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1998 Dodge Dakota R/T Named 'Sport Truck of the Year'

8 January 1998

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 8 -- 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.
    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.

SOURCE  Chrysler Corporation