Super Cruiser (Crazy Idea?)

[AZ_IceMan]

Not to step on anyones toes or beliefs. I myself believe that a lot of the pt cruiser has common components that is shares
with the 2000 neon program. The following is an excerpt from a press release "Toluca Assembly, Quality and Technology Combine to Make PT Cruiser True Pioneer" June 11th, 2001-- by Dan Knott, Director, Vehicle Development, Small Car Platform Engineering.

Also, sorry about the length, just thought I'd put things to rest.

quote:Originally posted by Daimler Chrysler Press Release


....There's no question that PT Cruiser's design brought challenges to the engineering and programming staff," said Dan Knott, Director, Vehicle Development, Small Car Platform Engineering. "We all loved the mold-breaking design, but had to come up with equally unique ways to package material on the engineering side, while holding true to the product and process efficiencies from a program management perspective."

Virtual Reality (VR) allowed all members of the development team to evaluate three-dimensional product designs in a computer environment. The ability to simulate the interaction of people within the models -- prior to an actual model ever being built - was efficient and cost effective. Engineers and designers learned that VR provides a fast and useful tool for evaluating product designs and functions. Evaluations occurred on the following elements of PT Cruiser:


Overall interior and exterior appearance

Liftgate function, fit and design

Effect of changes to painted surface visibility in door and liftgate openings

Outward visibility for occupants in a variety of settings and seating positions

Rear window wiper patterns

Instrument cluster and switch ergonomics

Child safety seat tether hook visibility and placement

"Neon and PT Cruiser are two distinctly different vehicles and you can't combine or compare the two," Knott said. "They are of two distinctly different platforms. The reality is the two vehicles share more in process than parts or design.Much of the early VR technology we used on PT Cruiser came from knowledge we gained on the 2000 Neon program.We were able to solve unique issues because of what we learned and that early information sharing is what saved so much time."

[bigtommy83]

That article was posted to make the public think that they aren't getting a tall neon. Which they weren't. But all the major weld points and everythign in the front is the same. They have different part numbers but all the suspension angles are the same. The rear suspension is from the old K cars. I don't care if you call it twist beam or watts linkage. It is a straight axle nothing more advanced of a Plymouth Reliant. Chrysler used "flexible engineering" like other manufacturers such as Honda. How do you think it made it into production so quickly. It used alot of the same tooling and underpinnings of the 2000 neon program. No body wants to spend 25000 on a neon and chrysler knows this. So why not decline it is on the platform.

[RallyDRock]

just a heads up on the starion/conquest/saporro its a 4 cyl turbo

[calicranberry]

can we all get along with this neon/cruiser thing? just get over the fact they are related and enjoy. SRG, the first gen (your 97) neon has little to do with the current neon or the cruiser. when the platform for the current neon (2000 till now) was redone, they used it for the basis of the cruiser. that does not mean that they have much in common, but they do share some parts, including front suspension, transmissions, brakes, interior bits, even wheelbase. typically when cars have those things in common, they are said to share a platform. sorta like a toyota camry shares one with a lexus es and rx, you may not know it but they do. or that a saab and a saturn share a platform (or a jag and a ford, i could go on for awhile), just the way car companies work now. and as for proof, i think that the fact that chrysler has never disputed any car mag reference to the pt/neon relationship is proof enough. when the convertable came out, there was a review that said it was too expensive for a car based on a neon (the exact words). i'd imagine chrysler would be all over them if it was not true (all car mags got blasted by DCX when they said the new pacifica was so expensive becuse the company was trying to take chrysler upmarket, not true DCX said in harsh words). almost every review of a cruiser i have read (and i'm addicted to car mags) mentions the relationship. the upside is that this is how they got the cruiser to market so quickly, and at such a great price. had they not used the neon (and other bits from the chrylser parts bin), the cruiser may never have been made!

[RallyDRock]

WORD UP cali

[SRG]

Get along? I had no idea I wasn't getting along, obviously I don't agree that just because anyone thinks something is true, and posts in on the web OR a car mag, that it is in fact, true. I've said before, and I'll say it again, if you believe the PT Cruiser is based on the Neon platform,(either one) back it up with facts or quotes with sources.

The one article quote in this thread (thanks AZ_Iceman) from Chrysler, seems to directly contradict what you and others have said.

Part of the discussion here seems to be caused by the definition of "based on" or "sharing a platform". Some people feel that by sharing the same componants, brakes, suspension, etc. you have one car "based" on another. There is no way I can look at a PT Cruiser and see it "based" on a Neon in any way. Yes, they have shared componants, (the second gen Neons, even more major componants) but the overall design of the car is different.

The first gen Neon has LOTS to do with the current Neon, I would actually say that the current version is BASED on the first one. You could actually set them side-by-side and SEE the similiarities. Now put a PT next to those 2 neons, .... I don't see what you're talking about.

PT-ERA, sorry about the thread-jacking. I'm just tired of people making statements which have no backing in fact.

[calicranberry]

sorry, in all that i forgot to reply to the topic. agree with most that a six is not the answer, at least for this cruiser. maybe the next one will be built with that option in mind, but i think it would be too much work and money on a car with two or three years left. my thought, since the neon is going away, how about moving the SRT 4 name to the cruiser. make it the fastest and most aggressive looking cruiser, and keep it at that 20k price. fastest car for 20 grand sounds like an advertiser's dream!

[robinjoe]

Here is another article which might be considered a little more authoritative:
http://wdb.wardsauto.com/ar/auto_chrysler_pt_cruiser/

quote:Originally posted by PT-ERA

Here's some info in the PT/Neon issue:

http://www.ptcruizer.com/about.html

[bigtommy83]

Typo on my part, The conquest tsi is an I-4 turbo 2.6L. It was also rear wheel drive. That's what we need.

[fritz_t_coyote]

quote:Originally posted by ATLPTGT

The rumors that I have heard is that the PT and the Neon replacment will share a platform with the next Mits. Lancer. 8<snip>8

Lancer?

Excuse me while i drift into a fantasy involving a PT with an EVO drivetrain.