General Introduction

Making its debut in 1993, the Dodge Intrepid was one of the original cab-forward LH cars marking the start of the rebirth for Chrysler—a resurgence that has carried on to this day.
An over-alls modification was done on the Dodge Intrepid in 1998 and the second generation car then possessed a more aggressive approach.

Design

The design of the Dodge Intrepid can be traced to designer Kevin Verduyn's initial exterior design of an aerodynamic concept sedan called the Navajo in 1986. The design, which was thought at first to not go past its clay model stage, was brought into fruition when Chrysler Corporation purchased the bankrupt Italian sports car manufacturer Lamborghini. It was then that the Navajo was reworked and became the Lamborghini Portofino, which was heralded as a design triumph in the 1987 Frankfurt Auto Show. This set the motion for Chrysler to produce a sedan with the Portofino's revolutionary design called the “cab-forward”.

Long, low-slung windshield and relatively short overhangs characterized the cab forward design. The wheels were pushed to the corners of the car, which resulted to creating a much larger passenger cabin than its contemporaries at the time. Just like most passenger cars, the Dodge Intrepid is designed mainly for sporty sedan users. It is spacious making it easy to seat five adults comfortably. The 2004 Dodge Intrepid SXT is loaded with innovative features and priced below $24,500.

Engine

The Dodge Intrepid is also known for its powerful engine and nimble handling. In 1990, it was decided to upgrade the car's engine from the old 3.3L pushrod V6. The 3.3L engine's 60° block was bored out to 3.5 liters. The pushrod-actuated valves were replaced with SOHC cylinder heads with four valves per cylinder, creating a more advanced 3.5L V6.

For the second generation Intrepid R/T, the block was recast in aluminum as part of a comprehensive upgrade. The engines were replaced by two new all-aluminum units, a DOHC 2.7L, 200hp V6 for base models and a SOHC 3.2L, 225hp V6 for the ES. A new, state of the art R/T model was added in 2000, its centerpiece, a redesigned version of the 3.5L V6, now producing 242hp. The 3.2L was reduced to an option in the ES.

Some of the 2.7L V6 engines suffered from failures due to oil sludge contamination or the clogging of fine engine oil passages with sludge. This often does not result in failure of the engine. Changing to synthetic oil, inspection, and even engine replacement could fix this problem. Because of this, the base model continued to use the ordinary four-speed automatic, while the ES featured AutoStick as standard equipment.

Winning Performance

Despite problems met by the Intrepid's engine, in 2001, the Intrepid debuted on the NASCAR circuit making it Chrysler's return to the competition and even to the winner's circle, after a 16-year hiatus. It also returned to the hot pursuits scene in 2002 after a 12-year hiatus with its high performance Dodge Intrepid police car package.

Intrepid SXT is powered by the 3.5-liter V6 engines of SOHC Magnum make that offers nothing else but a 250 horsepower that is the most superb among all other classes, with an rpm of 6400 and a torque of 250 lb-ft at an rpm of 3900.

Special Features

Aside from its standard chrome wheels of 16 inches, a touring tires for all seasons with specifications of 225/60 R16, an independent touring suspension at the rear and at the front, bright exhaust tip, and a decklid spoiler, the Dodge Intrepid SXT also features a premium AM/FM stereo/CD radio with six speakers and 120-watt amplifier. It has a leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift knob, 60/40 split folding rear seat and an eight-way power driver seat.

For Ultimate Safety

This Dodge Intrepid offers a full complement of safety and security features. This includes next-generation driver and front passenger air bags and four-wheel disc brakes for maximum impact protection. A child seat anchor system is also installed in the rear as well as an internal emergency trunk release.

Acclaim

In 1993 and 1994, the Intrepid and Concorde were on the Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best Cars list. The second-generation Intrepid made the last again in 1998 and 1999.