Dodge Stratus was first introduced as a prototype in Detroit and Los Angeles in January 1994. This middle class sedan is the successor to the Spirit model. He became one of the first mass-produced cars of Chrysler Corporation, designed according to the “cab-forward” scheme, i.e., with a cabin that has been greatly moved forward. Stratus has a front-wheel drive and transverse engine. The exterior of the car does not shake any "architectural" delights and, rather, closer to the European school of design. The model favorably differs completeness and expressiveness of lines. The hood almost smoothly goes into the windshield, the original shape of the bumper goes well with narrow headlights.
The word Stratus got a very attractive sporty look. Salon Stratus is not too spacious. Most of the finishing is plastic, the door trim is pretty tough, the interior looks very simple and democratic. The seats have three adjustments, including height. The instrument panel is quite ascetic - only four analog devices. All control lights are hidden under the frosted black glass and are lit only when the engine is started or when the corresponding sensor is triggered. Serial equipment includes central locking, electric exterior mirrors, ABS for front disc brakes (rear - drum), two airbags, air conditioning and power windows.
The line of power units consisted of two 4-cylinder engines (2.0 l / 132 hp and 2.4 l / 152 hp) and one 6-cylinder engine with a working volume of 2.5 liters and 170 hp. The premiere of the second generation Stratus was held at the Chicago Auto Show in the winter of 2000. Two models were offered to the public: the Stratus sedan of the Chrysler design on the JR type chassis (similar to the Chrysler Scoring Sport Sedan) and the Stratus Coupe, which is of Japanese origin (based on the American Mitsubishi Galant platform). Both models retained the front-wheel drive layout, have a sporty character, and the power of the power units is increased.
The base was a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with a capacity of 147 hp, and the more expensive versions got a V-shaped “six” with a displacement of 2.7 and 3.0 liters with a capacity of 150-203 hp. At the end of 2002, a small facelift was carried out, touching the shape of the front air intake in the form of a firm “crosshair”, carried over to the hood, bumpers, hood and rear, while the interior remained unchanged.
In the USA, the Stratus was offered in four basic versions - the SXT (2.4 liter engine R4 16V, 152 hp, 226 N • m, 4-speed automatic, central locking, front airbags, electric windows, doors and mirrors ), SE (also plus a 2.7 liter V6 24V engine, developing 203 hp and 258 N • m, audio system with CD, 16-inch alloy wheels), ES (plus electric driver's seat, fog lights) and a sports version R / T (plus spoiler on the trunk lid, 17-inch wheels, disc brakes on all wheels with ABS).
Facelift Stratus Coupe 2003 was carried out in the same way as the sedan - the air intake shifted to the hood, the shape of the front and rear bumpers changed, new, narrower headlights with separate elements of low and high beams appeared. In addition, the interior was also modernized (new steering wheel, instrument cluster and seats). For the coupe, since 2004, a seatbelt safety belt sensor is provided, as well as a new body color enamel - “satin silver”.
