The Chrysler Pronto Cruizer was a concept car of 1999 that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show. Designed by Bryan Nesbitt, it carried a 1.6-litre engine from the Neon and a roll-back fabric roof, and its design evolved into the production Chrysler PT Cruiser.
Chrysler Pronto Cruizer at a glance
| Type | concept car |
|---|---|
| Shown | 1999 Geneva Motor Show |
| Designer | Bryan Nesbitt |
| Intended brand | Plymouth, then Chrysler |
| Engine | 1.6 L four-cylinder from the Dodge/Plymouth Neon |
| Transmission | five-speed manual |
| Roof | roll-back fabric top |
| Styling cues | Plymouth Pronto and Plymouth Prowler |
| Result | became the Chrysler PT Cruiser |
| Scale models | Maisto 1:18 and 1:64, Hot Wheels 1/64 |
This page is based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Pronto Cruizer.
History of the Chrysler Pronto Cruizer
A Plymouth that became a Chrysler
The Pronto Cruizer debuted at the 1999 Geneva Auto Show as a possible Plymouth model, following the 1997 Plymouth Pronto and the 1998 Plymouth Pronto Spyder. When Plymouth was scheduled for discontinuation the car became a Chrysler. Its design was derived from the Neon but borrowed elements from the Plymouth Pronto concept, and its grille and wings were similar to those of the Plymouth Prowler. It carried a roll-back fabric top instead of a fixed roof.
Mechanical package
Under the skin the concept used a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission borrowed from the second-generation Dodge and Plymouth Neon — modest hardware for a show car, and a sign of how close to production the idea already was.
Legacy
The Pronto Cruizer’s design was ultimately evolved into the Chrysler PT Cruiser, which went on sale for 2001 and stayed in production until 2010. The concept also became a popular model car: Maisto reproduced it first in 1:18 scale with an Aztec Yellow paint job and later in 1:64, including two Marvel superhero liveries, The Incredible Hulk and Spider-Man, while Hot Wheels released a 1/64 version simply called “Chrysler Pronto”.
Design and features
- Neon mechanicals: a 1.6-litre four-cylinder and five-speed manual from the Neon.
- Roll-back fabric roof: an open-air alternative to a conventional convertible top.
- Prowler-style front: a grille and wings related to the Plymouth Prowler’s.
- Design by Bryan Nesbitt: the same designer who shaped the PT Cruiser and later the Chevrolet HHR.
Chrysler Pronto Cruizer versions
- Pronto Cruizer concept (1999): the single show car, shown at Geneva.
- Chrysler PT Cruiser (2001–2010): the production car its design became.
The Pronto Cruizer led directly to the Chrysler PT Cruiser, took its engine from the Neon and shared its styling language with the Prowler. More cars are in the Chrysler collection.
Video: Chrysler Pronto Cruizer concept car
Video by Men and Motors on YouTube.
Sources
- Chrysler Pronto Cruizer, English Wikipedia: design, engine, legacy, model cars
- Chrysler Pronto Cruizer, Wikimedia Commons: photographs
