Chrysler JA platform
Encyclopedia
The JA platform was Chrysler
's smaller complement to the LH cars
which were larger than the K's, and a direct size replacement for the last extended K cars
, the Acclaim and Spirit. It was a mid-size front-wheel drive
automobile platform
and was the basis for the Cloud Cars - the Chrysler Cirrus/Dodge Stratus/Plymouth Breeze starting in 1995. Like the LH, it was a cab forward
design. While this platform was numerically successful, the highest volume for family cars competing against cars like the Taurus, Accord or Camry would move to the LH platform cars, which were often classified as full-size.
and Dodge Stratus
. These were available with either a 2.0 L 16-valve SOHC, 2.4 L 16-valve DOHC
, or a Mitsubishi-designed 2.5 L 24-valve SOHC V6
engine. The Plymouth Breeze
was introduced in 1996 with most of the same options available to the other two models (minus the V6 engine).
A 5-speed manual transmission
(NV-T350) was available with the 2.0 L engine, and a 4-speed automatic
(A604) came with the larger engines. AutoStick was an option for some trim levels with the 2.5 L engine. The wheelbase was a long 108 inches.
All JA sedans were built at the Chrysler Sterling Heights Assembly
Plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan
.
In Europe this car became known as Chrysler Stratus, where a 2.0 engine with 4-speed automatic
(A604)was available as well.
convertible. Changes for the JX were the removal of the back doors and roof, stiffening the chassis to compensate for the loss of a solid top, and lengthening of the front and rear clips. The JX also had larger rear brake drums, ceramic brake pads, and a cooler thermostat to compensate for the increased weight of the reinforcements to the unibody. The available engines and transmissions are identical to that of the Chrysler Cirrus. Unlike the sedans, the convertibles were assembled in Mexico.
Engines available were the 2.4 L I4 and the 2.7 L LH V6. The wheelbase remained at 108 in, although the track was increased slightly.
The JR sedans were built at the Sterling Heights Assembly
Plant, and convertible moved back there from Mexico. The tooling from Sterling Heights Assembly was sold to Russia
n-based GAZ
in 2006. GAZ intends to move the whole production line to a plant in Russia to build licensed JR sedans under a different name - GAZ Siber
- a facelifted Chrysler Sebring of the first generation.
Confusingly, the vehicle nameplates were shuffled with the Diamond Star Motors (DSM) coupes. The first generation of the Avenger
became the Stratus coupe, and the newly-renamed Chrysler Sebring sedan now shared a name with the second generation Sebring coupe. Both of the coupes were based on the third generation Mitsubishi Eclipse
and built alongside the Eclipse. They had nothing in common with the JR platform other than the names.
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
's smaller complement to the LH cars
Chrysler LH platform
The LH platform served as the basis for the Chrysler Concorde, Chrysler LHS, Chrysler 300M, Dodge Intrepid, Eagle Vision, and the final Chrysler New Yorker. A Plymouth to be called the "Accolade" was planned, but never saw production...
which were larger than the K's, and a direct size replacement for the last extended K cars
Chrysler K platform
The Chrysler Corporation's K-cars were compact-to-midsize cars designed to carry six adults on two bench seats and were aimed not only to replace Chrysler's nominally-compact F-body Aspen and Volaré, but also to compete with intermediates like the Chevrolet Malibu and Ford Fairmont...
, the Acclaim and Spirit. It was a mid-size front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive is a form of engine/transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitudinal engine arrangement generally found in rear-wheel drive and...
automobile platform
Automobile platform
An automobile platform is a shared set of common design, engineering, and production efforts, as well as major components over a number of outwardly distinct models and even types of automobiles, often from different, but related marques...
and was the basis for the Cloud Cars - the Chrysler Cirrus/Dodge Stratus/Plymouth Breeze starting in 1995. Like the LH, it was a cab forward
Cab forward
The term cab forward refers to various rail and road vehicle designs which place the driver's compartment substantially farther towards the front than is common practice.- Rail locomotives :...
design. While this platform was numerically successful, the highest volume for family cars competing against cars like the Taurus, Accord or Camry would move to the LH platform cars, which were often classified as full-size.
1995
The first JA cars were the 1995 Chrysler CirrusChrysler Cirrus
The Chrysler Cirrus was a mid-size 4-door sedan, introduced for the 1995 model year as direct replacement for the aging Chrysler LeBaron sedan. Based on the new midsize JA platform, the Cirrus was sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil for the 1995-2000 model years; DaimlerChrysler ...
and Dodge Stratus
Dodge Stratus
The Dodge Stratus was a mid-size 4-door sedan introduced in 1995. It was based on the Chrysler JA platform Cab forward . The Stratus, Breeze, and Cirrus were all on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1996 and 1997. It received critical acclaim at launch, but ratings fell over time...
. These were available with either a 2.0 L 16-valve SOHC, 2.4 L 16-valve DOHC
Chrysler Neon engine
The Chrysler 1.8, 2.0, and 2.4 are inline-4 engines designed originally for the Dodge and Plymouth Neon compact car. These engines were loosely based on their predecessors, the Chrysler 2.2 & 2.5 engine, sharing the same 87.5 mm bore...
, or a Mitsubishi-designed 2.5 L 24-valve SOHC V6
Mitsubishi 6G7x engine
The Mitsubishi 6G7 or Cyclone V6 engine is a series of V6 piston engines from Mitsubishi Motors. Five displacement variants have been produced with both single- and double- overhead camshaft layouts. MIVEC variable valve timing has also been implemented in some versions, and the 2.5 and 3.0 L...
engine. The Plymouth Breeze
Plymouth Breeze
The Plymouth Breeze is a mid-sized 4-door sedan introduced in 1996 as a badge-engineered Plymouth version of the Chrysler Cirrus and Dodge Stratus released in late 1995. These three JA-platform cars were collectively known as the Cloud Cars because of their loosely sky-themed names. At...
was introduced in 1996 with most of the same options available to the other two models (minus the V6 engine).
A 5-speed manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
(NV-T350) was available with the 2.0 L engine, and a 4-speed automatic
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
(A604) came with the larger engines. AutoStick was an option for some trim levels with the 2.5 L engine. The wheelbase was a long 108 inches.
All JA sedans were built at the Chrysler Sterling Heights Assembly
Sterling Heights Assembly
Sterling Heights Assembly is a Chrysler automobile factory in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The factory opened in 1953 to produce missiles. Volkswagen converted it for automobile production in 1980 and it was subsequently purchased by Chrysler in 1983. The nearby Sterling Stamping opened in 1965...
Plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan
Sterling Heights, Michigan
Sterling Heights is a city in Macomb County of the U.S. state of Michigan, and one of Detroit's core suburbs. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 129,699...
.
In Europe this car became known as Chrysler Stratus, where a 2.0 engine with 4-speed automatic
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
(A604)was available as well.
1996
A modified version of the JA platform called JX debuted in 1996 as the Chrysler SebringChrysler Sebring
The Chrysler Sebring is a line of mid-size cars that was sold by Chrysler from 1995 to 2010.The Sebring came in three generations. The first, from 1995 to 2000, was available first only as a coupe and starting in 1996 as a convertible. The two body designs did not share many components nor any...
convertible. Changes for the JX were the removal of the back doors and roof, stiffening the chassis to compensate for the loss of a solid top, and lengthening of the front and rear clips. The JX also had larger rear brake drums, ceramic brake pads, and a cooler thermostat to compensate for the increased weight of the reinforcements to the unibody. The available engines and transmissions are identical to that of the Chrysler Cirrus. Unlike the sedans, the convertibles were assembled in Mexico.
2001
The platform was updated in 2001, becoming JR. The Dodge Stratus name was carried over, and the Cirrus became the Chrysler Sebring sedan. The Chrysler Sebring convertible was built on the JR platform as well. The Breeze name was dropped (with the rest of Plymouth).Engines available were the 2.4 L I4 and the 2.7 L LH V6. The wheelbase remained at 108 in, although the track was increased slightly.
The JR sedans were built at the Sterling Heights Assembly
Sterling Heights Assembly
Sterling Heights Assembly is a Chrysler automobile factory in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The factory opened in 1953 to produce missiles. Volkswagen converted it for automobile production in 1980 and it was subsequently purchased by Chrysler in 1983. The nearby Sterling Stamping opened in 1965...
Plant, and convertible moved back there from Mexico. The tooling from Sterling Heights Assembly was sold to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n-based GAZ
GAZ
GAZ or Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod , translated as Gorky Automobile Plant , started in 1932 as NAZ, a cooperation between Ford and the Soviet Union. It is one of the largest companies in the Russian automotive industry....
in 2006. GAZ intends to move the whole production line to a plant in Russia to build licensed JR sedans under a different name - GAZ Siber
Volga Siber
The Volga Siber was a saloon automobile, introduced by the Russian firm "GAZ Group" at the "Интеравто-2007" show in Moscow on 29 August 2007. It is built on a platform licensed from an already prior generation of Chrysler Sebring / Dodge Stratus...
- a facelifted Chrysler Sebring of the first generation.
Confusingly, the vehicle nameplates were shuffled with the Diamond Star Motors (DSM) coupes. The first generation of the Avenger
Dodge Avenger
The Dodge Avenger is a front-wheel drive, mid-size sedan, built by the Chrysler Corporation for the Dodge marque. In its initial debut, the Avenger was produced from 1995 to 2000 as a 2-door coupe...
became the Stratus coupe, and the newly-renamed Chrysler Sebring sedan now shared a name with the second generation Sebring coupe. Both of the coupes were based on the third generation Mitsubishi Eclipse
Mitsubishi Eclipse
The Mitsubishi Eclipse was a coupe that was in production since 1989 for left hand drive traffic markets. According to Mitsubishi, the car was named after an 18th century English racehorse which won 26 races, and has also been sold as the Eagle Talon and the Plymouth Laser captive imports through...
and built alongside the Eclipse. They had nothing in common with the JR platform other than the names.
See also
- Chrysler platforms
- Chrysler SebringChrysler SebringThe Chrysler Sebring is a line of mid-size cars that was sold by Chrysler from 1995 to 2010.The Sebring came in three generations. The first, from 1995 to 2000, was available first only as a coupe and starting in 1996 as a convertible. The two body designs did not share many components nor any...
- Chrysler CirrusChrysler CirrusThe Chrysler Cirrus was a mid-size 4-door sedan, introduced for the 1995 model year as direct replacement for the aging Chrysler LeBaron sedan. Based on the new midsize JA platform, the Cirrus was sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil for the 1995-2000 model years; DaimlerChrysler ...
- Dodge StratusDodge StratusThe Dodge Stratus was a mid-size 4-door sedan introduced in 1995. It was based on the Chrysler JA platform Cab forward . The Stratus, Breeze, and Cirrus were all on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1996 and 1997. It received critical acclaim at launch, but ratings fell over time...
- Plymouth BreezePlymouth BreezeThe Plymouth Breeze is a mid-sized 4-door sedan introduced in 1996 as a badge-engineered Plymouth version of the Chrysler Cirrus and Dodge Stratus released in late 1995. These three JA-platform cars were collectively known as the Cloud Cars because of their loosely sky-themed names. At...
- Volga SiberVolga SiberThe Volga Siber was a saloon automobile, introduced by the Russian firm "GAZ Group" at the "Интеравто-2007" show in Moscow on 29 August 2007. It is built on a platform licensed from an already prior generation of Chrysler Sebring / Dodge Stratus...