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| Dodge Intrepid | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Dodge Division ofChrysler Corporation (1992–1998) DaimlerChrysler (1998–2004) |
| Also called | Chrysler Intrepid (Canada) |
| Production | 1992–2003 |
| Model years | 1993–2004 |
| Assembly | Brampton Assembly inBrampton,Ontario,Canada Newark Assembly inNewark, Delaware, U.S. |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size car |
| Body style | 4-doorsedan |
| Layout | Longitudinal front-engine, front-wheel drive |
| Platform | Chrysler LH platform |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Dodge Monaco (United States) Dodge Dynasty |
| Successor | Dodge Charger (2005) Chrysler 300 (Canada) |
TheDodge Intrepid is afull-sizedfront-wheel drive four-doorsedan that was produced by Dodge for the 1993 to 2004 model years. It is related to theChrysler 300M,Chrysler Concorde,Chrysler LHS,Chrysler New Yorker, andEagle Vision which were all built on Chrysler's new "cab forward"LHplatform.
The Intrepid was sold inCanada as theChrysler Intrepid. In theUnited States, it replaced theDodge Monaco as Dodge's largest passenger car. With Dodge's introduction toMexico during that time, it was badged as a Dodge, replacing theDynasty which had been sold there under theChrysler brand.
The Intrepid's design goes back to 1986, when designer Kevin Verduyn completed the initial exterior design of a new aerodynamic concept sedan called Navajo. The design never passed the clay model stage. It was also at this time that the Chrysler Corporation purchased bankruptItaliansports car manufacturerLamborghini. The Navajo's exterior design was reworked and became theLamborghini Portofino, released as a concept at the 1987Frankfurt Auto Show. The Portofino was heralded as a design triumph, setting in motion Chrysler's decision to produce a production sedan with the Portofino's revolutionary exterior design, called "cab forward". Thecab forward design was characterized by the long, low slung windshield, and relatively short overhangs. The wheels were effectively pushed to the corners of the car, creating a much larger passenger cabin than the contemporaries of the time.
Design of the chassis began in the late 1980s, after Chrysler had boughtAmerican Motors Corporation (AMC) in 1987. During this time, Chrysler began designing the replacement for the then-new Dodge Dynasty, which was amid-size car. Initial proposals bore resemblance to the Dynasty, but this design approach was scrapped entirely in 1988 byFrançois Castaing, the former AMC Vice President of product engineering and development.[1] As AMC was purchased by Chrysler, Castaing became new Vice President for Vehicle Engineering for the new company. The acquiring automaker was in desperate need of replicating the AMC and Renault corporate culture where work was conducted in an atmosphere "of constant change".[1] Castaing organized Chrysler's departments into AMC-style cross-function teams, as well as incorporated the use of simultaneous engineering.[2] Moreover, the new vehicle's design, under Castaing's leadership, began with theEagle Premier platform.
The Premier's longitudinal engine mounting layout was inherited, as was the front suspension geometry, and parts of the braking system. The chassis itself became a flexible architecture capable of supporting front orrear-wheel drive (designated "LH" and "LX" respectively). The chassis design was continually refined throughout the following years, as it underpinned more Chrysler prototypes: the 1989 Chrysler Millennium and 1990Eagle Optima.The transmission was inspired by the Premier's Audi and ZF automatics. Borrowing heavily from Chrysler's A604 (41TE) "Ultradrive" transversely mounted automatic, it became the A606 (also known as 42LE).The initial standard 3.3 LpushrodV6 engine was joined in 1990 with a 3.5 LSOHC engine with four valves per cylinder. For the second generation Intrepid R/T the block was recast in aluminum as part of a comprehensive upgrade.
| First generation | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Production | June 1992–August 1997 |
| Assembly | Brampton Assembly,Brampton,Canada Newark Assembly,Newark, Delaware, U.S. |
| Designer | Kevin Verduyn (1988) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Related | Chrysler LHS Chrysler Concorde Chrysler New Yorker Eagle Vision |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 3.3 LEGAV6 3.5 LEGE V6 |
| Transmission | 4-speed42LEautomatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 113 in (2,870 mm) |
| Length | 1993–94: 201.7 in (5,123 mm) 1995–97: 201.8 in (5,126 mm) |
| Width | 74.4 in (1,890 mm) |
| Height | 56.3 in (1,430 mm) |
| Curb weight | 3,318 lb (1,505 kg) |
The first generation of LH cars debuted at the1992 North American International Auto Show inDetroit as three 1993 models: the Chrysler Concorde, Dodge Intrepid (badged as a Chrysler in Canada), and the Eagle Vision (also badged as a Chrysler in Europe).
The Intrepid was available in two trim levels: base and the sportier, better-equipped ES, which added four-wheel disc brakes, 16" wheels with better tires, and stiffer "touring" suspension damping. All Intrepids received driver and front passenger airbags, a rarity at the time, as well as air conditioning and the four-speed automatic transmission. Anti-lock brakes were optional, as was traction control and the more powerful 3.5 L SOHC engine rated at (214 hp).
The Intrepid's launch marked a new image for the Dodge brand, which began to market itself as "The New Dodge" with a marketing campaign featuring actorEdward Herrmann, who would go on to serve as the brand's spokesperson for the rest of the decade.
Changes were few over the Intrepid's initial five-year production. A new variable-assist power steering rack replaced the original for 1994, allowing for easier parking while maintaining a firmer feel at speed. The touring suspension tuning was also made standard equipment in the base model this year.Anti-lock brakes were made standard in the ES in 1995, and in 1996 a new manual shift function for theautomatic transmission, calledAutostick, was inherited from the Eagle Vision TSi: the first transmission of its kind available in a mainstream car. In addition, Chrysler updated the Dodge Intrepid for the 1995 model year, adding the previous Dodge Ram logo, which was used from 1994 to 2009. Each exterior treatment uses a hoodline and chrome accenteddaytime running lights with body colored accents. The Intrepid was often compared with theChevrolet Lumina andFord Taurus, and to a lesser extent, theToyota Camry,Nissan Maxima, andHonda Accord.[3]
Intrepids were built atAmerican Motors'Brampton Assembly facility, originally established to manufacture theEagle Premier, inBrampton,Ontario, Canada; and at the Chrysler plant at Newark, Delaware.[4]
Production Figures:
| Yearly Total | |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 70,046 |
| 1994 | 128,190 |
| 1995 | 150,474 |
| 1996 | 145,167 |
| 1997 | 151,404 |
| Total | 645,281 |
| Second generation | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Production | September 1997 – August 30, 2003 |
| Assembly | Brampton Assembly in Brampton, Ontario,Canada |
| Designer | Bob Boniface (1993, 1994) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Related | Chrysler LHS Chrysler 300M Chrysler Concorde |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2.7 LEERV6 3.2 LEGWV6 3.5 LEGJ V6 3.5 LEGG V6 |
| Transmission | 4-speed42LEautomatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 113 in (2,870.2 mm) |
| Length | 203.7 in (5,174 mm) |
| Width | 2000–01: 74.6 in (1,895 mm) 1998–99 & 2002–04: 74.7 in (1,897 mm) |
| Height | 55.9 in (1,420 mm) |
| Curb weight | 3,422 lb (1,552 kg) |
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The LH cars were redesigned for the 1998 model year, with the Intrepid being designed by Robert Boniface and taking 31 months from design freeze to commencement. The engines were replaced by two new all-aluminum units: aDOHC 2.7 L ( 2736 cc), 200 hp (150 kW) V6 for base models, and aSOHC 3.2 L (3231 cc), 225 hp (168 kW) V6 for the ES. A new, top-of-the-line R/T model was added in 1999, the centerpiece of which was a redesigned version of the 3.5 L (3518 cc) V6, now producing 242 hp (180 kW) and 234 hp (174 kW) for the ES. At the same time the 3.2 L was reduced to an option in the ES. The Intrepid was completely redesigned for the 1998 model year, arriving in showrooms during late 1997. Body shells were designed to be stronger and stiffer, as well as incorporating double-shear suspension mounts and integrated side impact protection.
The second generation was marketed to the commercial and government markets, particularly the base (1998-2000) and SE (2001-2004) trim levels. An Intrepid Police Package was sold from 2002 to 2004,[6][7] similar to the earlier rear-wheel driveChevrolet Caprice orFord Crown Victoria. These packages had distinctive styling differences (such as small hub caps) and additional wiring to support strobes and flashers in the trunk compartment and in the front by the grill. The 3.5 V6 found in the R/T & SXT was standard in the police package. These packages and some non-police (non-commercial) packages featured plastic front-end intake vents that routed air onto the rotors for additional cooling and stopping power.
In 2001, the Intrepid made its debut on theNASCAR circuit, signifying the return of Dodge to NASCAR competition after a 16-year hiatus. Drivers in the initial Dodge campaign includedBill Elliott,Kasey Kahne,Jason Leffler,Ward Burton,Sterling Marlin,John Andretti,Casey Mears,Jamie McMurray,Buckshot Jones,Kyle Petty,Stacy Compton,Dave Blaney,Jeremy Mayfield, andCasey Atwood. Marlin was the first to win in an Intrepid, giving the Dodge marque its first victory sinceNeil Bonnett's 1977 win atOntario. The Intrepid continued in NASCAR until 2005 when Dodge switched to the Charger.[8]
In the late 1990s, Chrysler used the Intrepid as a research platform for ahybrid electric vehicle in adiesel-electric configuration. Three variations were built, theIntrepid ESX,ESX II, andESX III. The first vehicle was built in a series hybrid configuration, while the next two were considered mild hybrids. These were attempted in the time frame of 1997 to 1998.
The ESX design team set a high goal of making the vehicle capable of sippinggasoline at the rate of 80 miles per US gallon (2.9 L/100 km; 96 mpg‑imp), but the eventual vehicle only achieved an estimated 55 miles per US gallon (4.3 L/100 km; 66 mpg‑imp). The figure was impressive for such a vehicle. However, the car used a number of exotic materials, which made the cost excessive if it were ever to go into full-scale production. It was estimated that the car would cost $80,000, or roughly $60,000 more than a regular Intrepid. Part of this price increase was caused by the use oflead-acid batteries.
The ESX II team set a somewhat more modest goal of 70 miles per US gallon (3.4 L/100 km; 84 mpg‑imp). The vehicle was made much lighter than normal by using analuminum frame andcarbon fibercomposite material. This version only cost around $37,000, or about $15,000 more than a standard Intrepid. This version usednickel metal hydride batteries.
The third vehicle, the ESX III, had a target mileage of 72 miles per US gallon (3.3 L/100 km; 86 mpg‑imp). It used less expensive materials, such asinjection-moldedthermoplastic instead of carbon fiber. The estimated cost was only about $7,500 more than a standard vehicle, which would give a total somewhere around $30,000. The ESX III usedlithium ion batteries.
The Intrepid and Concorde were onCar and Driver magazine'sTen Best list for 1993 and 1994. The second-generation Intrepid again made the list for 1998 and 1999. Both generations won Consumer Guide's "Best Buy" award.
Some second-generation 2.7 L V6 engines have suffered from failures due tooil sludge contamination.[10][11] In February 2009, five separate class action lawsuits related to the alleged oil sludge defect were consolidated to the District of New Jersey.[12] These problems happen when fine engine oil passages become clogged with sludge, and often result in catastrophic failure of the engine. An unknown number of Intrepid owners have been affected. Fixes include changing to synthetic oil, inspection, and even engine replacement. During the Chrysler bankruptcy proceedings, there was concern among consumer advocate groups that Chrysler's proposed "free and clear" sale of assets to "New Chrysler" would allow the automaker to avoid liability for the oil sludge defect.[13]
In 1993, Newark started making the first Dodge Intrepid
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Statement ofClarence M. Ditlow On Auto Industry Bankruptcies Before the House Judiciary Committee , May 21, 2009
