Chrysler PT Cruiser dedicated to Route 66, which is affectionately known to Americans as “The Mother Road”
• First Factory-customised version of the newly refined 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
• Eleventh version of Chrysler PT Cruiser since its introduction in 2000

Chrysler kicked off Detroit’s annual Woodward Dream Cruise yesterday, introducing the all-new 2006 Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Route 66 Edition dedicated to “The Mother Road” on another famous road, Detroit’s Woodward Avenue. Announced in conjunction with the famed Woodward Dream Cruise, the Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Route 66 Edition will be available as a limited-production version of the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser.

“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, colourful 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-colour grille, solar-tinted sunscreen glass, tailgate mounted spoiler, 17-inch all-season performance tyres, 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 aluminium wheels. A unique “Street Cruiser” badge, complete with Solar Yellow accents, is featured on the tailgate and complemented by “Route 66” Edition badges on the front doors.

The 2006 Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Route 66 Edition’s striking colour 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 Grey premium cloth sport seats with Alias/Albi trim include a six-way power driver seat feature and driver manual lumbar adjuster. The Pastel Slate Grey 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 Street Cruiser Route 66 Edition has front-seat-mounted side air bags. It also includes many of the standard safety features found on the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser, including an enhanced accident response system, new advanced driver and front-passenger multi-stage front air bags with an Occupant Classification system, a driver-side inflatable knee blocker, theft alarm, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) child-seat anchor system, brake/park interlock, lap and shoulder seat belts in all positions, rear door child protection locks, rear tailgate release latch, remote keyless entry, Sentry Key engine immobiliser and speed-sensitive power locks.

The 2006 Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Route 66 Edition is powered by a standard 2.4-litre naturally aspirated engine that produces 150 horsepower (112kW) and 165 lb.-ft. (220 Nm) 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-litre naturally aspirated engine or a 2.2-litre common-rail turbo diesel engine with a five-speed manual transmission.

“The Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Route 66 edition is the first factory-customised version of our newly refined 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser, and the eleventh version of the Chrysler PT Cruiser since the vehicle was introduced in 2000,” said Larry Lyons, Vice President—Front-wheel-drive Product Team. “This Street Cruiser Route 66 Edition features the many interior, exterior and NVH improvements we’ve made to the refined 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser, all of which enhance the customer’s overall driving experience, whether it’s on their daily commute to work or on a cruise along the famous road it’s named after.”

THE CHRYSLER PT CRUISER LINEUP CONTINUES TO GROW
The Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Route 66 Edition is the eleventh version of the 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.

CHRYSLER PT CRUISER PRODUCTION
Chrysler PT Cruiser and Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible vehicles are built at the Toluca Assembly Plant in Mexico. American sales of the PT Cruiser lineup in July 2005 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, a total of 894,186 Chrysler PT Cruiser vehicles have been sold worldwide.

Some previous Chrysler articles:

America's 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible 17th June, 2005 More power and a new interior and exterior design upgrades take the already "too cool to categorise" Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible to new heights in 2006 ..... more

America's 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser 17th June, 2005 New for 2006, the Chrysler PT Cruiser gets updated front and rear fascias, including a new front grille with the Chrysler winged badge ..... more