How2Day: PT Cruiser Engine Options

Channeling the panel vans of the 1930s, the retro styling of the Chrysler PT Cruiser had people talking during its 2001 release. For 2010, the PT Cruiser returned to its roots, offering only one engine. The 2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser's engine produces the same amount of horsepower, and slightly less torque, than the 2001 model. Between those years, several turbocharged variants of the engine were available.

Every Chrysler PT Cruiser has been available with a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine. The engine's performance varied slightly during the initial years, and leveled off in 2004. During 2001, the engine produced 150 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 167 ft.-lb. of torque at 4,000 rpm. A decrease in torque to 162 ft.-lb. occurred in 2002, where it remained for the 2003 model year. By 2004, the four-cylinder engine was producing 150 horsepower at 5,100 rpm and 165 ft.-lb. of torque at 4,000 rpm. This output rating has been carried through to the 2010 model. The 2.4-liter engine has 16 valves, dual overhead camshafts, a 3.44-inch bore, 3.98-inch stroke and 9.5:1 compression ratio.

Responding to complaints of being underpowered, Chrysler added a turbocharged variant of the 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine to the 2003 PT Cruiser GT. With identical specifications to the naturally aspirated engine, the turbocharger helped produce 215 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 245 ft.-lb. of torque at 3,600 rpm.

During 2004, Chrysler offered two variants of the turbocharged engine. Both engines saw a decrease in their compression ratio, 8.1 to 1, and power was decreased on one variant and increased on the other. Optional in the 2004 PT Cruiser Touring and Limited Edition trims was the 180 horsepower engine, reaching maximum power at 5,200 rpm. Maximum torque was 210 ft.-lb. at 2,800 rpm. The engine was dropped after the 2009 model year.

Introduced alongside the 180 horsepower turbocharged engine, the 220 horsepower variant was standard in the 2004 GT and Dream Cruiser Series 3 trims. Maximum power was obtained at 5,100 rpm and 245 ft.-lb. of torque was available at 2,800 rpm. In 2006, output was increased to 230 horsepower, but the increase was short lived. The engine was discontinued after the 2007 model year.

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