Dodge Daytona
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- This page is about the 1980s and 1990s Daytona. For information on the Charger Daytona, see this page.
| Dodge Daytona<tr><td colspan=2>Image:Daytonashelby.jpg</tr>
<tr><th>Also called:<td>Chrysler Daytona | |
| Manufacturer: | Chrysler Corporation<tr><th>Production:<td>1984–1993</tr><tr><th>Predecessor:<td>Dodge Challenger</tr><tr><th>Successor:<td>Dodge Avenger</tr><tr><th>Class:<td>Sports car</tr><tr><th>Body style:<td>3-door hatchback</tr><tr><th>Platform:<td>FF G-body</tr><tr><th>Engine:<td>2.2 L K I4 2.2 L Turbo I I4 2.2 L Turbo II I4 2.2 L Turbo III I4 2.2 L Turbo IV I4 2.5 L K I4 2.5 L Turbo I4 3.0 L Mitsubishi 6G72 V6</tr><tr><th>Transmission:<td>5-speed A520 manual 5-speed A523 manual 5-speed A525 manual 5-speed A568 manual 3-speed A413 automatic 4-speed A604 automatic</tr><tr><th>Similar:<td>Chevrolet Camaro Ford Mustang Honda Prelude Toyota Celica</tr> |
|---|---|
The Dodge Daytona was a front-wheel drive hatchback based on the Chrysler G platform, which was derived from the Chrysler K platform. The Daytona was produced from 1984 to 1993, and it had a twin model from 1984 to 1986 called the Chrysler Laser. The Daytona was restyled for 1987, and again for 1992. It replaced the Mitsubishi-based Challenger, and slotted between the Charger and the Conquest. The Daytona was replaced by the 1995 Dodge Avenger, which was built by Mitsubishi Motors. The Daytona derives its name mainly from the Dodge Charger Daytona, which itself was named after the Daytona 500 race in Daytona Beach, Florida.
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[edit] History
The Daytona originally used the 2.2 L Chrysler K engine in normally-aspirated (93 hp) or turbocharged (142 hp) form. The 96 hp 2.5 L K engine was added for 1986. In 1985, the 2.2 Turbo I engine's horsepower was increased to 146 hp.
The 1984 Daytona was available in three trim lines - standard, Turbo and Turbo Z. Total production was 49,347.
The Daytona Turbo was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1984.
Both Daytona and Chrysler Laser were available with the Chrysler Electronic Voice Alert system through 1987.
[edit] Chrysler Laser
The Chrysler Laser was Chrysler's attempt at creating a sporty car for their lineup. The Laser was a virtual clone of the Dodge Daytona. It was produced from 1984 to 1986. The only differences were limited to cosmetics and the use of a digital instrument cluster in the XE trim. The 1984 Laser was available in two trim lines - standard and XE. In mid-1985, the XT trim was added as the top-of-the-line version. The standard, XE and XT trim lines would continue until the Laser's demise in 1986. After 1986, the Daytona was exported to Canada as the Chrysler Daytona when it crossed over to the second generation. The turbo version of the Laser could be recognized by its use of black hood louvers. The 2.2 Turbo I engine was only available in the XE and XT trim lines. In 1987, the Chrysler LeBaron was restyled as a more proper sports car and there was no need for the Laser anymore. However, the Laser's luxury performance image would be carried over into the 1987 Dodge Daytona Pacifica model. Production numbers were as follows:
The Laser was specified to have an estimated 35 miles per gallon highway, 22 EPA estimated miles per gallon city. Chrysler offered a 5 year or 50,000 mile warranty, or a Protection Plan with outer body rust-through protection, based on United States Automobile Club tests.
Mark Cross leather seats and a six-way power options were available as options.
- 1984 - 59,858 (Laser- 33,976/Laser XE- 25,882)
- 1985 - 50,866 (Laser- 29,221/Laser XE- 18,193/Laser XT- 3,452)
- 1986 - 36,672 (Laser- 14,134/Laser XE- 15,549/Laser XT- 6,989)
[edit] 1985
Changes were minimal for the Daytona's second year of production. The Turbo Z model was no longer listed as a package but was now a model in its own right. The wrap-around spoiler, formerly exclusive to the Turbo Z model, was now offered on all three models. But the biggest change was under the hood — the 2.2 Turbo was given more power 146 hp (109 kW), and a new shift linkage was added. Total production was 47,519.
[edit] 1986
There were numerous changes for the final year of the first generation Daytona. The middle "Turbo" model was dropped, leaving just two models — Base and Turbo Z. Engine changes were also made: A new 2.5 L 100 hp (75 kW) 4-cylinder engine was added for the base model. A new targa top package was added to the option list, but just 5,984 Daytona owners chose this option. The biggest addition was the optional C/S (Carroll Shelby) Handling Package. This consisted of 32 mm front and 28 mm rear anti-sway bars, performance tuned struts, and speed rated tires. This package would foreshadow the Daytona Shelbys of 1987 and beyond. Only 7,704 owners added this handling package to their Daytonas. Total production this year would be 44,366.
[edit] 1987
In 1987, the Daytona was restyled externally, and featured pop-up headlights. New in 1987 was a Shelby Z trim level with an available Turbo II (175 hp) intercooled version of the 2.2 L Chrysler K engine, as well as a heavy-duty A555 transaxle with Getrag gears. The Shelby Z also featured numerous suspension upgrades, including larger diameter front and rear sway bars and rear disc brakes. This version was sold in Europe under the name Chrysler GS. Shelbys did not come stock with cruise. A more luxury-oriented Pacifica trim line was also added to replace the Chrysler Laser, which was dropped in 1986. Pacificas had leather interior, 8 way power enthusiast seat, digital dash, 12 button navigator and many other features. In 1990, a 3.0 L SOHC V6 from Mitsubishi was made available, as well as a redesigned interior shared with the Chrysler LeBaron coupe and convertible. In addition, 1990 saw the introduction of a driver's side airbag to the Daytona, in keeping with Chrysler Corporation's decision to install driver side airbags across model lines. 1991 saw the addition of an IROC model with the turbocharged 2.5 L engine, and the 2.2 L engine was dropped.
[edit] 1992-1993
Production was moved from the St. Louis, MO (G) Assembly Plant to the Sterling Heights, MI (W) Assembly Plant. This restyling replaced the pop-up headlights with rounded ones, along with a new grille and rear fascia. Window surround moldings on the doors were also new, and rounder than the sharper angles of moldings on the 1984 to 1991 models. The IROC got the 3.0 L Mitsubishi V6 as its standard engine, and a new IROC R/T version got a 224 hp Turbo III version of the 2.2 L Chrysler K engine. Production of the Daytona ended on March 17, 1993 at the Sterling Heights, Michigan assembly plant, replaced by the 1995 Dodge Avenger.
[edit] In popular culture
- In the 1985 movie Gotcha!, Manolo (Nick Corri) drove a 1984 Garnet Red Turbo Z Daytona.
- In the 1986 movie The Wraith, three Dodge Daytonas are shown: two are street raced and one is parked in Packard Walsh's garage.
[edit] External links
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