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| 2004
DODGE LINE-UP | |
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| DODGE
CARS |
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 One
outrageous roadster, the exotic Viper
SRT-10 packing a huge V10 tuned to 500
hp, sets the pace for all cars badged
by the Dodge Division of DaimlerChrysler,
but there's so much more in the 2004
class.
Spunky
Neon spins off a new turbo-charged performance
sedan, sized in the compact class and
rigged with street-legal mechanical
gear to run in the fast lane. It's so
strong that in Dodge's fleet the zero-to-60
time for SRT-4 is topped only by Viper.
These performance-tuned Dodges use the
tag of SRT, meaning "Street and
Racing Technology," as developed
by Chrysler Group's Performance Vehicle
Operations (PVO).
The
Intrepid flagship sedan, representing
Dodge's NASCAR Winston Cup race car,
packs a powerful 3.5-liter high-output
V6 engine with spoiler on the tail and
16-inch chrome wheels on pavement under
a value-priced badge of Intrepid SXT.
Dodge's midsize Stratus sedan, flashing
bold new up-front styling, appears in
four different trims with suspension
tuning varied for each and new optional
features available like radio controls
pegged on the steering wheel and a traction
control system. Stratus - the slinky
sports coupe - shows off some sensuous
sheetmetal and offers a V6 charged with
200 hp plus a five-speed manual shifter.
And
Neon the compact-class sedan continues
with three trims as the price-leader
SE, value-packaged SXT and a sporty
R/T edition with a high-output Magnum
four-pack tied to a five-speed manual
transaxle.
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| Dodge
Viper SRT-10 |
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A new design for the Viper roadster
emerged last year to beat all contenders,
thanks to that V10 powertrain that pushes
the power curve up to 500 hp plus more
than 500 lb-ft of torque. All of the
torque, directed to Viper's 19-inch
rear wheels, enables the roadster to
romp from zero to 60 mph in less than
four seconds, with its top speed climbing
to 190 mph.
A
heavy-duty six-speed manual transmission
is standard, along with aluminum components
for the four-wheel independent suspension
plus huge disc brakes tied to a four-wheel
anti-lock brake system (ABS). The exterior
form resembles the predecessor roadster
yet Viper's long hood slinks lower and
there are swept-back fenders on-board
with deep-cut scallops on the flanks.
For
2004 editions, bold red brake calipers
become standard issue along with a folding
tonneau cover, and there's a new body
color available in Viper White. A race-ready
version also emerges as the Viper Competition
Coupe. It has a coupe-shaped body in
carbon fiber and Kevlar and a track-ready
chassis derived from the SRT-10.
Filled with racing gear - a roll cage,
window net, six-point restraints, fire-suppression
system and racing slicks, the Competition
Coupe is eligible to compete in the
Viper Racing League, Grand Am Rolex
Series and SCCA Speed World Challenge.
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| Dodge
SRT-4 |
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Dodge's
new SRT-4 performance sedan, sized in
the compact class and fitted with street-legal
mechanical gear to run fast and furious,
has a turbo-charger and inter-cooler
attached to a dual-cam 2.4-liter four-in-line
tuned for high output with a large-hole
throttle body and high-flow intake manifold.
It's rated up to 230 hp and comes with
a heavy-duty five-speed manual shifter
and high-capacity clutch. Stopwatch
times for a romp from zero to 60 in
SRT-4 easily clip below six seconds.
Now
tie the car's performance figures to
some competitive price points and you
end up with the swiftest production
car in the American market priced below
$20,000. Think of it as a factory-sanctioned
and affordable route into the world
of street racers customized off compact-class
front-wheel-drive (FWD) sedans.
Aggressive
styling at the prow reflects cues of
street performance machines with a deep
fascia etched with multiple air intake
ports and cross-hair grille plus a horizontal
port carved into the shapely hood. At
the tail a tall basket-handle spoiler
flies off the deck and works at speed
to exert force on rear wheels and pin
them to the pavement.
The
cockpit has the look of a customized
car. Front seats, patterned after a
wrap-around design for buckets in the
SRT-10 Viper, contain reinforcements
in lateral and lumbar segments to support
the torso when this car runs through
a wiggly chute. Gauges with silver rims
reflect easy-to-read silver faces, and
similar satin metal trim on the door
handles and the center stack with rotary
knobs for climate control.
The
theme continues in the foot well with
all three pedals made of cast aluminum
with dimple surfaces, while the short-throw
stick extending off the console has
a cue ball shift knob also in satin
silver.
Read
our Review: Dodge
Neon SRT4 |
| Dodge
Neon |
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Dodge's
compact sedan shows up in 2004 trimmed
as three different versions, a base
SE, value-packaged SXT and sporty R/T.
Neon
SE uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine
with manual or optional automatic transaxle,
14-inch wheel covers and an audio kit
with cassette deck and four speakers.
The SXT adds power to drive the mirrors
and front windows, air conditioning,
a CD player and six speakers, remote
keyless entry and 15-inch aluminum wheels
clad with touring tires.
Options
for SXT include a sport appearance group
with tail spoiler, special aluminum
wheels, foglamps and a body-colored
instrument panel, or stand-alone items
like chrome wheels, a sunroof, six-disc
CD changer and four-wheel disc brakes
with ABS. The Neon R/T sport trim adds
a high-output 2.0-liter Magnum engine,
five-speed manual shifter and twin exhaust
piles, plus 16-inch aluminum wheels,
a tail spoiler and four-wheel disc brakes
with ABS. Latest paint chip choice for
Neon is Midnight Blue. |
| Dodge
Stratus Coupe |
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The graceful arched profile and exaggerated
slant to the windshield for Dodge's
midsize coupe shows styling concepts
lifted from Intrepid, but the prow with
body-colored grille in cross-hair pattern
comes directly off the Viper.
Engines
define the personality of Stratus the
coupe. A 2.4-liter in-line-four plant
for Stratus SXT makes 147 hp with a
manual transmission, or 142 hp with
an automatic. More muscle comes from
Stratus R/T with the 3.0-liter V6 dispensing
200 hp and keyed to a five-speed manual
or the automatic with AutoStick option.
New
paint choices for 2004 include shades
like Light Blue Pearl Coat, Indy Red
and Ice Silver Pearl Coat. |
| Dodge
Stratus Sedan |
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Stratus
as a four-door sedan stretches long
and wide over a taut package with fluid
lines patterned after the coupe, but
it shows revised front-end styling with
the 2004 editions plus fresh appointments
in the five-seat cabin.
A
total of four trims continue with powertrain
choices of a thrifty four-cylinder or
spirited V6. Stratus SE, the base edition,
has a four-cylinder engine tied to a
four-speed automatic transaxle. The
2.4-liter plant with dual overhead cams
musters 150 hp. Stratus SXT, also using
the four-cylinder plant, rolls on 16-inch
painted aluminum wheels with standard
equipment aboard like power door locks
and power windows, a premium audio package
with CD deck and remote keyless entry.
Stratus
ES, the luxury version, carries a 2.7-liter
dual-cam V6 scored to 200 hp. The R/T
edition denotes a tilt toward performance
in a sport-tuned version with firmer
suspension. It gets the Stratus ES V6
but comes with larger 17-inch aluminum
wheels and tires plus a monochromatic
grille. |
| Dodge
Intrepid |
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Three
models mark the full-size Dodge sedan
in 2004 - entry-issue SE, sport-tuned
SXT and deluxe ES. Each draws from a
different powerplant. Intrepid SE contains
the base engine, a 2.7-liter V6 out
of an aluminum block with multi-valve
technology inside and twin cams on top,
along with 200 hp.
Intrepid
ES also uses the 2.7-liter V6 as standard
equipment, but offers as an option a
3.5-liter single-cam V6 that generates
232 hp and operates on regular-grade
fuel. SXT increases the power quotient
by packing aboard a high-output 3.5-liter
V6 rated this year at 250 hp, along
with the Dodge AutoStick dual-mode automatic
shifter.
Four-wheel
disc brakes and frontal air bags go
into all versions, with side-impact
air bags and a traction control system
(TCS) available. |
[MORE
INFORMATION FROM DODGE]
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