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2003 Dodge Stratus Midize Coupe
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Shapely curving rear pillars at the back of the roofline slide down into rolled rear flanks that form the shoulders on the rump. Then in back the tail design bends a spoiler lip in arching line over large corner lamps and a thick bumper tinted to the body color.
The graceful arched profile and exaggerated slant to the windshield reflect styling concepts borrowed from Dodge's Intrepid flagship sedan, although the new prow design with prominent cross-hair grille obviously comes directly off the racy Dodge sports car, Viper.
Dodge introduced Stratus as a mid-size two-door coupe in 2001 to replace the Avenger series with a stiff new platform and more powerful engine options.
Yet the name became a point of confusion because the Stratus label also applies to a four-door Dodge sedan that looks similar to the coupe, although sedan and coupe versions of Stratus do not share platforms, engines, mechanical hardware or components.
Actually, the nearest cousin to Stratus the coupe may be found in the Chrysler line with the Sebring coupe, as both cars flow from a joint-venture assembly plant in Illinois that also produces the Mitsubishi Eclipse coupe, which uses the same chassis, suspension and powertrains.
Two different engine options define the personality of Stratus the coupe, which splits with engine selections into the trims of SXT and R/T.
The SXT badge is new for 2003 to define the price-leading entry model.
The R/T edition marks the sporty model, with the initials abbreviating a designation of "Road and Track" in recognition of Dodge's muscle car heritage.
For Stratus SXT, a 2.4-liter in-line-four engine carries an overhead cam, four valves per cylinder and sequential multi-point fuel injection.
This base engine when mated with the standard five-speed manual transmission produces 147 hp at 5500 rpm plus torque of 158 lb-ft at 4000 rpm.
Add the optional four-speed automatic and it makes 142 hp at 5500 rpm with 155 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm.
More power comes from Stratus R/T, which stocks a dual-cam 3.0-liter V6 dispensing 200 hp at 5500 rpm and 205 lb-ft of torque at 4500 rpm.
The manual stick works with the V6 in Stratus R/T and it feels good with short throws on the shift lever and fluid movements up and down the gear ladder.
The four-speed automatic is also available with the V6. It uses an intelligent controller through a microprocessor that quickly adapts to the driver's style and then changes the shift patterns to suit that style.
