Contact:

Quiet Efficiency, Solid Handling Come Together In 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser

Not since "tastes great/less filling" has a debate engulfed consumers with such passion: Is the Chrysler PT Cruiser supposed to be a hot rod? Is it supposed to be a ? Is it a truck? Is it retro? Is it futuristic? And, what do you mean your order for one got in before mine?!

"Everyone sees a different era in the PT Cruiser's design, and that's exactly how it should be," said Larry Lyons, Vice President, Small Car Platform Engineering. "PT Cruiser is too versatile to be locked into one segment or one vehicle style. As a result, we needed an engine and suspension that allowed this vehicle to meet everyone's needs while providing fuel efficiency."

For North America, the front- drive PT Cruiser is powered by a new 2.4-liter, DOHC, 16-valve engine, available with an automatic or manual transaxle. The engine produces 150 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm and 162 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm to provide the ample acceleration and load-carrying ability while delivering excellent fuel efficiency under a wide range of uses.

It incorporates a system of counter-rotating balance shafts for smoother overall performance.

The five-speed manual transaxle has ratios spaced to deliver optimum performance and fuel efficiency. The reverse gear includes a brake that stops the gear rotation for easy engagement. To improve durability with higher torque output, the five-speed manual transaxle was upgraded with a stiffer input shaft, wider gear faces and improved bearings.

The optional four-speed automatic features wide-spaced gear ratios that contribute to brisk acceleration and smooth highway cruising, with high fuel efficiency. The transaxle uses new final drive gearing to optimize performance and efficiency. Features of this system include electronic, fully adaptive shifting, improved torque management for quick shifts and interactive speed control and engine and transaxle controllers that provide control in hilly terrain.

To make cruising even more enjoyable, the PT Cruiser's suspension mounting, body structure stiffness and suspension calibrations are tuned to minimize noise, vibration and harshness, and body lean.

The MacPherson strut front suspension features a high-roll center that contributes to responsive while reducing body lean during brisk cornering. Low-lean geometry achieves the desired suspension handling performance. A stiff front suspension cross member attaches the front suspension to the body structure and supports the steering gear.

"Stiffness, which results in a high natural vibration frequency, helps limit the of road noise and engine vibration to the interior," said Dan Knott, Director - Vehicle Development, Small Car Platform Engineering.

In the rear, coil springs support the twist beam layout. Trailing arms and a Watts linkage provide longitudinal and transverse location of the , respectively. The rear suspension's transverse beam causes the to remain vertical relative to the road during cornering, contributing to stable handling even under loads. The rear suspension's coil springs and jounce bumpers mount above the beam, in line with the wheel centerline, to prevent after-shake when the wheel hits a bump.

The Watts linkage is used for lateral location of the axle and includes two transverse links pivoting on the body structure at the outer end and on a third link at the inboard ends. The third link pivots at its center on the axle, moving in a vertical plane relative to the body. This system controls lateral movement of the axle. Compared to the more commonly used track bar, the Watts linkage:

Reduces lateral suspension movement relative to the body to help minimize wheel well size Induces less side-to-side variation in handling Distributes transverse loads through two links with four bushings -- rather than one link with two bushings which substantially increases lateral stiffness for more precise handling. This also reduces body structural stiffness requirements and allows the use of softer bushings, limiting the transmission of road noise and harshness

Also contributing to the solid ride and handling characteristics is the rigid support of the PT Cruiser's body structure.

"The PT Cruiser's body serves a number of purposes for us," said Ernie Laginess, Director - Body Engineering, Small Car Platform Engineering. "First, the high-strength steel assures durability and rigidity for a stable ride and handling. The durability provides a safety element. And, the bending and torsional characteristics allow us to meet our aggressive performance criteria for noise, vibration and harshness control."

Body structure bending and natural torsional frequencies or vibrations are separated from steering column, powertrain and suspension input frequencies to enhance strength and soundness. The transmission of natural noise and vibration are reduced at each one of the 47 points between the body and these systems. Tuning each local area individually to separate its natural frequency from the input largely eliminates noise and vibration paths to the passenger compartment.

The tightly sealed body shell lowers wind and road noise as well, resulting in quiet ride through all driving ranges. This is achieved through precise dimensional control of door and liftgate openings and their sealing systems and through attention to detail on sealing body seams and other openings.

"The handling and stability of the PT Cruiser is very impressive to begin with," Laginess said. "But, having a quiet ride makes cruising in the PT Cruiser an added bonus."

-###- Additional information and news from Stellantis are available at: https://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com