CHRYSLER TO SHOW OFF PT CRUISER CONCEPT IN LONDON

REVOLUTIONARY CHRYSLER PT CRUISER SET TO TURN HEADS AT LONDON MOTOR SHOW
The revolutionary Chrysler PT Cruiser will be given its UK premiere at the London Motor Show at Earls Court next month as Chrysler prepares to carve its own special niche with this unique, head-turning newcomer. The ever-growing Chrysler Jeep assault on the UK market means that the distinctive five-door PT Cruiser won't be alone in making its debut. Chrysler Jeep Imports UK will also be displaying its all-new Chrysler Neon compact saloon for the first time, as well as introducing a new five cylinder 3.1-litre Turbo Diesel version of the big-selling Jeep Grand Cherokee.

While the new Neon and Turbo Diesel Grand Cherokee go on sale during October and November respectively, customers will have to wait until early summer next year before being able to take delivery of the eye-catching PT Cruiser, which lifts Chrysler once again to the forefront of automotive design and engineering.

This bold new shape of motoring for the next millennium caused a real stir when Chrysler first revealed it earlier this year in Detroit as a unique combination of design and packaging. Now it is expected to generate the same reaction here when the British public sees the car for the first time at Earls Court. Production in right-hand drive for UK customers will begin early next year at DaimlerChrysler's Toluca Assembly Plant in Mexico. Richard Mackay, Managing Director of Chrysler Jeep Imports UK, said:

"There's no doubt the PT Cruiser will turn heads at Earls Court next month and on Britain's roads from next summer because it has a stunning look all of its own. It has borrowed design cues from classic American cars and interpreted them with an injection of true American fun, freedom and spirit to break down the barriers of conventional car design and function. Chrysler's design team have brought the entire art form of the automobile to a new level, blending contemporary and nostalgic design ideas to create a look and personality that is unmatched anywhere in the world. There's a hint of a mean and cool American hot rod with the curvaceous styling of the body and the retro touches on the inside. It's unique in many ways - not least the way it combines versatility and efficiency, wrapped in a distinctly American design, blending many characteristics to create an all-new segment in the market."

The prefix 'PT' stands for 'personal transportation' to reflect the PT Cruiser's flexibility and versatility for each individual owner. The car's appearance as a full production model follows the previous creation and display of the Pronto and Pronto Cruizer concept vehicles, which were used to gauge public opinion. In moving rapidly from concept to reality, the PT Cruiser follows a route which has already given motorists such stunning vehicles as the awesome 8.0-litre Viper sports car and the eye-catching Prowler hot rod - both of which made their first appearances as motor show concepts.

But the PT Cruiser is not just an image builder: its unique design provides a highly practical solution to the rapidly changing demands of motorists around the world. This has been achieved by the determination of the designers and engineers to adhere to a strict design philosophy of 'form follows function'. In fact, with ultra-efficient use of interior space and a unique versatility, the five-door PT Cruiser combines all the practicalities for daily use with a capacity to inject fun into motoring.

To address global market needs, the overall exterior size of PT Cruiser was kept to that of a small car, but ingenious interior design and packaging created the space and functionality of a much larger vehicle. In fact, at 4288 mm, the overall exterior length is 102 mm shorter than the Neon, yet its interior volume of 339 cubic metres rivals that of full-size saloons.

Overall vehicle height combined with unique front and rear seat configurations gives the PT Cruiser the capability to carry five people as a passenger car, or just the driver with the cargo capacity of a light van. The 65/35 split rear seat can be folded in several different ways or removed completely to reveal a flat load floor. For added efficiency, the front passenger seat can be folded forward for use as a table top for the driver, or to provide enough space to load an eight-feet ladder from the rear of the vehicle.

The front-wheel drive PT Cruiser is powered by a 2.0-litre SOHC 16-valve engine and will be available with manual or automatic transmission. A common rail, direct injected turbo diesel engine will be available at a later stage. Prices will be announced close to launch.

New Chrysler Neon
Meanwhile, the new Neon range will be displayed at Earls Court with more equipment but at lower prices than when the original model was first introduced to the UK in 1996, making it by far the least expensive 2.0-litre C-segment vehicle - saloon or hatchback - on sale in the UK. And even among 1.6-litre vehicles in this segment, only a handful of cars - with much less equipment - can beat it on price.

Starting at just UK�10,995, the Neon range consists of two models - 2.0 SE and 2.0 LX - and comes with a choice of five speed manual or automatic transmission at no extra cost.

The low-cost Neon 2.0 SE is fitted as standard with air conditioning, twin airbags, power assisted steering, remote control Thatcham-approved alarm/immobiliser plus six speaker stereo radio cassette player.

The lavishly-equipped LX model has all the specification of the SE plus additional equipment which includes anti-lock brakes, traction control, 15-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, height-adjustable driver's seat, leather-covered steering wheel and wood grain trim. In addition, the LX Automatic gains cruise control as standard. The on-the-road price of the Neon 2.0 LX is �13,495.

The new Neon is powered by an improved version of the well-proven 2.0-litre SOHC four-cylinder 16-valve engine. New air induction and intake manifold systems were developed to increase available torque over broader operating speeds. The engine develops maximum torque of 131 lb.ft at 4600 rpm. The engine produces 131 bhp at 5600 rpm to provide spirited performance without taking its toll on fuel economy. Top speed is 125 mph and acceleration from zero to 60 mph takes just under 10 seconds. Neon is capable of 44.8 mpg on the extra urban cycle and 35.8 mpg on the combined cycle.

As with all Chrysler and Jeep models sold in the UK, the value-for-money package includes a three-year/60,000 mile warranty plus three-year roadside assistance and six-year anti-corrosion cover. The family genes are clearly visible in the latest car through Chrysler's much-admired cab-forward design and newly-adopted grille, which contains - for the first time in the UK - the new worldwide symbol for the Chrysler brand, the winged emblem. As a result, the Neon retains its distinctiveness and flair but in a more mature overall package.

The Neon not only has an all-new body but also benefits from new suspension and brakes plus a new, more spacious interior and increased luggage space. The car also gets improved ergonomics, higher quality interior materials, reduced NVH levels and improved ride characteristics as part of Chrysler's determination to upgrade Neon, giving it more substance, solidity and quality.

"Neon customers can have a 2.0-litre engine for the price of a 1.6 and with a better specification than its competitors. It not only returns to the value of the original Neon, but exceeds it," said Steve Gray, Marketing Director of Chrysler Jeep Imports UK. "Chrysler's strength has always been in exceeding the specification of our peers and this Neon is no exception."

Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.1-litre Turbo Diesel
Pride of place in the Jeep line-up at Earls Court goes to the first-ever Jeep model to provide the combination of diesel engine and automatic transmission. The all-new Turbo Diesel version of the Grand Cherokee is fitted as standard with a sophisticated four-speed automatic transmission and goes on sale in November at �30,995 to complete the UK line-up of the American manufacturer's luxurious four-wheel drive range.

Built in Graz, Austria, and equipped with a new five-cylinder engine produced by VM Motori in Italy, this latest Grand Cherokee joins the powerful 4.0-litre and muscular 4.7-litre V8 petrol engine models which have given Jeep's flagship range a flying start in the UK, establishing it in recent months as the premier 'must-have' luxury four-wheel drive vehicle.

The 3.1-litre TD model is not only expected to create a further boost in demand for the luxurious Jeep models but also to account for a significant proportion of those Grand Cherokee sales. One third of all previous model Grand Cherokees sold outside North America were equipped with the former 2.5-litre turbo diesel engine and manual gearbox. This level of demand is expected to increase with the arrival of the sophisticated turbo diesel engine and automatic transmission.

With 283lb.ft of torque - almost as much as the 4.7-litre V8 - the responsive turbo diesel unit delivers a remarkable blend of power, economy and ease of operation on road as well as outstanding off-road capability. The Turbo Diesel version is therefore expected to be particularly popular among those customers who tow horseboxes, boats, caravans or other types of trailer. It can tow loads of up to 3500kg. The 3.1-litre engine produces 138 bhp which accelerates the Grand Cherokee from zero to 60mph in around 13.5 seconds and has a top speed of 108 mph. It returns 29.1 miles per gallon on the extra urban cycle, 24.1 mpg combined and 19.5 mpg on the urban cycle.

Like the V8 model, the new Turbo Diesel Grand Cherokee is equipped as standard with Jeep's trail-blazing Quadra-Drive four-wheel drive system, which not only provides it with unsurpassed off road ability on the toughest terrain, but maintains momentum even if only one wheel has traction.

Richard Mackay said: "There has been enormous advance interest for this new turbo diesel model - especially now that it is possible to have all of the benefits of the diesel engine with the sophistication and ease of operation of automatic transmission. The outstanding capability of this model makes it a very significant addition to the line-up for us."

The luxury status of the 3.1 TD Grand Cherokee is underlined by the equipment which comes as standard. This includes infra-red dual zone air conditioning, alloy wheels, cruise control, anti-lock braking system, remote control central locking, Thatcham category one alarm and immobiliser, leather trim, programmable vehicle information centre, power adjustable front seats, 180 watt CD/radio cassette with RDS/EON, flip-up rear window and roof bars. The only option is an electric, tilt and slide glass sunroof for �900.

The new PT Cruiser, Neon and Turbo Diesel Grand Cherokee will be joined on the Chrysler Jeep stand at Earls Court by two new models that further complement the Jeep line up of vehicles in the UK.

Jeep Cherokee 4.0 Classic
The top-selling Jeep Cherokee range will be boosted later this autumn by the addition of a third model called the Cherokee 4.0 Classic. Sitting between the entry level 2.5-litre petrol and turbo diesel Cherokees and the range-topping and lavishly-equipped Orvis models, the Cherokee Classic is fitted with Jeep's six cylinder 4.0-litre petrol engine mated to an automatic transmission. Standard equipment will include alloy wheels and anti-lock braking system. It will be available through the Chrysler Jeep UK dealer network for an on-the-road price of �20,995.

Jeep Wrangler
A striking bright yellow limited edition version of the legendary Jeep Wrangler will be seen for the first time. Based on the Wrangler Sport, this version comes equipped with a choice of 2.5-litre four cylinder or 4.0-litre six cylinder petrol engines and its Solar yellow exterior paint is matched by a funky yellow interior trim. Alloy wheels will be standard and it will go on sale early next year with prices being announced closer to the time of launch.

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