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2005
CHRYSLER NEW VEHICLE MODEL GUIDE |
Cars
that carry the silver-winged badge of
Chrysler from Chrysler multiply
in the 2005 line with edgy new models
ranging from a stately sports touring
sedan to a souped-up sports coupe and
two-seat roadster plus a pop-top version
of the retro-styled PT Cruiser.
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Chrysler
Pacifica |
Chrysler's crossover wagon is large
-- as long as the biggest sedan and
equally wide, with a prominent hood
and broad grille consuming the face
between corner clusters of projector-style
headlamps. It has lots of doors - a
pair of portals on each flank plus a
top-hinged liftgate at the rear. Inside
there are up to three rows of seats
with individual buckets for rows one
and two and a split bench in back that
cradles two comfortably or three in
a pinch.
For
2005 Chrysler is building three versions
of Pacifica. The base edition installs
seats for five on two rows. Pacifica
Touring offers space for six configured
in 2+2+2 layout. Both models also appear
with front-wheel-drive (FWD) or on-demand
AWD traction. The top model Pacifica
Limited comes with AWD traction solely
and luxury goods in a cab rigged for
three tiers. The standard engine for
FWD Pacifica is a 3.8-liter V6, while
AWD Pacifica stocks a 3.5-liter V6 tuned
to 250 hp.
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Chrysler
Crossfire |
The spirited two-seater from Chrysler
debuted in 2004 as a rear-wheel-drive
(RWD) sports coupe blending slick American
car styling with a chassis and parts
from Germany via Mercedes. Original
issues stocked a six-pack aluminum plant
with a six-speed manual gearbox or optional
five-speed automatic and Chrysler's
AutoStick selective shifter. For 2005,
the collection expands dramatically
with open-top roadster editions plus
powerhouse options for both coupe and
roadster.
The Crossfire Roadster wears a fabric
soft top that stows behind a rigid tonneau
lid and it draws from the V6 powertrain
of the original coupe. The Crossfire
SRT-6 is a swift new coupe or roadster
stocking a hand-built V6 supercharged
to 330 hp.
Crossfire's
retractable spoiler at the tail deploys
above a designated speed of 60 mph to
exert more aerodynamic force on the
rear tires, but on the SRT-6 the spoiler
is locked in place. New Limited models
for coupe and roadster reflect a monochromatic
paint treatment and carry luxury gear,
along with high-tech car controls like
an electronic stabilization program
(ESP) to prevent wheels from skidding
laterally.
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Chrysler
PT Cruiser |
The wild five-door wagon from Chrysler
appears in four versions for 2005 with
three powertrain choices. Models include
the base PT Cruiser, Cruiser Touring,
Limited and GT. The first three pull
from the base plant, a naturally aspirated
twin-cam 2.4-liter in-line-four set
at 150 hp. For the Limited, a turbo-charged
plant pumped to 180 hp is optional with
an automatic transaxle, larger wheels
and tires, leather-clad cabin and chrome
decoration. The GT pushes a turbo 2.4-liter
four-in-line tuned for high output at
220 hp with a Getrag heavy-duty manual
five-speed and sport-tuned suspension
settings.
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Chrysler
PT Cruiser Convertible |
Another ragtop from Chrysler comes to
market as the 2005 PT Cruiser Convertible.
It looks like the lid of a conventional
Cruiser was pried off and a shapely
roll bar added to arch across the 2+2
cockpit like the curvy handle of a basket.
This open-sky edition gets a power convertible
soft top with the rear glass window
wired with an electric defroster. The
entry model pulls from a 2.4-liter four-in-line
plant rated at 150 hp with a manual
five-speed transmission. The Touring
model offers a turbo-charger with an
automatic transaxle and the output fixed
at 180 hp. The top trim GT goes further
with high output turbo tipped to 220
hp. The GT PT also gets seats clad in
leather, with more goods for safety
aboard such as side air bags and four-wheel
disc brakes with anti-lock controls.
Read
our Review: Chrysler
PT Cruiser Convertible |
Chrysler
300 Series |
Chrysler's new flagship looks like an
exclusive luxury coach of bold dimensions
with an audacious face, upright structure
and chiseled-block body. Titled under
a numeric label as the 300 series, the
sports sedan for the large-car class
is cast on a new platform with the wheelbase
stretched and engine mounted up front
but power channeled to the rear wheels
like elite European touring sedans.
The platform was developed through Chrysler's
parent DaimlerChrysler and shares some
components with a sedan by Mercedes-Benz
plus the new Magnum model from Dodge.
The
300's cabin was constructed around a
cab-rearward concept to forge a space
of comfort and practicality. Layout
poses two large bucket seats up front
with a bench in back broad enough for
three. Three engines are available to
power the car through four trims tagged
as base 300, 300 Touring, luxurious
300 Limited and flagship 300C.
The
cushy top model 300C-with soft leathers
on seats and simulated tortoise shell
trim on dash and steering wheel- totes
a high-tech rendition of Chrysler's
fabled Hemi engine with hemispheric
combustion chambers. The 5.7-liter V8
makes 340 hp through an electronic automatic
five-speed transmission teamed with
Chrysler's AutoStick. The Hemi comes
with a multi-displacement system (MDS)
that can switch seamlessly and transparently
to fuel-saving four-cylinder mode when
all of that power is not needed. Chrysler
adds another option to the 300 line
with an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system
available for the top two powertrains.
Read
our Review: Chrysler
300C |
Chrysler
Sebring Convertible |
The convertible treatment for Sebring
rates as the most popular drop-top in
America. It has four trims for 2005
- the entry-issue Sebring, the GTC,
the Touring and the luxurious Limited.
Sebring as a convertible supports either
an economical 2.4-liter four-cylinder
engine or Chrysler's lively 2.7-liter
V6 worth 200 hp. The GTC comes with
two-tone ultrahide bucket seats and
new paint colors like Inferno Red Tinted
Pearl Coat. The Sebring Touring's trim
has leather seats with suede inserts
and a leather-wrapped steering wheel,
while the Limited applies premium leather
to seats and offers the Autostick shifter. |
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Chrysler
Sebring Coupe |
The
two-door coupe variation of Sebring
shows up in two trims for 2005 with
the base Sebring and the upscale Limited.
Both look cool and curvy with shapely
front fascia etched for fog lamps and
followed by a sleek hood and side sill
moldings. This coupe format resembles
the convertible Sebring yet it's built
on a unique platform and brings different
powertrain choices. For the base Sebring
a 2.4-liter in-line-four reaches to
142 hp with a four-speed automatic transaxle.
The Sebring Limited has a single-cam
V6 that displaces 3.0 liters and develops
200 hp through an automatic four-speed
with AutoStick option. |
Chrysler
Sebring Sedan |
Chrysler's
mid-size sedan under the Sebring name
shares the front-end styling of the
Sebring Convertible including similar
fascia and grille. Model designations
extend to three trims this year labeled
as Sebring, Touring and Limited. The
base Sebring stocks a twin-cam 2.4-liter
four-cylinder engine that produces 150
hp with a four-speed automatic transaxle,
while the Touring and Limited models
draw from a 2.7-liter V6 pegged at 200
hp. The Limited has new automatic temperature
controls plus automatic headlamps, with
a navigation system available plus a
leather package and sunroof. |
Chrysler
Town & Country |
Chrysler's
minivans in deluxe treatment come in
standard-length and extended-wheelbase
editions. Lines look fresh this year
with a revamped face featuring sculpted
headlamps set above shapely fascia containing
dual fog lamps. Inside, the cabin shows
seats in three rows with new appointments
added like sycamore wood trim in the
center dash stack highlighted by satin
silver accents.
Safety
gear increases with curtain-style air
bags stretching the length of the cabin
above all outboard seats and an inflatable
air bag positioned forward of the driver's
knees. And Chrysler's inventive Stow
'n Go seat plan works here with second
and third tier seats folding into the
floor and storage bins set below each
chair in upright position. FWD and AWD
models are offered, with the top-of-the-line
Limited capping this series and transforming
the all-too-common minivan into a fancy
people-hauler. |
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INFORMATION FROM CHRYSLER]
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