When did Dodge stop making the Stealth?
The Dodge Stealth was discontinued after the 1996 model year.
The Stealth, a badge‑engineered version of Mitsubishi's 3000GT, was Dodge's high‑performance sports car offering in the early 1990s. It launched for the 1991 model year and remained in production through 1996. After 1996, Dodge did not continue the Stealth name or its associated lineup, marking the end of the model's run in the American market. The decision came as Dodge and Mitsubishi shifted priorities and the platform aged, leaving no direct successor in Dodge’s catalog.
Background and Timeline
Overview of how the Stealth entered the market and how long it lingered before production ended.
Timeline overview: Below is a concise timeline of the Stealth’s production years.
- 1991: Dodge introduces the Stealth in the United States as a badge‑engineered version of Mitsubishi's 3000GT, offering multiple trims and a performance‑oriented profile.
- 1992–1994: The Stealth remains in production with incremental updates to styling, equipment, and available drivetrains consistent with the Mitsubishi platform.
- 1995–1996: Final model years for the Stealth; Dodge ceases new Stealth production after the 1996 model year as part of a broader lineup realignment.
In summary, the Stealth lived from 1991 through 1996 in Dodge showrooms, before the badge was retired and not revived in subsequent generations.
Variants and Performance
Summary of the main trims Dodge offered during the Stealth’s run, highlighting the performance spectrum buyers could choose from.
Key trim levels
- Stealth (base): Entry point with the standard feature set of the Mitsubishi‑based platform.
- Stealth ES: A mid‑level variant with added equipment and comfort features.
- Stealth R/T (and Turbo variants): Performance models featuring turbocharged power and, in some years, all‑wheel drive, aligned with the high‑performance spirit of the line.
The Stealth lineup emphasized Dodge’s performance emphasis in the 1990s, leveraging Mitsubishi’s technology to deliver faster acceleration and all‑wheel‑drive options on select years. The model’s discontinuation after 1996 left Dodge without a direct replacement in the sports‑coupe category for many years.
What happened after
Context on why the Stealth ended and what Dodge pursued in the market subsequently.
With the Stealth retired, Dodge redirected focus to other performance offerings within its lineup, including the Viper, which occupied a different market niche. The end of the Stealth reflected shifting consumer tastes, emissions considerations, and the evolving competitive landscape of the mid‑1990s. Since then, there has not been a new Dodge model carrying the Stealth name, and no direct Lincoln‑style revival of this particular badge has occurred.
Summary
The Dodge Stealth’s production concluded after the 1996 model year, ending a brief but notable era that paired Dodge styling with Mitsubishi engineering. From 1991 to 1996, the Stealth offered multiple trims and turbocharged performance, but changes in product strategy and market demand led to its retirement. The name has not been revived since, leaving the Stealth as a distinctive chapter in 1990s Dodge history.
