It was always going to happen – the customising of the PT Cruiser – and Chrysler’s design studios in Detroit wanted to be the first to do it. But they could have at least waited until it was released !

At the Specialty Equipment Market Association’s (SEMA) annual show in Las Vegas, the rug was pulled off an all-new show car, the GT Cruiser.

GT Cruiser’s contemporary, clean lines house a 149 kW, 305 Nm turbocharged in-line four-cylinder engine.

GT Cruiser is in fact the first customised version of the Chrysler PT Cruiser. Arriving at Chrysler dealerships around mid next year, the PT Cruiser is set to create an all-new market segment.

"PT Cruiser already is difficult to categorise," said Tom Gale, DaimlerChrysler Corporation’s Executive Vice President for Product Development and Design. "With GT Cruiser we’re showing the SEMA show participants - who are all about customising and tuning-how one could take PT Cruiser to the next level: lowered, with subtle design modifications and added power."

The turbocharged 2.4-litre engine is coupled to an American Club Racing (ACR) five-speed manual transmission. Both the GT engine and transmission are used in other DaimlerChrysler products. GT Cruiser’s lowered suspension incorporates ACR KONI/Mopar struts and upgraded sway bars. The vehicle rolls on 17" chrome wheels with 215/50 tyres.

"We followed traditional customising guidelines," said Kenneth Carlson, Senior Designer at DaimlerChrysler, a hot rodder at heart and responsible for the GT Cruiser. "However, we applied a distinct modern design vocabulary to the modifications. Lowering the vehicle by one inch, while widening the track by two inches, gives it a mildly ‘slammed’ impression," noted Carlson.

"We also removed the badges from the hood and deck and integrated the bumpers into the fascias. On GT Cruiser, the badges are incorporated in the grille and rear license plate brow, as you would see on a classic hot rod."

GT Cruiser’s aggressive stance is complemented by distinct flares on the fenders, accommodating the bigger wheels and tyres. Dual chrome exhaust pipes underscore its sporty character. The interior is identical to PT Cruiser’s.

"The distinct personality of the Chrysler PT Cruiser is unmatched by any vehicle on the road," added Gale. "The GT Cruiser show truck also borrows design cues from classic American automobiles, but shows how this design can be individualised to suit anyone’s taste. Now it’s up to the specialty equipment market to follow our lead."