Dodge Stratus (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 coupe, 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. The Dodge Stratus was also dropped for the Canadian market.
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. The coupe was dropped from the lineup after 2005, and the Stratus was discontinued in May 2006; the Sebring name will live on.
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. Stratus R/T engines built from March 2004 and later generated 225 hp at 5200 rpm and 235 ft·lbf (319 N·m) of torque at 4200 rpm. Stratus R/T models with the turbocharged engine could be recognized by a rear badge saying "High Output".
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 coupe, 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. The Dodge Stratus was also dropped for the Canadian market.
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. The coupe was dropped from the lineup after 2005, and the Stratus was discontinued in May 2006; the Sebring name will live on.
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. Stratus R/T engines built from March 2004 and later generated 225 hp at 5200 rpm and 235 ft·lbf (319 N·m) of torque at 4200 rpm. Stratus R/T models with the turbocharged engine could be recognized by a rear badge saying "High Output".