Cutting Edge or Yesteryear's News?
When Ford brought out its black-on-black high-performance Crown Vic and dubbed it Marauder, touting it as a fresh new
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| Chevy appears to be mimicking Chrysler's now legendary PT Cruiser with its new HHR concept, that will be introduced Wednesday, January 5th at the 2005 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show. (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
I get the same feeling with the new HHR, that will be introduced Wednesday, January 5th at the 2005 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, although this time it is Chevy mimicking Chrysler's now legendary PT Cruiser. The first line in the press release is "unique styling with functional interior", and no doubt it offers all the flexibility we've come to appreciate in crossover vehicles; but unique styling?
"The HHR is what you want it to be, whether you're hauling band equipment around the country or hauling your friends across town," said Lori Queen, GM vehicle line executive for small car. "With its unmistakable styling and
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| Chevy isn't about to let its domestic rival walk away with all of North America's hotrod fans. (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
To Chevrolet's credit, the HHR, which stands for "heritage high roof", actually pays tribute to the 1949 Chevy Suburban and other late 1940s high-roof Chevy trucks, unlike the PT Cruiser that looks more like a classic Ford panel van than anything Chrysler, or the now defunct Plymouth brand ever offered.
And after all, why should Chrysler have all the fun? Detroit's number three automaker may have started the retrospective crossover revolution, with the launch of its ubiquitous PT Cruiser in 2000, but Chevy isn't about to let its domestic rival walk away with all of North America's hotrod fans.