Launched in the United States in early summer, the curious PT Cruiser is now imported into France with a goal from Chrysler to achieve 1500 sales by the end of the year.
Failing to win a time of great success, apart from minispace style Neo-retro leaves no one indifferent. Based on the new Dodge Neon, engineers have built the brand of the carrier PT Cruiser as that of a sedan 2 volumes.
The interior offers special treatment equipment and a clever copy modularity. The rear seats (1 / 3, 2 / 3) can switch or, if necessary, be removed by two or individually. The front passenger seat fold is to accommodate long objects, leaving a total available volume of 2871 L.
The tablet commonly called “cache baggage” can become very useful. It may be placed at several levels and in all directions. It becomes camping table or tray watertight.
On the road, nothing exceptional if not a good responsiveness and flexibility of management guaranteed by the suspensions AV type McPherson.
The train AR, with a large suspension travel (215 mm) gives the PT Cruiser driving comfort even at full load.
The conventional driver assistance are part of fittings, ABS and EBD (electronic brake distribution) and Traction Control.
Note also the presence of 4 disc brakes (vented front) particularly effective.
Only fly in the ointment for the moment, the absence of diesel under the hood. It would be necessary to wait until the summer of 2001 to see our Auto retro “with a turbo diesel.
The Chrysler PT Cruiser presented is a lively engine 2.0 l 16s essence of this 140 hp on the range Neon which provides satisfactory performance given its weight (1400 kg).
With the automatic transmission, performance is weak while in version manual 5-speed very well storied, takeovers and acceleration are excellent. A Cruiser GT version will be marketed in 2001. This version sportier, lean down, will be revamped with a 2.0 l developing 200 hp.
In the same breath as the New Beetle, bearing lines of another age, style retro wisely by Chrysler may soon give ideas to other manufacturers and meet growing demand.
Although the X5 is placed in terms of market segment in the 4X4, the German manufacturer denies this appellation hard attempting to create a new break between the elevated and leisure vehicle.
We must recognize that the mood that emerges in the cockpit of the X5 is incomparable. The dashboard is innovative but remains true to tradition BMW.
We tried to make the X5 in its version 4.4 L Injection in normal use and road way.
The purpose we have been kindly given by a dealer, it seemed difficult to put in configurations extremes.
However, the behavior of 4 X 4 has revealed an impressive performance in all situations. A high-speed, it does not behave quite like a sedan because its the ground generates aerodynamic effects that recall underneath the vehicle quickly to order anyone who forgot that a pilot-ground, as it is fabulous .
The emergency braking, acceleration and frank passages speed curve supported on the surface shortly member trades blithely through security devices and driving aid particularly effective as the wheel antilock system (ABS ), The dynamic brake control (DBC), controls the braking curve (CBC), the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) to the electronic traction control (ASC-X) or the automatic locking differential (ADB -X).
The Steptronic system is installed on this model for using automatic 5-speed manual as a box. Simply pull the lever position D and engage in the position S. Thus, just slightly pushing the lever to get the reports and to pull back, without using the clutch.
Our test off road ended with a few kilometers of forest paths without pushing the beast in difficult areas out of respect for our friendly dealer. While the X5 does not profile as the most at ease in crossing which is good because it is certainly not what the customer expects more.
The fact remains that the control system of motor downhill (HDC) was well appreciated in a way particularly steep and muddy. In this configuration, the vehicle is moving like a regulated 8 KM / H avoiding the driver to slow down and go in sliding.