The Dodge Spirit is a mid-size car that Dodge sold from the 1989 to 1995 model years. Slotted between the Dodge Shadow and Dodge Dynasty, it succeeded the Dodge Aries and also replaced the Lancer and 600 as Chrysler streamlined its mid-size lines, and it was built only as a notchback four-door sedan.
Dodge Spirit at a glance
| Production | 1989-1995 model years |
|---|---|
| Class | mid-size four-door sedan |
| Platform | Chrysler AA, an evolution of the K platform |
| Base engine | 2.5 L four, 100 hp |
| Options | 3.0 L Mitsubishi V6, 141 hp; 2.5 turbo, 150 hp |
| Flex-fuel | 2.5 L engine for up to 85 per cent ethanol, 107 hp |
| R/T engine | 2.2 L Turbo III with a Lotus head, 224 hp |
| Trims | base, LE, ES, R/T; Highline and ES from 1993 |
| Built | Newark, Delaware and Toluca, Mexico |
| Replaced by | Dodge Stratus (sold alongside in 1995) |
Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Dodge Spirit.
History of the Dodge Spirit
The Spirit and its counterparts used the Chrysler AA platform, an evolution of the K platform. Benchmarked against the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry during its design, the Spirit grew over its Aries predecessor to give more passenger space, and both turbocharged four-cylinder and V6 engines became optional. It could seat six with an optional front split-bench seat and used a solid-beam rear axle with MacPherson strut front suspension. It differed from the other A-body cars mainly in its grille and rear lamp styling and in the availability of the sportier R/T. Chrysler built it alongside the Plymouth Acclaim and Chrysler LeBaron at Newark, Delaware and Toluca, Mexico, and the last car was built on 9 December 1994, with the Dodge Stratus replacing the line for 1995.
The base Spirit and Spirit LE used a 2.5-litre throttle-body-injected four with 100 hp. Optional on all models except the R/T was a 141 hp 3.0-litre V6 from Mitsubishi. From 1989 to 1992, and standard on the Spirit ES, there was also a 150 hp turbocharged version of the 2.5-litre engine. In 1993, 1994 and 1995 a flexible-fuel Spirit was offered with a 107 hp multipoint-injected 2.5-litre engine modified to run on fuel containing up to 85 per cent ethanol. Several five-speed manuals were available with the four-cylinder engines, though few Spirits had them; all R/Ts came with the heavy-duty A-568 five-speed. V6 cars used the four-speed A604 automatic from 1989 to 1991 and could have it as an option afterwards, while the three-speed TorqueFlite was the most popular choice on four-cylinder cars and standard on the V6 from 1992.
Trims were the base model from 1989 to 1995, LE from 1989 to 1991, ES from 1989 to 1993 and R/T from 1991 to 1992. The ES and R/T had Eurocast or Snowflake alloy wheels through 1991, replaced for 1992 by the Turbo Blade, and some wheels were colour-keyed to the body. From 1993 a Gold package with gold-tone wheels and pinstripes was available. A driver’s airbag became standard in 1990, anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes were optional from 1991, and a three-speed automatic became available with the V6 in 1992. The 1993 facelift brought a body-colour crosshair grille and new full-width tail lamps, and the Chrysler pentastar was replaced by Dodge’s new ram emblem; stainless steel exhaust and tinted glass became standard. A motorised passenger seat belt was added for 1994 in the United States, and in 1995 the 2.5-litre engine received a revised cylinder head.
The Spirit R/T of 1991 used a 2.2-litre engine with a 16-valve DOHC head designed by Lotus, which had won a design competition against Maserati and Hans Hermann. With a Garrett intercooled turbocharger the Turbo III engine produced 224 hp and 217 lb-ft, and the only transmission was the A568 five-speed manual with a Getrag gearset. Heavy-duty vented four-wheel disc brakes were standard, with optional anti-lock brakes, along with colour-keyed 15-inch alloy wheels and 205/60R15 tyres. At the time Dodge advertised the R/T as the fastest sedan made in America.
Design and features
- AA platform: a larger K-car evolution benchmarked against the Accord and Camry.
- Three engines plus flex-fuel: 2.5 four, 3.0 V6, 2.5 turbo and an ethanol-capable version.
- Spirit R/T: a Lotus-designed 16-valve head and 224 hp in a family sedan.
- Six seats: an optional front split bench allowed three abreast.
Dodge Spirit versions
- Base and LE (1989-1991): the entry models with the 2.5-litre four.
- ES (1989-1993): the sporty trim with the turbo engine as standard at first.
- R/T (1991-1992): the Lotus-headed 224 hp version with a five-speed manual.
- Flex-fuel (1993-1995): the ethanol-capable 2.5-litre model.
The Spirit replaced the Dodge Aries and was followed by the Dodge Stratus, while it sat below the Dodge Dynasty in the range. More Dodge models are in the Dodge collection.
Sources
- Dodge Spirit, English Wikipedia: engines, trims, model year changes, R/T
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}