• How cool is this? The Chrysler PT Cruiser now comes in a convertible version, and it's the least-expensive cabrio available in new car showrooms.
• But don't plan on buying one of those $19,999 standard models, because you'll want a CD player to play your favorite tunes, and many of you will want to hear the musci made by one of two available turbocharged engines.
• Talk about cruisin' in style: This convertible even has leg room in the back seat for real adults to ride along.

As cool as the PT Cruiser may be--especially those decked out in flames, pinstripes or woody kits augmented by billet grilles or with other aftermarket customization goodies--the modern interpretation of the classic panel delivery truckster really wasn't a true "cruiser," until now.

Now, beginning with the 2005 model year, the Cruiser really is a cruiser, a convertible so you really can go cruisin'--top down, sun up, or perhaps you prefer stars overhead and city streetlights providing illumination in which you can see and--even more important--be seen.

Being seen is perhaps the most important ingredient in true cruisin' and the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible provides the proper platform in which to perform. And as if that isn't cool enough, the '05 Cruiser cabrio also is the least expensive convertible in the entire American new car marketplace, thanks to a $19,995 base price.

But don't expect to buy one for that price, because would you really buy anything for cruisin' that doesn't even come with a CD player? Thought not. So figure on either stocking your Standard model with options, or simply opt for the $22,900 Touring version, which comes with a CD player, cruise control and rides on larger 16-inch wheels and tires. However, many of you simply will step up to the GT model that starts at $27,565 and benefits from a High-Output, 220-horsepower turbocharged engine, five-speed Getrag manual transmission, four-wheel disc brakes, sport suspension setup with 17-inch wheels and tires, plus a chromed grille and leather seating.

And don't forget: Those same companies that make all those nifty aftermarket parts that customize PT Cruiser wagons will have similar goodies available for your Cruiser Convertible.

We drove two Cruiser Convertibles at the vehicle's media launch. In the morning, we tried a GT that stickered for $29,340, then in the afternoon we switched into a Touring equipped with an optional, 180-hp turbo engine, four-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel disc/anti-lock brake package.

All PT Cruiser Convertibles are powered by 16-valve, 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engines. The base version provides 150 horsepower and 165 pound-feet of torque. The optional turbo boosts those figures to 180 hp and 210 pound-feet while the High-Output turbo in the GT offers 220 hp and 246 pound-feet of torque.

The turbo Touring was pleasantly spunky and responsive, though the extra horsepower and manual gearbox in the GT let us make full use of that engine's impressive torque.

Both versions handled very well. Neither exhibited much in the way of cowl shake. Top up, the Cruiser Convertible seemed quieter than the Ford Freestar minivan I'd been driving the week before. And even though it was chilly the day we drove, we turned on the GT's seat warmers, cranked up the heater and put the top down. We tried the same thing in the afternoon, but the Touring edition didn't have "bun" warmers, so we put the top back up midway through our route.

With a roomy back seat and 7.4 cubic feet of space in the trunk, this is a Cruiser you can cruise in on an extended trip. It doesn't match the interior room of the Cruiser sedan, but you certainly can get some luggage (or two full sets of golf clubs) into the trunk, which is cleverly hinged and has a lightweight trunk lid that virtually closes by itself once you set it into motion.

Chrysler notes that the Cruiser Convertible offers as much as 10 more inches or rear legroom than either of its primary competitors: the Ford Mustang and Volkswagen New Beetle convertibles. The Cruiser Convertible also has a split folding back seat and a pass-through feature for carrying long items, such as skis.

Chrysler says its newest convertible offers 84.3 cubic feet of interior space compared to 79.6 for the VW and 79.0 for the Mustang.

The Cruiser's body was re-engineered for use as a convertible with various internal body reinforcements--basically, the Convertible is unique from the base of the windshield back, features hydroformed sills, and has an integrated "sport" bar. Together, the changes make for a stiff vehicle with 5200 pound-feet per degree of torsional rigidity and 41,000 pounds per inch of bending resistance.

Chrysler also did extensive testing in its new wind tunnel to make sure the Cruiser Convertible is quiet with the top up or down. The top is made from three layers of material. Self-sealing "smart" windows (similar to those you'd find on some European luxury cars) help keep things quiet when the top is up.

Even with the top down, testing in the tunnel helped tweak the final design of the sport bar, enabling Chrysler to claim that what it calls "picnic-table" conversation is easy to maintain even with the top down at highway speeds.

When covering the passenger compartment, the top gives the PT a roofline much like that of a fastback coupe.

The top powers up or down in about 10 seconds at the release of a D-shaped handle and the touch of a switch. The flexible boot that covers the top when its down snaps in place and has been tested at speeds of up to 120 mph, and in yet another clever touch, the sport bar incorporates a pair of lights that can illuminate the rear seating area.