Design
Designing the PT's body was an exercise in maintaining the classical proportions of the original Pronto Cruizer show car, a two-door prototype displayed to the public at the 1998 Geneva Motor Show, and providing a roomy and practical interior. Anybody who sees the PT Cruiser on the road can attest to the success of the visual element of the design process, but a good look at the interior shows it is also a car that works.

From the pronounced front guards and prominent slotted grille to the wrap-around headlights and a five-door body that screams attitude rather than family planning, the PT Cruiser is a successful mix of '30s and '40s style with 21st Century technology and packaging.

The PT Cruiser has been called a 'segment buster' because beneath the desirable exterior is a thoroughly modern, thoroughly practical family car that defies labels such as small wagon, all terrain wagon or even sports car. Instead through ingenious design, this car seems to deliver the best of all worlds.

Concept
Chrysler has turned this daring and desirable show car into a viable and versatile reality, with the release of the PT Cruiser in less than two years from the unveiling of the original concept.

There's no doubt that the PT Cruiser was designed to make an impression. "The PT Cruiser embodies a design that evokes emotion in people all around the world," says Chrysler's Product Development and Design Chief Tom Gale. "Its distinct appearance is unmatched by any vehicle on the road today.