Red marquis at 19:58, 21 June 2010

2010-06-21T19:58:38Z

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The '''J platform''', or '''J-body''', was [[General Motors Corporation|General Motors]]' inexpensive [[front-wheel drive]] [[automobile platform]] from the 1980s and 1990s. The platform replaced the [[GM H platform (RWD)|GM H platform]]. The first J-body cars were the [[Chevrolet Cavalier]], [[Pontiac J2000]], and the [[Oldsmobile Firenza]] which entered production on March 23, 1981 as 1982 models.<ref name=Wards82>{{cite book |title=Ward's Automotive Yearbook 1982 |publisher=Ward's Communications, Inc |editor=Stark, Harry A |year=1982 |page=73}}</ref> The Cavalier was phased out at the end of 2004 in favor of the new [[Chevrolet Cobalt]]. The last surviving J-body car, the Mexican-built [[Pontiac Sunfire]], ended production in June 2005. There are three generations of the J-body: 1982 to 1987 (or until 1988 or 1989 depending on the model), 1988 to 1994, and 1995 to 2005.

Except for cosmetic differences, engine upgrades and the discontinuation of certain models, the platform remained largely unchanged throughout the years.

Design of the J-body dated back to the mid-1970s. At that time, GM-controlled divisions in different parts of the world manufactured totally different [[rear-wheel drive]] C-segment cars - the [[Chevrolet Vega]] in America, the [[Vauxhall Cavalier]]/[[Opel Ascona]] in Europe, the [[Holden Torana]] in Australia and the [[Isuzu Florian]] in Japan. Some of them were not particularly competitive, so it was decided that a common replacement would be developed to eliminate duplication of engineering effort and ensure parts interchangeability. When the [[Arab Oil Embargo]] forced CAFE mandates, and the fear of US$3.00 for a gallon of [[gasoline]], the J-body was practically produced straight off the drawing board.

The fourth character in the [[Vehicle Identification Number]] for a J-body car is "J".

Many vehicles used this platform including the following American nameplates:
* 1982–1988 [[Cadillac Cimarron]]
* 1982–1988 [[Oldsmobile Firenza]]
* 1982–1989 [[Buick Skyhawk]]
* 1982–2005 [[Chevrolet Cavalier]]
* 1982 [[Pontiac J2000]]
* 1983 [[Pontiac 2000]]
* 1984 [[Pontiac Sunbird|Pontiac 2000 Sunbird]]
* 1985–1994 [[Pontiac Sunbird]]
* 1995–2005 [[Pontiac Sunfire]]

International J-bodies include:
* 1982–1988 [[Opel Ascona]] C (Europe and South Africa)
* 1982–1988 [[Vauxhall Cavalier#Mark II (1981–88)|Vauxhall Cavalier]] Mk II (United Kingdom)
* 1983–1989 [[Isuzu Aska]] (Japan) (originally called Florian Aska)
* 1982–1989 [[Holden Camira]] (Australia and New Zealand)
* 1982–1996 [[Chevrolet Monza]] (Brazil)
* 1995–2000 [[Toyota Cavalier]] (Japan)
* 1990–1997 [[Daewoo Espero]] (South Korea)

Bodystyles included;
* 2-door [[sedan (car)|sedan]] - North America (until 1987), Brazil, Europe
* 2-door [[coupé]] - North America (from 1988)
* 4-door sedan - all markets
* 3-door [[hatchback]] - North America (until 1987)
* 3-door hatchback - Brazil ''(NOTE: these are two different bodies, the Brazilian version had a more upright roofline than the USDM one)''
* 5-door hatchback - Europe
* 5-door [[station wagon]] - North America (until 1994), Australia (exported to the UK)
* 2-door [[convertible]] - subcontracted to [[American Specialty Cars|American Sunroof Corporation]] in North America and [[Baur]] in Europe; German market convertibles made by two different coachbuilders: [[Keinath]] and [[Hammond & Thiede]]. Brazilian convertibles made by Envemo and Sulam

==See Also==
{{General Motors platforms}}

[[Category:GM platforms|J]]

GM J platform - Revision history

Red marquis at 19:58, 21 June 2010