Dodge Spirit
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| Dodge Spirit | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Chrysler Corporation |
| Also called | Plymouth Acclaim Chrysler Spirit Chrysler Saratoga |
| Production | 1989–1995 |
| Assembly | Newark, Delaware, United States Toluca, Mexico |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Mid-size |
| Body style | 4-door sedan |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Platform | AA-body |
| Related | Chrysler LeBaron Chrysler Saratoga Plymouth Acclaim Dodge Shadow |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2.2 L Turbo III I4 2.5 L K I4 2.5 L Turbo I4 3.0 L Mitsubishi 6G72 V6 |
| Transmission | 5-speed A523 manual 5-speed A568 manual 3-speed A413 automatic 3-speed A670 automatic 4-speed A604 automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 1989-1990: Template:Auto in 1991-95: Template:Auto in |
| Length | Template:Auto in |
| Width | 1991-95: Template:Auto in 1989-1990: Template:Auto in |
| Height | Template:Auto in |
| Curb weight | 2,901 lb (1,316 kg) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Dodge 600 Dodge Aries Dodge Lancer |
| Successor | Dodge Stratus |
The Dodge Spirit is a mid-size 5- or 6-passenger sedan introduced in January 1989 as a replacement for the similarly-sized Dodge 600.[1] The Spirit was Dodge's version of the Chrysler AA platform, a stretched variation of the Chrysler K platform. It was assembled in Newark, Delaware and Toluca, Mexico, and shared its basic design with the 1990 to 1994 Chrysler LeBaron sedan, the 1989 to 1995 Plymouth Acclaim, and the export-only 1989 to 1995 Chrysler Saratoga. Some also regard the Spirit as the de facto replacement for the smaller Aries and the hatchback Lancer, though the Shadow, new for 1987, is closer in size to the Aries and Lancer.[2][3][4] 60,000 Dodge Spirits were sold in its first year[citation needed], enough that Aries production was stopped mid-season. Spirit production ended on 1994 December 9, and the "cab-forward" Stratus was introduced as a replacement.
The Spirit could seat six with an optional front split-bench seat. It had a large trunk, a simple 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 exclusive availability of the sportier, higher-performing R/T version.
While the Spirit is dimensionally comparable to its contemporaneous Ford Tempo, the platform was also compared with the Ford Taurus, Honda Accord, and Toyota Camry by Consumer Reports[citation needed] which found the similar but upscale Chrysler LeBaron to be "adequate", but not up to the other three cars. Nevertheless, the Spirit sold reasonably well, mainly on the basis of price and value.[citation needed] Though maligned in their later years by critics,[who?] the Spirit did outsell the Stratus that replaced it.
Trims
- 1989-95: Base
- 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.[5] 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.
Engines
The base engine for Spirit and Spirit LE models was a Template:Auto L TBI 4-cylinder engine producing 100 hp (75 kW). Optional on all models except the Spirit R/T was a 141 hp (105 kW), [[Mitsubishi 6G7x engine|Template:Auto L L V6]] made by Mitsubishi. Also available in 1989 through 1992—and standard equipment on the Spirit ES—was a 150 hp (110 kW) turbocharged version of the 2.5 L engine. In 1993, 1994, and 1995, a flexible-fuel Spirit was offered, powered by a 107 hp (80 kW) multipoint fuel injected version of the 2.5 L engine specially modified to run on fuel containing up to 85% methanol. The R/T version came with a powerful Template:Auto L DOHC turbo III with cylinder head engineered and made by Lotus. This engine was rated at 224 hp (167 kW) and Template:Auto lbft.
Transmissions
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/T's 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. Although a 5-speed manual was offered with the V6 engine in the smaller Shadow, this combination was very rare in the Spirit.
Changes through the years
The Spirit was given its only facelift for 1993: a body-color grille with the Dodge crossbars theme and new full-width taillamps which, despite their amber lower sections, did not include amber rear turn signals.
A motorized passenger's side seat belt was added to U.S.-market Spirits in 1994, to comply with 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 imported across the US/Canada border in either direction.[6][7]
For 1995, the Spirit's final year, the 2.5 L engine got a slightly revised cylinder head, and both the 4-speed A604 automatic transmission and anti-lock brakes were dropped from the option list. Otherwise, the Spirit remained mostly unchanged, much as it had throughout its six-year run.
R/T
In 1991, Chrysler introduced the Spirit R/T, the centerpiece of which was a version of the 2.2 L engine with a 16-valve DOHC head designed by Lotus, who won a design competition against Maserati and Hans Hermann. Fed by a Garrett intercooled turbocharger, this Turbo III engine produced 224 hp (167 kW) and Template:Auto lbft. The R/T also featured unique interior and exterior trim to set itself apart from other Spirits. The only available transmission in the R/T was a heavy-duty A568 5-speed manual transmission built by Chrysler's New Process Gear division (located in Syracuse, New York) with a gearset supplied by Getrag. Heavy-duty vented four wheel disc brakes were standard equipment, with optional anti-lock brakes. Color-keyed 15-inch alloy wheels were standard, with P205/60R15 tires.
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 BMW M5. It could reach 60 mph (97 km/h) in 5.8 seconds, according to Car and Driver, making it one of the quickest front wheel drive cars ever offered in the American market. It was chosen as Motor Trend magazine's "Domestic Sport Sedan of the Year", beating the Ford Taurus SHO for 1991 and 1992. All R/Ts were built in Mexico. Just 1,208 were sold in America in 1991 — 774 in red and 434 in white. An additional 191 were sold in America 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
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Spirits were very popular in Mexico. They were badged as Chryslers rather than Dodges, since the Dodge brand at the time was used only on trucks. The Spirit was introduced in the Mexican market for 1990, one year after its début in the U.S. and Canada. The initial 1990-model Spirits used a version of the 2.5 L engine operating on leaded gasoline, equipped with a carburetor, a tubular exhaust header, and electronic control of ignition timing.[8] This induction and ignition system used technology and components very similar to those employed in Chrysler's U.S.-market Lean Burn emission control systems of the late 1970s.
For the 1991 model year, Mexico enacted new-vehicle emission regulations similar to those in the US and Canada. The carbureted leaded-fuel engine was too dirty to comply with the new regulations, so a fully-integrated engine management system with fuel injection was added to the Spirit. This was not the TBI system used in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Rather, the Mexican-market Spirits got a more advanced MPFI setup.[8] This MPFI 2.5 gave superior performance and driveability and cleaner emissions than its TBI counterpart, but was not used in the U.S., Canadian, or rest-of-world export markets except on turbocharged and FFV models. The Chrysler Spirit with MPFI 2.5 L engine was sold in Mexico from 1991 through 1995, and was exported in small numbers to Argentina and Brazil from 1993 through 1995.
Chrysler de Mexico sold two versions of the Spirit R/T. The base R/T, sold from 1991 through 1995, used a Mexico-only 168 hp intercooled Turbo II version of the 8-valve SOHC 2.5 L engine and either the 3-speed A413 automatic or 5-speed manual transmission. These R/Ts were very popular with Mexican police departments.
The top-line R/T, available from 1991 through 1994, used the same 2.2 L 16-valve DOHC engine as was used in the American-market 1991 to 1992 R/T. More options and higher equipment levels were available in Mexico, including leather upholstery, digital instrument cluster, sunroof, and 16-inch alloy wheels, none of which was offered on the R/T in America. In addition, Mexican-market R/Ts could be ordered in a variety of different colors, not just the red, white, and silver offered in the U.S. All Mexican-market Spirit R/Ts were badged as Chryslers. An interesting member of the R/T family, the Chrysler Phantom R/T, was a Mexico-only premium version of the LeBaron coupe equipped with the 2.2 L 16-valve DOHC engine and A568 5-speed manual transmission.
References
- ^ Chrysler Corporation Master Technician Service Conference book "New Model Service Highlights '89" page 4: "Spirit and Acclaim are the new midsize sedans, replacing 600 and Caravelle." Available at Detroit Public Library
- ^ Standard Catalog of Chrysler 1924-1990 by John Lee First Edition, MCMXC Krause Publications, Iola, WI. ISBN 0-87341-142-0 page 338
- ^ Kronology: History of the K-car, http://www.allpar.com/eek/k/kron.html
- ^ Consumer Guide http://auto.consumerguide.com/Auto/Used/reviews/full/index.cfm/id/2029/Act/UsedCarReviewShowAll/
- ^ Chrysler FWD wheel nomenclature
- ^ Canadian vehicle importation regulations
- ^ US vehicle importation regulations
- ^ a b Mexican Chrysler Spirit information
External links
