Editing Dodge (section)

=== 1981–1990 ===
[[File:Dodge Aries sedan.jpg|thumb|1981–1982 [[Dodge Aries]] Special Edition]]

The first fruit of Chrysler's crash development program was the "[[Chrysler K platform|K-Car]]", the Dodge version of which was the [[Dodge Aries]]. This basic and durable [[front-wheel drive]] platform spawned a whole range of new models at Dodge during the 1980s, including the groundbreaking [[Dodge Caravan]]. [[Lee Iacocca]] and Hal Sperlich developed their idea for this type of vehicle during their tenure at Ford Motor Company. [[Henry Ford II]] rejected the idea (and a prototype) of a minivan in 1974. Iacocca followed Sperlich to Chrysler, and together they created what was internally designated the T-115 minivan – a prototype that was to become the Caravan and Voyager, known in initial marketing as the Magic-wagons.<ref name="allpar.com">{{cite web|url= https://www.allpar.com/threads/creating-the-plymouth-dodge-and-chrysler-minivan-the-caravan-voyager-development-story.228813/#post-1085222911 |title=A Brief History of the Chrysler Minivan |first=David |last=Zatz |work=Allpar |date=November 16, 2020 |access-date=December 24, 2022}}</ref> Chrysler introduced the Dodge Caravan and the Plymouth Voyager in November 1983 for the 1984 model year, using the [[Chrysler S platform]], an extended derivative of the [[Chrysler K platform]]. The Caravan not only helped save Chrysler as a serious high-volume American automaker, but also spawned an entirely new market segment that supplanted the role of the station wagon: the [[minivan]].

By 1981, Chrysler was switching to smaller [[front-wheel drive]] designs. However, its older and larger rear-wheel drive Dodge Diplomat (as well as the Chrysler LeBaron and Fifth Avenue) continued to sell. Diplomats built from mid-1988 until the end of production were among the first Chrysler-built products to have a driver's side [[airbag]] as standard equipment, some two model years before the remainder of Chrysler's lineup (they were also among the only cars at the time to offer a tilt steering column with an airbag). As the 1980s progressed, fewer private customers purchased the Diplomat, and the M-body was eventually dropped during the 1989 model year. Although sales were strong, Chrysler CEO [[Lee Iacocca]] held a low opinion of the M-body line as a relic of the pre-K car era and declined to invest any money in them. 
Dodge would not market another truly full-size car (at least based upon [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) passenger volume statistics) until the [[Dodge Monaco#Fifth generation (1989-92)|Monaco]] debuted as a 1990 model.

[[File:1989 Dodge Aries K coupe.jpg|thumb|1985–1989 Dodge Aries coupe]]

The Daytona originally used the 2.2&nbsp;L [[Chrysler K engine]] in [[normally aspirated]] (93&nbsp;hp) or [[Turbocharger|turbocharged]] (142&nbsp;hp) form. The 100 [[horsepower|hp]] 2.5&nbsp;L K engine was added for 1986. In 1985, the 2.2&nbsp;L Turbo I engine's horsepower was increased to {{convert|146|hp|abbr=on}}. 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 [[Car and Driver 10Best#1984|10Best]] list for 1984. Both the Daytona and Chrysler Laser were available with the Chrysler [[electronic voice alert]] system through 1987. A performance-oriented "[[Carroll Shelby|Shelby]]" version of the Daytona was introduced in 1987. For 1987, the Daytona was restyled externally and featured pop-up headlights. New in 1987 was a ''Shelby Z'' trim level with an available Chrysler developed Turbo II ({{convert|174|hp|kW|abbr=on}} – {{convert|200|lbft|Nm|0|abbr=on}}) intercooled version of the 2.2&nbsp;L [[Chrysler K engine]], as well as a heavy-duty A555 transaxle with [[Getrag]] gears. The Shelby Z also featured numerous suspension upgrades, including a larger diameter front sway bar and disc brakes on all four wheels. This version was sold in Europe under the name ''Chrysler GS Turbo II''. A more luxury-oriented ''Pacifica'' trim line was also added to replace the Chrysler Laser, which was dropped in mid-year 1986. Among the optional equipment included a leather interior, an eight-way power enthusiast driver's seat (with mechanical thigh and lumbar controls), a digital instrument cluster, and a 12-button trip computer (with instant fuel ratings as well as trip averages and estimated travel times).

[[File:87-91 Dodge Daytona.jpg|thumb|1987–1991 [[Dodge Daytona]]]]
[[File:Daytonashelbyz.jpg|thumb|1987 Dodge Daytona Shelby Z]]

The Dodge Dynasty is related to the [[Chrysler New Yorker]] as both car lines were built on the [[Chrysler C platform]] in [[Belvidere, Illinois]]. Dynasty trim levels included base and LE. Additionally, a "Brougham" package was offered on 1992–93 LE models that added a padded "landau" [[vinyl roof]]. When the new front-wheel-drive Chrysler Corporation C-body cars (Dynasty and New Yorker) debuted for the 1988 model year, they were the first mass-produced cars in the world to have a fully multiplexed, fiber-optic wiring buss connecting all electronic accessories and controllers. The new electronically controlled four-speed [[automatic transmission]], known as the Ultradrive or A604 ([[List of Chrysler transmissions]]), debuted in 1989, and became the sole transmission for V6 models through the 1993 final production year of the Dynasty. The vast majority of Dynasties sold to private customers had V6 engines; four-cylinder models mostly went to the fleet market.

Through the late 1980s and 1990s, Dodge's designation as the sporty-car division was backed by a succession of high-performance and/or aggressively styled models including the:
*[[Dodge Daytona|Daytona]]
*[[Dodge 600|600]] 
*Performance variants of the [[Dodge Lancer|Lancer]]
*[[Dodge Viper|Viper]]