Hello Sunshine!

I know that Chrysler is known as the minivan company, a title the automaker showed it still deserves with the recent introduction of its now best-in-class "Stow 'n Go" folding seating system, but it has an enviable reputation building convertibles as well.

Chrysler has had a lot of experience and success building convertibles, and their latest looks hot. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada)

Model year 2002 saw Chrysler selling nearly 44,000 Chrysler Sebring Convertibles, a 14.5 percent share of the convertible market, which was the highest of any competitor, making the stylish midsize ragtop North America's best seller in the segment.

Of course Chrysler built convertibles before the Sebring. The Le Baron Convertible it replaced initiated a boom in the segment when launched in 1981 as a 1982 model, maintaining highest sales in the convertible category throughout its tenure. Much earlier in the brand's existence, 1939 to be exact, Chrysler's now defunct Plymouth division developed the world's first automatic convertible top.

The production-spec PT Cruiser Convertible debuted to the world at the North American International Auto Show on Tuesday, January 6. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler Canada)

But segment firsts are nothing new for the blue ribbon badged brand. But still it's been a long time coming since I first caught wind of the convertible version of Chrysler's PT Cruiser. It first showed up on the auto show scene shortly after the retro sedan/wagon/minivan crossover turned the North American youth-oriented market upside down in a whirlwind buyers' frenzy.

I recently saw this latest production version, that debuted to the world at the North American International Auto Show on Tuesday, January 6, in a special preview a month or so ago also held in Detroit's Cobo Hall, and have to admit to being impressed.