PT Cabrio Classified A Car

The Chrysler PT Cruiser family has its first car in the 2-door convertible slated to go on sale mid-March. While the first seven variants of the retro sedan are classified light trucks due to the flexibility of the seating and cargo area, this first 2-door PT technically is a car because the rear seats cannot be removed.

The convertible comes four years after the original cross/utility vehicle made its debut. The soft-top is not just a chop job, engineers insist, with 57% of its body-in-white parts new.

On the 4-seater ride corporate hopes it will rejuvenate the PT family that was white-hot when it debuted but saw sales fall 22.1% in 2003, despite a push that prompted a 20.5% spike in December.

Chrysler anticipates a strong 2004 for the PT family. While the PT Cruiser CUV is a volume vehicle, the convertible will be niche. The convertible segment represents 300,000 U.S. sales annually.

All PT variants are assembled in Toluca, Mexico, and the mix easily is adjusted to meet demand, say officials. As for the ninth variant: Officials won't address speculation of an all-wheel-drive model or a 2-door coupe along the lines of the California Cruiser concept.

And the diesel Liberty will be the bellwether to gauge public acceptance of the powertrain in North America before thought is given to offering a diesel PT here.