Chrysler Considering Return of PT Cruiser to Show You How Bad It Can Really Get
Automaker promises bold new era of giving up like never before.
AUBURN HILLS—Chrysler has reportedly begun internal discussions about bringing back the PT Cruiser, a car once described as “retro,” but only if you consider the past a mistake.
Company insiders say the move is part of Chrysler’s ongoing effort to “stop people from talking crap about our terrible quality.”
“We’ve heard the criticism loud and clear,” said spokesperson Amanda Knox. “People say our lineup lacks quality, effort, passion, and direction. So we thought, let’s give them something to really complain about. They’ll be begging for our other cars.”
While details remain scarce, leaked concept sketches reveal a PT Cruiser that’s somehow even uglier than before. One rendering shows a redesigned front end inspired by “the first generation of the PT Cruiser,” while another boasts what Chrysler calls “Bam Margera’s mom’s PT” interiors.
“We’re not just bringing back a car,” said Chrysler’s design chief, Ted Morrison. “We’re reviving an icon. The PT Cruiser represents an era when no one expected excellence, terrible was the benchmark, and we delivered exactly that.”
Industry analysts believe this move signals a larger trend within the Stellantis group: aggressively lowering expectations, completely and totally on purpose.
“It’s genius in a way,” said automotive journalist Karen Liu. “If you make something extremely bad and hated by everyone with eyes, all the other crap you build looks good by comparison.”
If Chrysler follows through, the new PT Cruiser would debut sometime in 2028, assuming Chrysler still exists by then.