Dodge Stratus
Encyclopedia
The Dodge
Stratus was a mid-size
4-door sedan introduced in 1995. It was based on the Chrysler JA platform
Cab forward (car). 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. Production ended at the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant in early 2006 which had built 1,308,123 Stratus and Sebrings since 2000. The Dodge Avenger replaced the Stratus nameplate in early 2007 for the 2008 model year
.
The Stratus directly replaced the high-volume Spirit
and Dynasty
(United States
only) to favorable reviews, but lower sales. It was often compared to other small mid-sizes such as the Chevrolet Malibu
, and judged roomier than the Ford Contour
by many magazines such as Consumer Reports. While the extended K
s had previously been Chrysler's main midsize offerings, the larger LH and LX platforms, conceived as replacements for the Chrysler Dynasty
and Dodge Monaco
, would more directly compete with the Ford Taurus
, the upsized Honda Accord
and Chevrolet Lumina
.
The cars had many parts that were interchangeable between each model. The exteriors of these three cars were very similar, with the front fascia, rear bumper, taillights, and wheels being the main differences. The interiors had little variation between the three models; being almost identical, save for the name on the steering wheel, and a few available options.
All three variants of the platform were available with most of the same standard features and available options, such as the following: a four-speed automatic transmission
and an optional semi-automatic dubbed "Autostick
" (not available on the Plymouth Breeze
), anti-lock brakes, four wheel independent suspension (double wishbone in the front with a multilink rear), tilt steering wheel
, cruise control
, power window
s, power door locks, power driver's seat, leather seats, power antenna, a six CD changer, sunroof, remote keyless entry, anti-theft system, etc. A five-speed manual was available with the 2.0 L. The 2.4 L was not offered in a manual because of its high torque and difficult drivability issues, mainly due to wheel spinning.
A turbocharged version of the Stratus was sold in Mexico
, with the 2.4 L DOHC 4-cylinder engine and a 4-speed automatic transmission
with AutoStick. This engine produced 168 hp at 5200 rpm
and 216 foot-pounds (292.9 N·m) of torque at 2200 rpm.
The Stratus was sold in Europe, with the 2.0 L
and the V6, as the Chrysler Stratus (the Dodge
name was not used in Europe
, except for commercial vehicle
s). Its styling was similar to that of Chrysler's Cirrus (which featured chrome accent moldings along the doors and bumpers), with the exception of the rear taillights, which were the same as Dodge's Stratus, and a Dodge grille, which differed from that of the Chrysler Cirrus and Plymouth Breeze.
In 2000, the Stratus was available for its last year of sales in Canada
, with the Chrysler Sebring
taking over as the company's only lower mid-size sedan - Dodge
did not sell the equivalent version in Canada.
For Brazil
, the Stratus was marketed as a Chrysler
, the equivalent Chrysler Cirrus
being unavailable. It had the same engines as the North American version but a higher ground clearance for the road conditions there.
In Argentina, it was marketed as Chrysler Stratus, and it was raced in the category "Superturismo Sudamericano" (Copa de las Naciones), driven by Ernesto Bessone
and Pablo Peon.
, to be built on the third generation Eclipse platform, the Stratus. This gave the nameplate both a two and a four-door model, though they shared nothing alike other than the name and a few exterior styling cues to help market them together as one vehicle. The Chrysler version of the new coupe also took the name Sebring despite also being a completely different vehicle from the Sebring sedan. This generation of the Dodge Stratus was not sold in Canada
, although 1999 was the last year for Dodge Stratus sales in Canada. 2002 models dropped the "DODGE" badges entirely from the doors.
The Stratus and Sebring sedans for the second generation used a revised version of the Chrysler JA platform named JR. The coupe models with the same names were entirely different cars; they were actually based on the Mitsubishi Eclipse
.
During this time, sales declined as its ratings from consumer and auto magazines fell below average among mid-size cars, while the sedan market had shifted and pushed the larger Intrepid and later Charger
to record sales. 2004 brought styling revisions, which did not reverse this trend. The coupe was dropped from the lineup after 2005, and the Stratus was discontinued in May 2006 (the Sebring name was continued).
In Mexico
, the Stratus R/T came in a turbocharged version. The Stratus R/T's turbocharged 2.4 L engine went through some improvements in 2001, when power was increased to 215 hp. This improved engine would later be used in the U.S. in the Dodge SRT-4
and PT Cruiser GT
. Stratus R/T engines built from March 2004 and later generated 225 hp at 5200 rpm and 235 lbft of torque
at 4200 rpm. Stratus R/T models with the turbocharged engine could be recognized by a rear badge saying "Turbo".
Although still offered in 2006, the Stratus was generally not shown among other Dodge cars in auto shows.
Coupe: 2001–2005
, will be built for GAZ in Russia from late 2007 or early 2008 on, and will be sold under the brand "Siber
". The license and production facilities for these cars were sold in April 2006 to Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska
, who owns the GAZ
company in Nizhny Novgorod
, which builds the Volga
automobile. The price was approximately US$151 million (€ 124 million). The new production facilities are planned to build up to 65,000 cars of both models yearly. Four-cylinder engines will be purchased from Chrysler and made in Mexico.
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
Stratus was a mid-size
Mid-size car
A mid-size car is the North American/Australian standard for an automobile with a size equal to or greater than that of a compact...
4-door sedan introduced in 1995. It was based on the Chrysler JA platform
Chrysler JA platform
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...
Cab forward (car). The Stratus, Breeze, and Cirrus were all on Car and Driver
Car and Driver
Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. Its total circulation is 1.31 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011...
magazine's Ten Best list
Car and Driver Ten Best
Car and Driver magazine annually nominates a list of what it considers the Ten Best cars and Five Best trucks.All production vehicles for sale in that calendar year are considered with these restrictions:# The vehicle must be on sale by January...
for 1996 and 1997. It received critical acclaim at launch, but ratings fell over time. Production ended at the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant in early 2006 which had built 1,308,123 Stratus and Sebrings since 2000. The Dodge Avenger replaced the Stratus nameplate in early 2007 for the 2008 model year
Model year
The model year of a product is a number used worldwide, but with a high level of prominence in North America, to describe approximately when a product was produced, and indicates the coinciding base specification of that product....
.
First generation (1995–2000)
The Dodge Stratus, the middle entry of the JA platform (with the Cirrus being the higher-end model and the Breeze being the lower-end model), was introduced in 1995 with two models: the base (later renamed SE in 2000), which came standard with the 2.0 L straight-4 and had the SOHC 2.4 L as optional; and the ES, which came standard with the a 2.0 L from 1995–1997, and had a DOHC 2.4 L and a 2.5 L V6 as optional. In 1998 the 2.4 L was standard and the 2.5 L V6 was optional on the ES, and from 1999–2000, the 2.5 L V6 was the only engine on the ES model.The Stratus directly replaced the high-volume Spirit
Dodge Spirit
The Dodge Spirit is a mid-size 5- or 6-passenger sedan that was introduced in January 1989 as a replacement for the similarly sized Dodge 600. The Spirit was Dodge's version of the Chrysler AA platform, a stretched variation of the Chrysler K platform...
and Dynasty
Dodge Dynasty
The Dodge Dynasty was a front-wheel drive sedan that was introduced in 1987 as a 1988 model to replace the 600 as Dodge's mid-size car. The Dodge Dynasty was related to the Chrysler New Yorker; both car lines were built on the Chrysler C platform in Belvidere, Illinois.The Dynasty is also similar...
(United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
only) to favorable reviews, but lower sales. It was often compared to other small mid-sizes such as the Chevrolet Malibu
Chevrolet Malibu
Malibus and all other Chevelles were completely restyled for 1968 with semi-fastback rooflines on two-door hardtops and wheelbases split to on two-door models and 118 for four-door sedans and station wagons. Engine offerings included a new V8 rated at that replaced the V8 that had served as the...
, and judged roomier than the Ford Contour
Ford Contour
The Ford Contour, and its rebadged variant, the Mercury Mystique, were compact 4-door sedans marketed from model years 1995-2000 by Ford Motor Company in North America...
by many magazines such as Consumer Reports. While the extended K
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...
s had previously been Chrysler's main midsize offerings, the larger LH and LX platforms, conceived as replacements for the Chrysler Dynasty
Dodge Dynasty
The Dodge Dynasty was a front-wheel drive sedan that was introduced in 1987 as a 1988 model to replace the 600 as Dodge's mid-size car. The Dodge Dynasty was related to the Chrysler New Yorker; both car lines were built on the Chrysler C platform in Belvidere, Illinois.The Dynasty is also similar...
and Dodge Monaco
Dodge Monaco
The Dodge Monaco was a full-size automobile built and sold by the Dodge division of the Chrysler Corporation between 1965 to 1978, and 1990 to 1992.-A Grand Prix competitor:...
, would more directly compete with the Ford Taurus
Ford Taurus
The Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near-continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the North American...
, the upsized Honda Accord
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a series of compact, mid-size and full-size automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1976, and sold in a majority of automotive markets throughout the world....
and Chevrolet Lumina
Chevrolet Lumina
The North American Chevrolet Lumina sedan , coupe and minivan were first introduced in 1989 for the 1990 model year as a new range of vehicles from the Chevrolet brand of General Motors to replace the Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Celebrity sedan, and the Monte Carlo coupe. The Lumina was an answer...
.
The cars had many parts that were interchangeable between each model. The exteriors of these three cars were very similar, with the front fascia, rear bumper, taillights, and wheels being the main differences. The interiors had little variation between the three models; being almost identical, save for the name on the steering wheel, and a few available options.
All three variants of the platform were available with most of the same standard features and available options, such as the following: a four-speed automatic transmission
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...
and an optional semi-automatic dubbed "Autostick
Autostick
The name Autostick has been used both for a Volkswagen semi-auto transmission and a system designed by Chrysler which allows for manual selection of gears with an automatic transmission. Another similar system designed by Porsche is called Tiptronic...
" (not available on 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...
), anti-lock brakes, four wheel independent suspension (double wishbone in the front with a multilink rear), tilt steering wheel
Steering wheel
A steering wheel is a type of steering control in vehicles and vessels ....
, cruise control
Cruise control
Cruise control is a system that automatically controls the speed of a motor vehicle. The system takes over the throttle of the car to maintain a steady speed as set by the driver.-History:...
, power window
Power window
Power windows or electric windows as well as electric or power window lifts are automobile windows which can be raised and lowered by depressing a button or switch, as opposed to using a hand-turned crank handle.- History :Packard introduced the first power windows in the 1940 Packard...
s, power door locks, power driver's seat, leather seats, power antenna, a six CD changer, sunroof, remote keyless entry, anti-theft system, etc. A five-speed manual was available with the 2.0 L. The 2.4 L was not offered in a manual because of its high torque and difficult drivability issues, mainly due to wheel spinning.
A turbocharged version of the Stratus was sold in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, with the 2.4 L DOHC 4-cylinder engine and a 4-speed automatic transmission
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...
with AutoStick. This engine produced 168 hp at 5200 rpm
Revolutions per minute
Revolutions per minute is a measure of the frequency of a rotation. It annotates the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis...
and 216 foot-pounds (292.9 N·m) of torque at 2200 rpm.
The Stratus was sold in Europe, with the 2.0 L
Litér
- External links :*...
and the V6, as the Chrysler Stratus (the Dodge
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
name was not used in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, except for commercial vehicle
Commercial vehicle
A commercial vehicle is a type of motor vehicle that may be used for transporting goods or passengers. The European Union defines "commercial motor vehicle" as any motorised road vehicle, which by its type of construction and equipment is designed for, and capable of transporting, whether for...
s). Its styling was similar to that of Chrysler's Cirrus (which featured chrome accent moldings along the doors and bumpers), with the exception of the rear taillights, which were the same as Dodge's Stratus, and a Dodge grille, which differed from that of the Chrysler Cirrus and Plymouth Breeze.
In 2000, the Stratus was available for its last year of sales in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, with the Chrysler Sebring
Chrysler 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...
taking over as the company's only lower mid-size sedan - Dodge
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
did not sell the equivalent version in Canada.
For Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, the Stratus was marketed as a Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
, the equivalent Chrysler Cirrus
Chrysler 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 ...
being unavailable. It had the same engines as the North American version but a higher ground clearance for the road conditions there.
In Argentina, it was marketed as Chrysler Stratus, and it was raced in the category "Superturismo Sudamericano" (Copa de las Naciones), driven by Ernesto Bessone
Ernesto Bessone
Ernesto Tito Bessone II is an Argentine racing driver. He is currently racing in Turismo Carretera series. He also took part from TC2000 and other categories from Argentina. His son Ernesto III is also a race car driver....
and Pablo Peon.
Second generation (2001–2006)
In 2001, the Stratus became the last of the surviving Cloud Cars, with the Cirrus renamed as the Sebring and the Breeze discontinued. After Dodge discontinued its coupe, the Avenger (which was built on the recently discontinued second generation Mitsubishi Eclipse platform), they decided to rename their new coupeCoupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
, to be built on the third generation Eclipse platform, the Stratus. This gave the nameplate both a two and a four-door model, though they shared nothing alike other than the name and a few exterior styling cues to help market them together as one vehicle. The Chrysler version of the new coupe also took the name Sebring despite also being a completely different vehicle from the Sebring sedan. This generation of the Dodge Stratus was not sold in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, although 1999 was the last year for Dodge Stratus sales in Canada. 2002 models dropped the "DODGE" badges entirely from the doors.
The Stratus and Sebring sedans for the second generation used a revised version of the Chrysler JA platform named JR. The coupe models with the same names were entirely different cars; they were actually based on the 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...
.
During this time, sales declined as its ratings from consumer and auto magazines fell below average among mid-size cars, while the sedan market had shifted and pushed the larger Intrepid and later Charger
Dodge Charger (LX)
The Dodge Charger LX is a rear-wheel drive four-door automobile introduced in February 2005. Built by Chrysler for its North American Dodge brand, the car was created to continue the Dodge Charger line, and replaced the Dodge Intrepid as Dodge's full-size sedan...
to record sales. 2004 brought styling revisions, which did not reverse this trend. The coupe was dropped from the lineup after 2005, and the Stratus was discontinued in May 2006 (the Sebring name was continued).
In Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, the Stratus R/T came in a turbocharged version. The Stratus R/T's turbocharged 2.4 L engine went through some improvements in 2001, when power was increased to 215 hp. This improved engine would later be used in the U.S. in the Dodge SRT-4
Dodge SRT-4
The Dodge SRT-4 is a sport compact car manufactured by Dodge from 2003-2005. A turbocharged variant of the Neon, the car was developed by DaimlerChrysler's in house PVO tuner group. PVO was officially renamed SRT in 2004. The "4" in the SRT-4's name denotes the number of cylinders of the engine...
and PT Cruiser GT
Chrysler PT Cruiser
The Chrysler PT Cruiser is a retro styled compact automobile launched by Chrysler as a 5-door hatchback in early 2000 and as a 2-door convertible in early 2005 ....
. Stratus R/T engines built from March 2004 and later generated 225 hp at 5200 rpm and 235 lbft of torque
Torque
Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist....
at 4200 rpm. Stratus R/T models with the turbocharged engine could be recognized by a rear badge saying "Turbo".
Although still offered in 2006, the Stratus was generally not shown among other Dodge cars in auto shows.
Trim levels
Sedan: 1995–2006- Base – 1995–1999
- ES – 1995–2004
- R/T – 2002–2006
- SE – 2000–2004
- SXT – 2002–2006
Coupe: 2001–2005
- R/T – 2001–2005
- SE – 2001–2002
- SXT – 2002–2005
Licensed production in Russia
The second generation Dodge Stratus, along with 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...
, will be built for GAZ in Russia from late 2007 or early 2008 on, and will be sold under the brand "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...
". The license and production facilities for these cars were sold in April 2006 to Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska
Oleg Deripaska
Oleg Vladimirovich Deripaska is the Russian Chief executive officer of Basic Element company and a member of the Board of Directors and CEO of United Company RUSAL, a Russian aluminium industry company...
, who owns the 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....
company in Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod , colloquially shortened to Nizhny, is, with the population of 1,250,615, the fifth largest city in Russia, ranking after Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Yekaterinburg...
, which builds the Volga
Volga (automobile)
Volga is an automobile brand that originated in the Soviet Union to replace the venerated GAZ-M20 Pobeda in 1956. Modern in design, it became a symbol of higher status in the Soviet nomenklatura...
automobile. The price was approximately US$151 million (€ 124 million). The new production facilities are planned to build up to 65,000 cars of both models yearly. Four-cylinder engines will be purchased from Chrysler and made in Mexico.
External links
- AllPar.com links:
- GAZ Siber photo gallery