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Dodge Spirit
Using an old AMC nameplate, the Dodge Spirit, along with the Plymouth Acclaim and the latest car (among numerous) to use the Chrysler LeBaron name, were all introduced in 1989 to replace the previous Aries, Reliant and LeBaron respectively. They were built on the old K-car platform but were stretched 3 inches. These were more modern and comfortable than the outgoing K-cars they replaced, and offered options such as turbocharged and V6 engines that the previous offerings did not (except the previous LeBaron, which did offer a turbo option). The LeBaron was of course the more upscale of the three, whereas the Acclaim was offered as more of a value-for-the-money model, with the Spirit right in between. This report covers the Spirit, Acclaim and LeBaron except where noted.
Here's a rundown from year to year:
1989
The Spirit was offered in base, LE and ES trim, with the 100 hp 2.5L I4 as the base engine. Optional were the 150 hp turbo 2.5L I4, or the Mitsubishi-built 141 hp 3.0L V6. Transmission choices were a 5-speed manual (available on all engines), a 3-speed automatic on the 4-cylinders and a 4-speed automatic on the V6. A driver's side airbag was standard. Virtually all car magazines and owners alike praised the Spirit for being a much better built and surefoooted car than the Aries ever was, and ended up as a solid contender to the Ford Tempo and Chevrolet Corsica, and even compared favorably with the contemporary Nissan Stanzas and Toyota Corollas of the day.
1990
True to form, Chrysler made no real changes to the Spirit, Acclaim or LeBaron in its second year other than the usual new color choices.
1991
This year proved to be an interesting one for the Spirit. A new model was introduced, the R/T, using a classic Dodge badge from years past. The R/T used a 224 hp DOHC turbo 2.2L I4 engine, had 205/60R15 tires, a mandatory 5-speed manual transmission, and was available only in red or white. Car and Driver magazine pitted a Spirit R/T against a Chevrolet Lumina Z34 and a Ford Taurus SHO in a comparison test, and the Spirit trounced them all in the 0-60 and 1/4 mile tests. Capable of 0-60 in a mere 5.8 seconds (still very respectable even by today's standards), Car and Driver claimed "unless you're piloting a Corvette ZR-1 or a cruise missile, you'd do well to lay low if a Spirit R/T rolls along side you at a stoplight". Only 1208 were sold this year. The R/T packages were not available on the Acclaim or LeBaron. All other Spirit models and drivetrains remained the same as years previous.
1992
The blistering R/T continued for one more year, with silver added to the color option list. How many were sold this year is yet unknown, but it believed to be much less than in 1991. No changes were made to any of the other models.
1993
The R/T was gone, and the Spirit got back to normal again. No changes were made to any of the previous drivetrain choices.
1994
A Flex Fuel Version (FFV) was made available this year on the 2.5L I4, sold mostly on fleet models but a few made their way to the general buying public. There were no other changes to the Spirit, Acclaim or LeBaron in what was to be their final model year. They were superceded by the Dodge Stratus, Chrysler Cirrus in 1995 and the Plymouth Breeze, which would not be introduced until 1996.
1995
The LeBaron name was finally retired for good this year, and the Spirit and Acclaim were available only as fleet models this year (government, rental, etc.) and were not sold to the general public. They were otherwise identical to the 1994 models.
