The mag has the first...

The mag has the first pictures of the facelifted PT Cruiser, which will be on sale in UK showrooms before the end of next year. Just when you thought the American car"s styling was radical enough, it looks as though it will be getting an even more striking front end. Despite the disguise, it"s clear the newcomer has more rounded headlights than the current model.

But with the orange indicator lamps visible at the inner edges, there"s something of a cross-eyed feel about the whole design. This was the look that proved disastrous for Subaru"s Impreza, prompting a second revamp sooner than planned. As the PT Cruiser is a model that sells on its quirky styling, Chrysler"s designers have predictably left the majority of the lines untouched. That means the existing car"s pronounced front and rear wheelarches remain, as does the large flat tailgate.

The company has yet to reveal official specifications and it"s not known whether the engine line-up will be changed when the facelifted model is introduced. Sales in the US are expected to start in the summer of 2005, and right-hand drive UK-spec models will appear later next year.

However, PT Cruiser fans won"t have long to wait for the arrival of the convertible version of the current car. The drop-top has been delayed because of concerns about there being sufficient demand for British-spec versions, but sales of left-hand-drive models will begin in August or September.

Initially equipped with a 2.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine only, the PT Cruiser Cabrio is expected to be available with a wider choice of powerplants and in right-hand drive early next year.