October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsClean PCRecommendedOne scan can reveal what keeps slowing WindowsLook for cleanup and repair opportunities.Run ScanOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
CarCodyAdvertise
Service recordThe Garage

Was the 1987 Dodge Intrepid Concept a Mid-Engine Mitsubishi 3000GT?

The 1987 Dodge Intrepid concept reportedly paired a mid-mounted turbo four with a five-speed manual. Its link to the 3000GT is best understood as styling influence, not mechanical identity.
Entry811 Date Time3 min MechanicCarCody Team

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Only in a limited sense: the 1987 Dodge Intrepid concept was a reported mid-engine sports-car study whose styling influenced the later Mitsubishi 3000GT. The available history does not establish that it was a disguised 3000GT, shared that car’s platform, or simply moved its engine behind the seats. This is the concept coupe—not the unrelated 1993–2004 Dodge Intrepid sedan.

What was the 1987 Dodge Intrepid concept?

The Intrepid concept debuted at the 1987 Detroit Auto Show as a mid-engine coupe. Motor1 reports that it used a mid-mounted, turbocharged 2.2-liter Turbo III four-cylinder with a Lotus-designed 16-valve head, a five-speed manual transmission, and 225 horsepower. Those are reported concept specifications, not results from a production car or an instrumented performance test. Motor1’s account describes the car and its hardware.

That mid-engine layout is the striking part of the story: it makes the concept look, at first glance, like an early version of the later Mitsubishi-Dodge sports-car program. But the mechanical details point to a different car, not a 3000GT with its engine relocated.

How did the concept relate to the Mitsubishi 3000GT?

The connection supported by the available historical account is chiefly one of styling and corporate context. A history excerpt reproduced by the 3000GT Web Team says the 3000GT’s styling drew influence from the cab-forward forms of the Dodge Intrepid prototype and Mitsubishi’s HSR-II. It also describes Mitsubishi and Chrysler as collaborators on the sports-car program; Mitsubishi’s 3000GT was sold through Dodge dealers in the United States as the Stealth.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Hot Wheels Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4, Car Culture Modern Classics 5/5
  • Car Culture Modern Classics 5/5
  • Made In Thailand

That is meaningful design lineage, but it is not proof of shared chassis, components, or prototype identity. The evidence supports calling the Intrepid concept a styling influence or forerunner in the 3000GT story—not a disguised 3000GT.

How different were their powertrains?

The reported concept hardware differs substantially from the GTO/3000GT Twin Turbo configuration described in the period handbook excerpt reproduced in the 3000GT history. The latter had a transverse 3.0-liter twin-turbo DOHC V6, a five-speed Getrag manual, and full-time four-wheel drive. The excerpt gives 280 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 42.5 kg-m of torque at 2,500 rpm. Those figures belong to that handbook’s stated configuration; they should not be generalized to every market or version of the 3000GT.

Rank #2
Fast & Furious 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse 1:24 Diecast Model Car, Toy for Kids and Adults, Collectible Vehicles and Game
  • CRAFTSMANSHIP IN PRECISION This 1:24 scale Mitsubishi Eclipse features a stunning die-cast housing engineered with experience to capture every curve and detail from its legendary appearance in Fast & Furious.
  • Rich details - With premium features such as detailed internal accents and carefully crafted engine components, this die-cast model is perfect for display or imaginative play.
  • Icon of pop culture - Celebrate the fusion of speed and style with this Mitsubishi Eclipse that embodies everything fans love about the series.
  • PERFECT FOR DISPLAY OR PLAY At 1:24 scale, it's ideal for collectors and kids aged 8 and up, with working wheels for interactive fun.
  • Jada Toy experience - Jada Toys is your reliable source for high-quality collectibles that are passionate about selecting items that awaken enthusiasm and bring your favourite pop culture moments to life.
Comparison 1987 Dodge Intrepid concept Mitsubishi GTO / 3000GT Twin Turbo
Engine location and orientation Mid-engine; orientation not stated in Motor1’s report. Transverse-mounted V6, according to the period handbook excerpt reproduced by the 3000GT Web Team.
Engine Reported 2.2-liter turbocharged Turbo III four-cylinder with Lotus-designed 16-valve head. 3.0-liter DOHC twin-turbo V6, according to the period handbook excerpt.
Transmission Reported five-speed manual. Five-speed Getrag manual, according to the period handbook excerpt.
Driven wheels Not stated in the cited concept report. Full-time four-wheel drive, according to the period handbook excerpt.
Reported output 225 horsepower, as reported for the concept by Motor1. 280 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 42.5 kg-m torque at 2,500 rpm, as stated in the period handbook excerpt.
What the sources establish about their relationship Styling influence is reported; shared platform or mechanical identity is not established. Part of a Mitsubishi-Chrysler sports-car program; sold through Dodge as the Stealth.

Mitsubishi’s official history separately highlights the production 3000GT/GTO’s full-time AWD, four-wheel steering, electronically controlled suspension, and active aerodynamics. That summary describes the production car’s technology; it does not document the Intrepid concept’s development.

Why the name can cause confusion

The later production Dodge Intrepid was a full-size, four-door, front-wheel-drive sedan associated with Chrysler’s LH platform and sold for the 1993–2004 model years, according to the Crittenden Automotive Library. It was categorically different from the 1987 mid-engine coupe concept. Specs and history for the sedan should not be applied to the concept, or vice versa.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
Jada Toys Fast & Furious 1:32 Brian's 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo Die-cast Car, Toys for Kids and Adults
  • Authentically licensed product from the Fast & Furious Saga.
  • As seen in 2 Fast 2 Furious, Brian's 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo has been taken directly from the big screen and brought to you in a 1:32 scale die - cast model
  • Crafted from durable materials such as 100% die - cast metal and premium rubber tires.
  • Our superior casting method allows us to capture the feature rich details of the Brian's 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer, regardless of size!
  • This premium die - cast model is a must have for any Fast & Furious collection
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What can be said confidently—and what cannot

  • Established in the cited accounts: the concept was a mid-engine coupe, and Motor1 reports a 2.2-liter turbo four, five-speed manual, and 225 horsepower.
  • Supported as design history: the 3000GT history excerpt identifies the Intrepid prototype as one influence on the 3000GT’s styling, alongside the HSR-II.
  • Not established by these sources: that the concept was a 3000GT prototype, shared its platform, or was mechanically a 3000GT converted to a mid-engine layout.

The precise concept specifications and lineage here come from secondary reporting and a reproduced historical excerpt, rather than an opened Chrysler primary archive. The strongest defensible description is therefore a mid-engine Dodge concept whose styling fed into the later 3000GT design story—not a literal disguised Mitsubishi.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Hot Wheels Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4, Car Culture Modern Classics 5/5
Hot Wheels Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4, Car Culture Modern Classics 5/5
Car Culture Modern Classics 5/5; Made In Thailand
$26.90
Bestseller No. 3
Jada Toys Fast & Furious 1:32 Brian's 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo Die-cast Car, Toys for Kids and Adults
Jada Toys Fast & Furious 1:32 Brian's 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo Die-cast Car, Toys for Kids and Adults
Authentically licensed product from the Fast & Furious Saga.; Crafted from durable materials such as 100% die - cast metal and premium rubber tires.
$14.45
Bestseller No. 4
Tamiya 24213 1/24 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Vi Plastic Model Kit
Tamiya 24213 1/24 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Vi Plastic Model Kit
1/24 Plastic Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI Vehicle
$32.40
Bestseller No. 5
Hot Wheels Premium Car Culture Collectible Toy Car, 1:64 Scale Die-Cast Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution, Terra Trek Vehicle with Real Riders Tires ​​
Hot Wheels Premium Car Culture Collectible Toy Car, 1:64 Scale Die-Cast Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution, Terra Trek Vehicle with Real Riders Tires ​​
Create an elite Hot Wheels collection with a Hot Wheels Premium Car Culture vehicle.; The box art enhances collectability, making each one perfect for play or display.
$7.41
Best Value
Hot Wheels Premium Car Culture Collectible Toy Car, 1:64 Scale Die-Cast Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution, Terra Trek Vehicle with Real Riders Tires ​​
  • Create an elite Hot Wheels collection with a Hot Wheels Premium Car Culture vehicle.
  • Each 1:64 scale die-cast car or truck has premium execution with Real Riders tires and Metal/Metal body and chassis.
  • Different themed mixes are released throughout the year to appeal to collectors and to represent the most on-trend vehicles from around the world.
  • The box art enhances collectability, making each one perfect for play or display.
  • Each Hot Wheels Car Culture vehicle is officially licensed and designed for the true automobile enthusiast.
Rank #4
Tamiya 24213 1/24 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Vi Plastic Model Kit
  • 1/24 Plastic Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI Vehicle

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

More from the Garage

  1. Entry001Date09 OCT 26Time3 minWhich Brake Pad Should You Buy From RockAuto or Elsewhere?Section: Blog
  2. Entry002Date09 OCT 26Time5 minThe Pros and Cons of Touchless Car Wash SystemsSection: Blog
  3. Entry003Date09 OCT 26Time3 minCan a Trickle Charger or Battery Tender Properly Charge a Car Battery?Section: Blog

Thanks for visiting Carcody

Carcody.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.co

Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.