1996 Plymouth Breeze Affordable and pleasing cab-forward design. By Helen V. Hutchings, New Car Test Drive .com

Plymouth produced its first motorcar in 1928. The engine in that first Plymouth had

4-cylinders that generated 45 horsepower. Plymouth's newest offering, the 1996 Breeze,

also has a 4-cylinder engine, but with all we now know about engineering the internal-

combustion engine, the Breeze engine produces 132 horsepower.

Since its inception, the Plymouth brand has been dedicated to meeting the need for

affordable, solid transportation, with some personality and spunk to make it

attractive to the young couple or growing family. The Breeze is the newest offering

and is priced between the Neon, which is badged by parent Chrysler Corporation with

both Dodge and Plymouth brands, and sister "cloud" cars, the Dodge Stratus and

Chrysler Cirrus. The Breeze is constructed on the same chassis or platform as Stratus

and Cirrus--no coupes here--and is powered by the same engine as Neon--coupes and sedans

offered here.

This amalgamation promises to be a happy one.