Dodge Dakota R/T
Introduction - AUBURN HILLS, Mich.,
January. 8 1998 -- For the second year in a row, Dodge will drive
away with Sport Truck magazine's "Sport Truck of the Year" award. In
1997, Dakota Sport won the award. This year, the 1998 Dodge Dakota
R/T, unveiled this past Wednesday at the North American
International Auto Show in Detroit, Mich., earns the honors.
Above: Ray
Fisher, General Manager of Chrysler's Dodge Division introduces the
concept "Big Red Truck," (L) and the 1998 Dodge Dakota R/T at the
North American International Auto Show 1/7/1998.
The Dakota R/T is a limited edition "street truck" fashioned off the
Dodge Dakota Pickup. The vehicle features a 250-horsepower 5.9-liter
Magnum V-8 engine, oversized 17-inch wheels, lowered suspension,
performance-tuned dual exhaust and many other performance
enhancements.
In his article, Sport Truck magazine Technical Editor Joel Mollis
writes, "If ever a truck deserved the title Sport Truck of the Year,
the hot-rodded Dodge Dakota R/T is certainly the one. Dodge used a
pretty straight forward concept to produce this year's king of the
hill: Take a truck that's already a stylish looker, stuff a
torque-laden powerplant under its hood, install high-performance
rolling stock, cloak the whole thing in arrest-me-red colorant, and
unleash the beast on an unsuspecting world."
Mollis concluded, "Congratulations, Dodge. You've given the street
truck world a slick, strong-running hauler that has raised the
benchmark against which all future sport trucks must be judged."
"Dodge is thrilled to earn this award two years in a row," said Ray
Fisher, General Manager of the Dodge Division. "It's yet another
highlight for the Dodge truck success story. The 1998 Dodge Dakota
R/T is bold, powerful and capable."
The 1998 Dodge Dakota R/T goes on sale this spring. The suggested
retail price of Dakota R/T Regular Cab, including air conditioning
and destination, is $19,850. Dakota R/T Club Cab, including air
conditioning and destination, is $22,060. The vehicle will be
manufactured at Dodge City Assembly Plant in Warren, Mich.
