struts continued, with leaf springs and a beam axle in the rear. During its development, a number of suspension configurations were considered, including a 4-wheel double wishbone layout. Rear leaf springs were retained largely in an effort to provide an ideal handling balance with a load in addition to maximize interior load space. In a major modification, the front track width was widened three inches, allowing for lower mounting of the engine and transaxle, reduction in turning radius, and a lower cowl height. Front-wheel drive vans had front-wheel disc brakes and rear drum brakes. From 1997, all-wheel drive vans were fitted with four-wheel disc brakes. Powertrains For 1996, the Chrysler minivans received the first new four-cylinder engine in the powertrain line since 1987, with the introduction of a 2.4L engine (shared with the JA-platform cars). While smaller in displacement than its 2.5L predecessor, the 150 hp engine nearly matched the 3.0L V6 in both output and fuel economy. In states that did not observe California emission standards, the Mitsubishi 3.0L V6 was the standard V6 option. In those that followed California emissions standards, the Chrysler 3.3L V6 was the standard V6 option. In the Dodge Caravan ES and Chrysler Town & Country LXi, the 3.8L V6 was standard. In 1999, the 3.8L V6 became optional on the Plymouth Voyager Expresso; in Canada, the 2.4L engine was dropped, with the 3.0L V6 becoming the standard engine. In the United States and Canada, a manual transmission was no longer available, with a 3-speed TorqueFlite automatic fitted to the 2.4L and 3.0L engines. The 3.3L and 3.8L engines were fitted with a 4-speed Ultradrive automatic. For the first time, export vehicles were fitted with different powertrains, with the standard engine being a SOHC 2.0L engine with an optional DOHC 2.0L engine (from the Neon); a VM Motori 2.5L diesel inline-4 continued to be offered. All three engines were offered with either a 5-speed manual or an automatic transmission. In addition to the four-cylinder engines, export vehicles were offered the 3.3L and 3.8L V6 engines offered in American-market minivans. AWD models were not sold in the United Kingdom. Body In an extensive shift from the second-generation minivans, the NS-platform minivans abandoned the boxy body design of the previous two Chrysler minivan generations. While (on average) three inches taller than their predecessors, the new design lowered the exterior coefficient of drag from 0.39 to 0.35