Chrysler’s unique, segment-busting PT Cruiser has been honored as Motor Trend Magazine’s Car of the Year.

“We always said the Chrysler PT Cruiser was ‘too cool to categorize,”’ said Richard Schaum, Executive Vice President- Product Development & Quality and General Manager- Passenger Car Operations. “But apparently Motor Trend disagrees, because they’ve decided to call it the best new car for 2001. The award-winning, segment-busting tradition we started with the minivan lives on in the PT Cruiser and there’s more to come.”

Motor Trend tested 21 vehicles in this year’s competition ranging from entry-level models to sports cars and upscale minivans. The editors noted the PT Cruiser was a stand-out in factors such as design, daily livability, value, special features and, of course, the “fun” quotient.