The Chrysler production program at the end of the 90s included several of the same type, mid-size by American standards, front-wheel drive cars, the most famous of which were Dodge Stratus, Chrysler Cirrus and Plymouth Brezze. In some sources, the first-generation Dodge Stratus is referred to as the Plymouth Stratus, which, however, does not give reason to identify the latter as a separate model. The predecessor of the Stratus was the Dodge Spirit model, first shown in 1988. Its sales market was North America, and in Europe it remained virtually unknown. In 1995, the production of Spirit was minimized and Stratus came to replace this model.
The first generation Stratus produced from 1995 to 2000 at the factory in Sterling Heights (Michigan) in the back of a 4-door sedan. On the basis of this car (platform Chrysler JA) also collected sedans Chrysler Cirrus, sold on the European market as the Chrysler Stratus, and Plymouth Brezze. Chrysler Sebring and Chrysler Convertible convertibles were also produced. The dimensions of the 5-seater body were 4724/1821/1377 mm with a wheelbase of 2743 mm and a track (front and rear) of 1528 mm. The curb weight of the car - 1360 kg, the permissible total - 1810 kg. The luggage compartment - 445 liters.
The cabin equipment included a height-adjustable steering column, audio system with CD, power windows, central locking, sunroof and electric driver's seat adjustment. The car was equipped with 4-cylinder 16-valve in-line petrol engines of 1.996 liters (133 hp / 6000 rpm, 175 Nm / 5000 rpm) and 2,429 l (152 hp / 6500 rpm, 226 Nm / 4000 rpm). Upper valves with lower camshaft power units are longitudinally placed in front. The power system - distributed fuel injection. The dynamics of the car with a 2-liter engine, and with 2.4 liters - 10 to 100 km / h, and the maximum speed - 175 km / h.
The average consumption of AI-92 gasoline for a car with an engine of 2 liters was 8 l / 100 km, for a 2.4-liter engine, 9.6 liters. A more powerful 2.5-liter V6 engine (170 hp) used on modifications from Dodge and Chrysler was not installed on Plymouth. Motors aggregated with a basic 5-speed manual transmission or optional 4-speed automatic transmission 41TE. Versions with a 2.4 liter engine were only equipped with an automatic transmission. The front independent suspension included a double wishbone, coil springs and a lateral stabilizer, the rear axle dependent - a continuous axle beam, coil springs and a lateral stabilizer.
The front brakes were installed ventilated disc, rear - drum. ABS was supplied as an option. The standard tire size is 195 / 70R14. Comfortable and roomy, with no particular complaints about the quality of the trim, maintainable and, most importantly, relatively inexpensive and, - as a result - affordable Stratus has earned itself deserved popularity among consumers.
