If you're a hot rodder, the first thing you do when you see a new engine is count the spark plug wires. To save you the trouble, Prowler has a 3.5 liter high-output SOHC 24-valve aluminum V6 - and for a lot of sound reasons: Packaging of people and roadability being the main ones.

But this free-revving 60-degree design cranks out enough suds (253 horsepower at 6,400 rpm) and yank (255 pound-feet of torque at 3,950 RPM) to get anybody's attention. It has an aluminum block with a forged steel crank bedded in the four main bearings. The heads and pistons are aluminum. It's been dressed-up, and heated-up slightly -- a less restrictive air cleaner, cast stainless steel exhaust manifolds that make tube-type headers look primitive, and EFI linear cam throttle body for surprisingly quick, crisp response, so stay awake.

And keep your eyes on the rev counter -- because when you make use of the AutoStick(r) feature of the four-speed electronically controlled automatic transaxle and forget to upshift, an engine management system shuts down the fuel supply at 6600 RPM. You will notice the transition. You see this is the one automatic we install that doesn't have a mandatory upshift built in. You select a gear in AutoStick(r) mode, you shift it up or down as you desire. For the gearheads, final drive ratio is 3.89; individual gears are: 2.842 1st, 1.573 2nd. 1.000 3rd. and 0.689 (overdrive) 4th.

Exterior:

• Wheelbase - 113"
• Overall Length - 165"
• Overall Width - 76"
• Overall Height - 51"
• Track (f/r) - 62"/63"
• Turning Diameter - 39'

• Head Room - 37"
• Leg Room - 43"
• Shoulder Room - 52"

Engine:

• High-output 3.5L V6
• 24-valve SOHC aluminum block
• Sequental multipoint electronic fuel injection
• 60 degree OHC
• 253 horsepower at 6,400 rpms
• 255 pound-feet of torque at 3,950 rpms

• Dual throttle bodies inductionin '97, special exhaust

• Rear-wheel four-speed fully adaptive, electronically controlled automatic with AutoStick(r)

• 2,838 lb.

• 4-wheel power disc, vented

• Power rack-and-pinion

• Front - Independent upper and lower control arms with pushrods
• Rear - Independent multilink, modified double-wishbone with front and rear stabilizer bars
• Front/Rear - coil-over shock

• P225/45HR17 (front) and P295/40HR20 (rear)
• Goodyear Extended Mobility (EMT) with run-flat capability and low tire pressure sensor

• Cast aluminum (17-inch front, 20-inch rear)

• Air bags, driver-side integral with steering wheel; Passenger-side (with on/off switch)- Located in the instrument panel
• Certified to the new Federal Regulations that allow less forceful air bags. Always use seat belts. Rearward-facing child seats can only be used with passenger air bag turned off.)

• CFC-free refrigerant with outlets located in the instrument panel

• Windshield

• 4-wheel power disc, vented

• Contrasting front and rear

• Center with armrest, cassette storage and cup holder

• Manual, cloth top (Black)

• Remote

• Electric

• Power, auto with time delay Dynamic Side-Impact Protection

• With color-keyed "Prowler" monogram

• 12-gallon capacity

• Body-color

• Composite aerodynamic quad projector beam; Front side markers

• With cluster speedometer, fuel, temp, volts and oil pressure (Tachometer mounted on steering column)

• Dual front courtesy, glove box

• Dual power, body-color

• AM/FM cassette with graphic equalizer and CD changer controls with remote 6-disc changer, amplifier and 7 speakers

• Color-keyed, 3-point Unibelt

• Leather-trimmed low-back bucket seats with halo head restraint and seatback's map pocket Passenger-side only), manual 6-way driver's seat height adjuster

• Leather-wrapped

• Electronic control

• Leather-wrapped wheel with center horn blow, speed control switches and radio control switches

• With tachometer

• Power

• Wet-arm intermittent

The Prowler is Plymouth's tribute to a truly original American art form: the street rod.

Its odyssey from design idea to concept car to production vehicle is our salute to the spirited, creative passions of those who have made such enduring machines, and re-affirmation of why Chrysler Corporation and its employees design, engineer and manufacture great cars and great trucks in the first place.

The following price is the MSRP for the 1999 Prowler:

Prowler Roadster ... $ 40000.00*

*All prices are based upon Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price in U.S. dollars and are subject to change without notice. Price includes destination charge and does not include taxes and title fees. Dealers are independent and are free to set their own pricing. Prices may be higher in AK, CA, MA, CT and NY. See your Dealer for details.

The Prowler is a rolling celebration of new technology and materials. Staying true to its hot-rod roots, however, Prowler's architecture remains body-on-frame, and the top priorities - rigidity, strength yet light in weight - were all met with the use of tommorow's material's technology.

Sections are joined by slip-in Node and Clevis castings which are MIG welded, as are the various brackets and mounts. The robotic welding is so precisely executed that each bead has an almost jewel-like quality to it. Two alloys are used, 6061 and 6063, both in T6 temper (which is well into the hardness and strength end of the aluminum designation scales). These are expensive alloys, but relatively easy to form - and they can be further hardened to near steel equivalency through "heat aging" as well as other ways. The two alloys lend themselves to the creation of "crush" zones, and the wrinkled "dimple" near the front of the frame also collapses under impact. Provisions for the cockpit take up slightly more than the center third of Prowler's frame, assuring passenger room aplenty, and full compliance with federal safety mandates, including dual air bags* and side-impact protection.

*Certified to the new Federal Regulations that allow less forceful air bags. Always use seat belts. Rearward-facing child seats can only be used with passenger air bag turned off.