CHRYSLER made one big mistake when its sharp dressed van, the PT Cruiser, breezed into Britain.
The coolest looks this side of Texas weren't matched by an engine strong enough to cut the cards.
A modified version of the two litre unit used in the company's Neon model, it sounds noisy and rough, and though okay once up to motorway speed, it labours to get there.
But the springtime addition of a new state of the art common rail turbodiesel has transformed the PT into what it always promised to be.
This is a magnificent powerplant, a 2.2 litre unit jointly modified by Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz engineers, and offering marvellous torque.
Now that the sharpshooters are loaded, there's nothing to touch the PT. In the two years since its launch nothing has come along to challenge its sensational appeal.
Ferrari-style supercars apart, it remains the No 1 headturner with its mean, aggressive profile conjuring up images of 1950s neon lights and diners.
And the retro theme is continued inside the cabin too. An oversize steering wheel, wand-type gearstick topped with a pool ball knob, and dials that sit within their own holes in the shiny dashboard all complement the Cruiser experience.
Aside from those lovely touches, and the coolest front-end on the road, side skirts that imitate running boards, chunky alloys and chrome door handles with proper push buttons, this is a car with practical interior space and a sensible layout.
Chrysler actually created a new market segment in the process.
Because apart from the PT's (it actually stands for Personal Transportation) blend of contemporary and nostagic styling, there's a combination of passenger space and load flexibility.
While passenger space is adequate and features five three-point seatbelts, each side of the 65/35 split rear seat can be folded flat, tumbled forward or removed altogether to reveal a flat load floor. The front passenger seat also folds forward.
What's also handy is the sturdy parcel shelf which can be set at three levels to hide boot contents, split the luggage space, or be turned upside down to protect the carpet.
Boot space is also sufficient for day to day use and the tailgate opens to a height of more than six feet.
So is it a case of fashion icon or driver's car? Thankfully a combination of both, because the Cruiser rides and handles nicely, coping extremely well with badly-made surfaces and country lanes, showing little in the way of body lean.
All CRDs come with four airbags, air-con, six-speaker CD player, electric windows, ABS, traction control, cruise control, 16-inch alloys and body coloured bumpers.
FAST FACTS
Chrysler PT Cruiser 2.2 CRD Touring
Price: £17,490
Mechanical: 121bhp, 2,148cc 4cyl turbodiesel engine driving front wheels via 5spd gearbox
Max Speed: 114mph
0-62mph: 11.3secs
Combined mpg: 40.9
Insurance Group: 12
CO2 emissions: 185g/km
BiK rating: 22%
Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited miles; 6yrs antirust.