Last one out, turn off 1949. That's what potential buyers may be thinking when they finally get a load of Chevrolet's late entry to the retro-cool costume party, the 2006 HHR. Showing up more than a half-decade after Chrysler's PT Cruiser first showed its pudgy, film-noir mug, leaves Chevy's entry open to all manner of doubt. Will customers continue responding favorably to the bulging design tropes of the era in question (i.e., the late '40s), or has the locus of retro-cool fast-forwarded 20 years (e.g., the new Mustang)? Still, with the PT badly in need of updating, the jazzier HHR may win over some buyers who'd otherwise stick with the original paddy wagon.
Chevy makes risky bet on retro-styled HHR [The Detroit News]
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GM Invades the Pod-People [internal]