Chrysler K platform

This article is about the American Chrysler K-cars. For the Japanese-market minicars, see Kei car.

K-platform

Manufacturer	Chrysler Corporation
Production	1981–1995
Predecessor	F-body J-body M-body
Successor	PL JA LH NS
Class	Compact car Mid-size car Minivan
Layout	FF layout
Body style(s)	2-door convertible 2-door coupe 3-door hatchback 4-door sedan 4-door station wagon 5-door hatchback
Engine(s)	2.2 L K I4 2.2 L Turbo I I4 2.2 L Turbo II I4 2.2 L Turbo III I4 2.2 L Turbo IV I4 2.2 L TC I4 2.5 L K I4 2.5 L Turbo I4 2.6 L Mitsubishi G54B I4 3.0 L Mitsubishi 6G72 V6 3.3 L EGA V6 3.8 L EGH V6

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. Based on their passenger space, the K-cars were placed in the same "midsize" category by the United States Environmental Protection Agency‎ as Chrysler's significantly larger and heavier M-body cars^[1]

The K cars have been categorized as compact for their external size and small front-wheel drive layout. Technically, the K cars include only the Dodge Aries, Plymouth Reliant, second generation Chrysler LeBaron, and the Dodge 400, which used the K platform. The rest of the K-derivatives, including Chrysler's minivans, were based on the K platform with adaptations and modifications to suit vehicles of different sizes and intended usage. These vehicles had modified suspensions and were longer and heavier than the original K-cars, but all had the same basic architecture: a solid beam rear axle, independent front suspensions with MacPherson struts, and front-wheel drive (except for the AWD minivans). Sometimes, they also shared numerous internal components and trim pieces (e.g., the Reliant and first-generation Voyager).

Sales figures

Following the 1973 oil crisis, compounded by the 1979 energy crisis, American consumers began to buy fuel-efficient, low-cost automobiles built in Japan. With the market for large V-8 engined automobiles declining, US domestic auto manufacturers found themselves trying to develop compact vehicles that could compete with the Japanese imports of Toyota, Honda and Nissan in price and finish. Chrysler Corporation's answer to the import pressure was the K platform, which featured an economical 4-cylinder engine, front-wheel drive, and utilized many modern weight-reducing measures such as replacing metal styling parts with plastic interior and exterior components.

The K-cars (Dodge Aries, Plymouth Reliant, Chrysler LeBaron, Dodge 400, and, in Mexico, Dodge Dart) sold very well, selling between 280,000 and 360,000 every year from 1981 to 1988, and edging over 100,000 in their final year, 1989.

The manual transmission provided acceleration of 0-60 mph in 10 seconds, while the automatic was between 13 and 14 seconds, similar to or better than most competitors, while gas mileage was rated by the EPA at 26 mpg city, 41 mpg highway with the manual transmission. All had a 100.1-inch (2.54 m) wheelbase. The overall length of the two and four-door models was 176 inches (4.5 m). The wagon was 0.2 inches (5.1 mm) longer. The vehicles had an approximate 14-gallon fuel tank. The coupe and sedan had approximately 15 cubic feet (0.42 m³) of luggage space; the wagons, 35 cubic feet (0.99 m³) with rear seat up and about 70 cubic feet (2.0 m³) when folded.

Numerous improvements to the sound insulation and general feel were made in 1983; in 1985, the Reliant, Aries, and LeBaron received a facelift, with a rounded front fascia, smoother hood, and bigger taillights, accompanied by fuel injection on the 2.2 liter engine and a 2.5 liter engine replacing the arguably unreliable Mitsubishi 2.6 which was notorious for leaking oil (and gave the nicknames "Mr. Squishy" or "Bitsumishi")^[2][3]

They were also initially very profitable, and Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca credited them with allowing the company to pay off its bankruptcy loans early.^[4]

Stretched-wheelbase versions

The first stretched-wheelbase K cars, introduced in 1983, were not given their own platform letter, but had stretched wheelbases with New Yorker styling in front: the Chrysler Executive Sedan and Limousine. They were made at the St. Louis assembly plant, and held five and seven passengers, respectively. The pair were powered by a carbureted Mitsubishi 2.6 liter four-cylinder engine coupled to the usual Torqueflite automatic transmission, though in the last two years of the Limousine, a turbocharged (but not intercooled) Chrysler 2.2 liter four-cylinder engine was added. The stretched platform was not used by Mitsubishi when they upgraded the Mitsubishi Debonair from a rear drive sedan to front wheel drive despite engine sharing between Mitsubishi and Chrysler at the time. Standard features included air conditioning, cruise control, power brakes, front and rear cigarette lighters, front/rear divider and rear compartment with cabinet (Limousine), rear defroster, digital instrument panel, electronic voice alert, tinted glass on all windows, hood ornament, lights that went on with the dual horn, illuminated entry, a full lighting package inside, opera lights outside, dual power mirrors, power antenna, locks, windows, and driver's seat, FM stereo, "luxury cloth" seats, tilt steering, leather steering wheel, intermittent wipers, and padded landau roof. The sedan lasted two years, while the limousine lasted four.^[5]

Derivatives

The K-derivatives offered a large variety of engines depending on year and model. Four cylinder engines were initially equipped with carburetors; fuel injection was phased in beginning in the mid-1980s. Engine output ranged from 86 hp (64 kW) to 224 hp (167 kW). Most vehicles had the 2.2 L or 2.5 L Chrysler four-cylinder engine, though from 1981-1986 a 2.6 L Four and from 1987-1995 a 3.0 L V6, both made by Mitsubishi, were offered. All had electronic ignition.^{[citation needed]}

Chrysler economized greatly across the K-derivative models with standardized parts, so that many parts (aside from sheet metal) are easily interchanged across the lines, leading to owners upgrading by using higher-power or sportier K-derivatives' parts.^[2][6][7]

However, in the 1990s, lack of investment in the K-derivative models coupled with the effects of too much cost-cutting and standardization^{[citation needed]} led to a reliance on heavy rebates to sell the vehicles, causing Chrysler to lose money on many of these vehicles.^{[citation needed]}

Though the K-derivatives did not generally have a strong reputation for performance, several were notable, particularly the Dodge Spirit R/T, which could reach 60 mph (97 km/h) in under six seconds, and the Daytona R/T.

Common platforms

Use of a common platform is a common practice for reducing the number of parts and engineering time, and Chrysler, when creating the K platform, was building vehicles from a small number of common platforms (e.g. F/J/M and R).^[8] Lee Iacocca claimed that the huge number of parts in inventory and the complexity of building many completely different versions of vehicles was one reason Chrysler was losing money, and directed the engineers to focus on making a large number of common parts where they would not be visible to customers; this was already common practice in Japan and Germany and would help to make the K-cars profitable even at low prices.^[4]

Nameplates

Chrysler applied nameplates somewhat capriciously, so that there could be an E-body New Yorker at the same time a C-body New Yorker was sold; there were also numerous, very different LeBarons for sale at the same time.^[9] While there were no Jeep- or Eagle-branded K-derivatives made, at least one Rubicon-ready prototype was made.^[10]

Cars using the K platform and its variants 

• K midsize cars
  • 1981-1989 Dodge Aries (often referred to as the Aries K, owing to strong publicity for the K cars; 1981 models are badged as such.)
  • 1981-1989 Plymouth Reliant (as above, also known as the Reliant K)
  • 1982-1988 Chrysler LeBaron (coupes and convertibles were produced on this platform until 1987)
  • 1982-1988 Chrysler LeBaron Town and Country
  • 1982-1983 Dodge 400
  • 1982-1988 Dodge Dart K (Mexico only)
  • 1982-1988 Valiant Volare K (Mexico only)
  • 1983-1988 Plymouth Caravelle coupe (Canada only)
  • 1983-1986 Chrysler Executive limousine
  • 1984-1986 Dodge 600 coupe and convertible
  • 1984-1987 Dodge Magnum 400 and Dodge Magnum Turbo (Mexico only)
  • 1985 Chrysler 600 (Mexico only)
• E (Extended-wheelbase) mid-size cars
  • 1983-1984 Chrysler E-Class
  • 1983-1988 Chrysler New Yorker and Chrysler New Yorker Turbo
  • 1983-1988 Dodge 600 sedan
  • 1985-1988 Plymouth Caravelle

• • 1988-1989 Volare E by Chrysler (Mexico only)
  • 1988 Chrysler New Yorker Turbo
• G sports cars (designated as the AG platform from 1989)
  • 1984-1986 Chrysler Laser
  • 1984-1993 Dodge Daytona and Chrysler Daytona (Canada)
• S minivans
  • 1984-1990 Dodge Caravan
  • 1984-1990 Plymouth Voyager
  • 1990 Chrysler Town and Country
• H mid-size cars
  • 1985-1988 Chrysler LeBaron GTS
  • 1985-1989 Dodge Lancer
  • 1987 Shelby Lancer
  • 1989 Chrysler LeBaron
• P compact cars (designated as the AP platform from 1989)
  • 1987-1994 Dodge Shadow
  • 1987-1994 Plymouth Sundance and Duster
  • 1987-1989 Shelby CSX
• J sport cars (designated as the AJ platform from 1989)
  • 1987-1995 Chrysler LeBaron coupe and convertible
  • 1988-1994 Chrysler Phantom coupe only (Mexico only)
• C mid-size cars (designated as the AC platform from 1989)
  • 1988-1993 Chrysler New Yorker
  • 1988-1993 Dodge Dynasty and Chrysler Dynasty (Canada)
• AA mid-size cars
  • 1989-1994 Chrysler Saratoga (Europe only)
  • 1989-1995 Dodge Spirit
  • 1989-1995 Plymouth Acclaim
  • 1990-1994 Chrysler LeBaron sedan
  • 1990-1994 Chrysler New Yorker (Mexico only)
• Q sports car
  • 1989-1991 Chrysler TC by Maserati
• Y luxury cars (a stretched variant of the C platform used for two top-line models, also designated as the AY platform)
  • 1990-1993 Chrysler New Yorker Fifth Avenue
  • 1990-1993 Chrysler Imperial
• AS minivans
  • 1991-1995 Chrysler Town and Country
  • 1991-1995 Dodge Caravan
  • 1991-1995 Plymouth Voyager

References

1. ^ Fueleconomy.gov
2. ^ ^{a b} Allpar/K-cars
3. ^ [1]
4. ^ ^{a b} Iacocca, L:"Iacocca"
5. ^ Allpar/Limousine and Executive
6. ^ Allpar/brakes
7. ^ Allpar/suspension
8. ^ Rear-drive platforms
9. ^ Allpar-LeBaron
10. ^ Jeep JJ