Used Shelby-modified parts, but were not overseen by Carroll Shelby
What do all these Dodge R/Ts have in common?
The Turbo III — a turbocharged, intercooled 2.2 liter with a Lotus DOHC 16-valve head. Output was 224 hp at 6000 rpm and 217 lb·ft at 2800 rpm. Redline is set at 6500 with a fuel cutoff at 6700.
This engine was used in 1,399 Dodge Spirit R/T and several hundred Dodge and Chrysler Daytona IROC R/T models in the US, Canada, and Europe, plus models including the Chrysler Spirit R/T and Phantom R/T in Mexico.
Cars using the 2.2 TIII engine include:
1991-1992 Dodge Spirit R/T (North America)
1991-1994 Chrysler Spirit R/T (Mexico)
1992-1993 Dodge Daytona IROC R/T (North America, Europe)
1992-1994 Chrysler Phantom R/T (Mexico)
1991-1992 Spirit R/T – U.S.
Base Price: $17,820
1991
In 1991 Dodge released the Spirit R/T based on the Spirit ES Turbo. The car had little Shelby influence other than the engine.
The engine was backed by a heavy-duty A568 5-speed manual transmission; an automatic was not offered. Heavy-duty vented four wheel disc brakes were standard equipment, with optional anti-lock brakes.
The alignment was altered, re-tuned suspension, higher spring rates, tighter shocks, and some steering components were redesigned as well. Four-wheel disc brakes were standard equipment.The 1991 Spirit R/T was available in only two colors — white or flame red.
Badging included “Dodge” and “Spirit R/T” decals on the trunk lid and a subtle “DOHC intercooled multivalve” decal on the front door body side moldings. It also wore a unique front fascia with fog lights and small rear deck spoiler.
Other distinguishing features included body colored trim, color-keyed 15×6 alloy “snowflake” wheels with body colored accents were standard, wrapped in P205/60VR-15 Michelin XGT V4 tires.
The Spirit R/T had full instrumentation, including an oil pressure gauge and voltmeter, as well as well-bolstered sport buckets.
Production: 1,208 were sold in America — 774 in red and 434 in white.
1992
Few changes were made for 1992. Silver was added to the exterior color choices.
A lower first gear ratio to reduce turbo lag, woodgrain dashboard trim as used on the Chrysler LeBaron sedan, blacked out upper and lower grille inserts, clear lenses replaced the amber for the front parking and turn signal lights, a speedometer calibrated to 150 mph (240 km/h) rather than 120 mph (190 km/h), and new five-spoke alloy wheels.
Although this was the last year for the R/T in the U.S. the engine lived on in the Daytona IROC R/T introduced in midyear ’92. In addition, the car would live on as the Chrysler Spirit R/T for two more years in Mexico, where all R/Ts were built.
Production: 191 cars — 92 red, 68 white, and 31 silver
1991-1994 Chrysler Spirit R/T — Mexico
Chrysler de Mexico sold two versions of the Spirit R/T. The top-of-the-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.
1992-1993 Chrysler Phantom — Mexico
The Phantom was the Mexican-market premium sports version of the LeBaron Coupe equipped with the 2.2 L 16-valve DOHC engine and A568 5-speed manual transmission.
The same engine and transmission used on the U.S.-market Spirit R/T.Phantoms were sold with the same options as the Lebarons in the U.S., and sometimes at a higher trim level.