A lot a car companies don't advertise hp anymore due to the insurance company tendencies to charge higher premiums. When you consider that the PT has been Chrysler's highest selling model for the past year, one doesn't want to kill any potential sales. The "160 interior configurations" is to show you can have a flexible interior in a uniquely stylish, smaller, inexpensive package that was originally supposed to attract the college crowd or younger people that move a lot. Honda's Element and Toyota's Scion xB are recent attempts to reach the same demographics. However, the car companies are finding out that the older crowd are the main buyers and often outbid (overpay) when the model is 1st available, thus kills sales to the younger crowd when supplies are more plentiful, and ends up stuck with a label that the car is for old folks. Chrysler already has the Neon SRT4 billed as a performance model and probably wants to generate more sales of that model. IMHO, the Razor should be put into production replacing the Neon. The styling is more youth oriented, 2.4L turbo, 6-speed tranny, and rear drive too.
The Getrag transmission was originally designed for the PT CRD turbo diesel and reviews of that transmission was mixed. A quote from BBC Top Gear Magazine:
"The turbo diesel engine is combined with a 'short throw' Getrag five speed manual transmission to ensure smooth acceleration and relaxed cruising, coupled with excellent fuel economy characteristics at all times."
And from Hoot! magazine:
"The gearbox is a five-speed Getrag which has sporting connotations but, at least on the car I drove, didn't provide the slickest gearshifting experience. It never actually baulked a change, but try and go from second to reverse to first in a rush and it's a little unwilling to comply."
The above comments could be the main reason the SRT4 uses the T850 transmission instead. There are rumors that the current PT Getrag transmission was originally a Chrysler design contracted out to Getrag.
Personally, I like the autostick®, wasn't available in the states (export models only)in 2002 so I decided to buy the 5-speed. For those like me that hate electronic transmissions and the "learning mode" in general (a gimmick, IMHO, and before going on a trip you may want to reset the computer back to the base settings), you control when you want the shifts to occur. A lot of European drivers use the manual shift mode more over the fully automatic mode.
Chrysler needs to offer the same performance programs the imports do. Buy factory speed parts and have the dealer install them and your warranty is still intact. The imports often have an advantage since many new models introduced in the states have been selling in Japan or Europe for a year or more and have aftermarket parts (body kits, performance goodies, etc) available for show and sale immediately at the dealer. Look at some of the SEMA or import shows, you often see fully modded production cars before its even up for sale at your local dealer. They generate excitement and potential (wish lists) aftermarket parts sales before the model is available in the showrooms.