Dodge Spirit

The Dodge Spirit is a

The Spirit used the Chrysler AA platform, an extended-wheelbase variation of the Chrysler K platform.^[3] A design used across all three Chrysler divisions, the Spirit was marketed with alongside the Plymouth Acclaim and the 1990-1994 Chrysler LeBaron sedan. The model line was exported to Europe under the Chrysler Saratoga nameplate.

Chrysler assembled the Spirit alongside the Acclaim and LeBaron sedan at Newark Assembly (Newark, Delaware) and Toluca Car Assembly (Toluca, Mexico). The final example was produced on December 9, 1994. For 1995, the Dodge Stratus replaced the Spirit.

Design overview

The Spirit could accommodate six people with an optional front split-bench seat. It had a solid-beam rear axle, and a MacPherson strut front suspension. The Spirit differed from the other A-bodies primarily in the grille and rear lamp styling, and in the availability of a sportier, higher-performing R/T version.

Powertrain details

The base engine for Spirit and Spirit LE models was a 2.5 L (150 cu in)

Several five-speed manual transmissions were available with the naturally aspirated and turbocharged 4-cylinder engines, but relatively few Spirits were equipped with manual transmissions. All the Spirit R/Ts came with the A-568 heavy-duty 5-speed manual transmission. From 1989 to 1991, all V6 Spirits came with the electronic four-speed A604 overdrive automatic, which became optional equipment in 1992 and remained optional until 1995. The three-speed Torqueflite automatic was the most popular installation on 4-cylinder Spirits, and was also standard equipment with the V6 engine from 1992 through 1995. A 5-speed manual was offered with the V6 engine in the smaller Shadow, but this combination was not available in the Spirit.

Trim

• 1989–95: Base
• 1989–91: LE
• 1989–93: ES
• 1991–92: R/T

The Spirit ES and R/T featured Eurocast (also called Snowflake) alloy wheels through 1991. For 1992, the Turbo Blade wheel was introduced.^[4] Some of the alloy wheels were color-keyed to the vehicle body:

• White body with white painted wheels (ES, R/T)
• Black, silver, or dark red body with clear-coated wheels (ES only)
• Bright Red body with bright red painted wheel inserts (R/T only, 1991)

Starting in 1993, the Spirit was offered with a Gold package similar to that offered on the 1993-94 Plymouth Acclaim and Dodge Caravan/Plymouth Voyager minivans. This included goldtone-trimmed alloy wheels and gold pinstripes. The Gold package was available with both 4- and 6-cylinder models, with certain body colors.

Model history

• 1990 – A driver airbag was added as standard equipment.
• 1991 – Anti-lock four-wheel disk brake system was added as a new option.
• 1992 – A 3-speed automatic transmission became available with the V6 engine.
• 1993 – A facelift included a body-color grille with the Dodge crossbars theme and new full-width taillamps that despite their amber lower sections, did not include amber rear turn signals. Only two trim levels went on sale: Highline and ES. The Chrysler corporate Pentastar emblem was replaced with the brand's new RAM emblem. Stainless steel exhaust system and tinted glass became standard on all Spirits.
• 1994 – A motorized passenger's side
  Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208's requirement for passive restraints. These motorized belts do not comply with Canada's safety standards; Canadian-market Spirits continued to use a manual passenger seatbelt, and 1994–1995 Spirits therefore cannot legally be permanently imported across the US/Canada border in either direction.^[5][6]
• 1995 – The 2.5 L engine received a slightly revised cylinder head, and both the 4-speed A604
  anti-lock brakes
  were dropped from the option list. Otherwise, the Spirit remained mostly unchanged, much as it had throughout its six-year run.

In 1991, Chrysler introduced the Spirit R/T, featuring a version of the 2.2 L engine with a

At the time, the R/T was advertised as "the fastest sedan made in America", and one of the quickest performance sedans under $40,000, with Chrysler placing its performance above the

All R/Ts were built in Mexico. A total of 1,208 were sold in the U.S. in 1991 – 774 in red and 434 in white. An additional 191 were sold in the U.S. in 1992 – 92 red, 68 white, and 31 silver. The only discernible changes for 1992 were a lower first gear ratio for reduced turbo lag, woodgrain dashboard trim as used on the Chrysler LeBaron sedan, blacked-out upper and lower grille inserts, clear rather than amber lenses for the front parking and turn signal lights, and a speedometer calibrated to 150 mph (240 km/h) rather than 120 mph (190 km/h).

Mexican and South American markets

Spirits were marketed in

For the 1991

Chrysler de Mexico also sold two versions of the Spirit R/T. The base R/T, sold from 1991 through 1995, used a Mexico-only 168 hp (125 kW; 170 PS) intercooled Turbo II version of the 8-valve

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dodge Spirit.

• Dodge Spirit at the Internet Movie Cars Database