Chrysler PT Cruiser Performance: Superchargers and Turbochargers

Click here for our main performance page

The PT Cruiser Turbo greatly diminished interest in the bolt-on turbo kits! However, we are maintaining our old (2001-2002) list below.

We make no guarantees regarding these parts or services. We have not tested any of them and make no claims or endorsements. Prices were given to us and may not be current or accurate.

Whipple

• Whipple's supercharger system uses the Whipple screw compressor.
• Motor Trend reviewed the Whipple Cruiser and wrote that the kit costs $3,650, and takes about 5-8 hours to install. Motor Trend was able to get a 15.27 second quarter mile from the five-speed, a savings of about 1.3 seconds - more significantly, zero-to-sixty times declined from 8.8 seconds to 7 seconds flat, a respectable performance.
• Whipple claims the supercharger raises output to 226 hp and 244 lb-ft of torque (similar to the Spirit R/T), but requires premium gasoline.
• As Motor Trend pointed out, the supercharged Cruiser is still quite reasonably priced.
• Note that the tested vehicle also included replacement 18 inch wheels and high performance tires, along with 1.5 inch lowering springs.

Kenne Bell

• The Kenne Bell Twin Screw Supercharger kit has a mild 6 psi boost, available at a low 2000 rpm. They claim it is legal everywhere, and increases horsepower and torque about 40%. (909) 941-6646. (We've since heard from Suzanne that this supercharger is about $4,000 plus installation).

Stedebani

• Stedebani Enterprise Company's turbo was listed in September 2000's Car and Driver.
• According to the article, the kit sells for $2500 and takes about eight hours to install. Driveability is said to be good, and power goes to 203 hp / 217 lb-ft.
• With the automatic, 2.9 seconds drop off 0-60 times, bringing them down to a good 8.0 seconds. (posted by Joe Cruiser). (Motor Trend has somewhat more favorable stock automatic times).

Others

• Jan Sven-Erik Harde added a turbo to his EuroCruiser, "we approximate the horsepower at somewhere around 238 and the 0-60 at around 5.8 sec, without the intercooler it is at 6 seconds flat..."
• (Courtesy Motor Trend) Hennessey Motorsports' planned $200,000 650 hp "PT Crusher" uses a modified V-10 from Hennessey's Venom 650R Viper (stored in the back). If built, which will require ten pre-orders, it would probably come near the Venom's 0-100-0-in-under-12-seconds performance. 0-60 times are estimated at 3.5 seconds.