Chrysler kicked off Detroit’s annual Woodward Dream Cruise today, 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 later this summer as a limited-production version of the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser.

The U.S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2006 Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Route 66 Edition will be $19,185 for the manual transaxle version and $20,020 for the automatic transaxle model. Both prices exclude a $640 destination charge.

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

The 2006 Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Route 66 Edition’s striking color 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 Gray premium cloth sport seats with Alias/Albi trim include a six-way power driver seat feature and driver manual lumbar adjuster. The Pastel Slate Gray 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 liftgate release latch, remote keyless entry, Sentry Key engine immobilizer and speed-sensitive power locks.

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

“ The Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Route 66 edition is the first factory-customized 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.”

2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER
The Chrysler PT Cruiser continues to lead the segment in style, versatility, quality and performance with a complete upgrade for the 2006 model year. Starting at a U.S. MSRP of $14,210 (excluding $640 destination) the vehicle features across-the-board refinements, including updated front and rear fascias, featuring a new front grille with the Chrysler winged badge, an all-new interior and improved performance. The High-output Turbo engine on the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser GT model also gets a boost of power, now rated at 230 horsepower (171.5 kW) and 245 lb.-ft. (332 N•m) of torque, up from the previous 220 horsepower.

2006 Chrysler PT Cruisers also feature all-new interiors and NVH improvements that reduce road, wind and powertrain noise by up to five decibels, depending on driving conditions. The new instrument panel features larger gauges, new flush shutoff, rotating air vents and a Chrysler signature analog clock. The radio also is mounted higher in the center stack for easier access, and a passenger grab handle is added to the right side of the instrument panel, making it easier for passengers to get in and out of the vehicle. The glove box capacity is increased, and the door now features a dampened movement.

A new center console with a sliding armrest and covered storage space replaces the previous seat-mounted armrests and front passenger seat storage bin for all 2006 PT Cruisers and the Street Cruiser Route 66 Edition. This console includes a covered tray for concealing small items, a deep storage bin that holds six CDs, an available battery-fed power outlet for cell phone charging, a new coin holder and two fold-out cup holders for rear-seat occupants. New convenience features on all 2006 models include standard power locks, courtesy map lamps and rear window switches mounted higher on the back of the center console for easier access.

THE CHRYSLER PT CRUISER LINEUP CONTINUES TO GROW
The Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Route 66 Edition is the eleventh version of the segment-busting Chrysler 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. The Street Cruiser Route 66 Edition is the first factory-customization of the newly refined 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser.

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