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Dodge M4S
Dodge M4S
Overview
Manufacturer	Dodge
Also called	Dodge M4S Turbo Interceptor PPG Pace Car
Production	1981-1987; (4 functional units built, 5 non-functional units built)
Assembly	United States: Troy, Michigan
Designer	Bob Ackerman
Body and chassis
Class	Sports coupe
Body style	2-door coupe
Layout	Mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine	2.198-litre (134.1 cu in) Cosworth-headed 16-valve DOHC I4 w/ dual Garrett T25 turbochargers
Power output	440 brake horsepower (450 PS; 330 kW) ; 400 pound-feet (540 N⋅m)
Transmission	Liberty-modified Chrysler five-speed transaxle
Dimensions
Wheelbase	100.3 in (2,548 mm)
Curb weight	~2,550 lb (1,160 kg)

The Dodge M4S is an American prototype high-performance sports coupe originally engineered, designed, and built by Dodge in 1981 as a technology demonstrator vehicle. The designation M4S denotes "Mid-engine, 4-cylinder, Sport“. It was developed in collaboration with PPG Industries in the early 1980s and was used intermittently from 1984 to 1987, including as an Indy 500 pace car.

History

The M4S was penned by then-chief designer of Dodge, Bob Ackerman.^[2] From its conception, the car was intended to be built as a fully engineered running prototype rather than as a display piece. Because it was intended to be used as a pace car, it was designed to reach a top speed of 200 mph (322 km/h). Chrysler designed the body and conducted extensive wind tunnel testing to achieve a drag coefficient of .236.^[3]

Although the car was designed by Chrysler, actual construction of the vehicle was handled by subcontractors. The semi-monocoque race car chassis was ordered from Huffaker Motorsports of California. 3-D Industries of Madison Heights, Michigan modeled the body and created molds. Special Projects, Inc. of Plymouth, Michigan cast the body panels, assembled the body and interior, and gave the car its signature “root beer brown” paint color by painting layers of pearl over a black base coat. Specialized Vehicles, Inc. of Troy, Michigan handled fabrication, final assembly, and maintenance of the completed car.

The M4S had a tested and confirmed top speed of 194.8 mph (313.5 km/h)^[2] and could go from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 4.1 seconds, with more than 440 hp (328 kW) under the hood coming from its relatively small turbocharged 2.2-litre (130 cu in) 4-cylinder engine.^[4]^[5]

The car was made famous by its appearance in The Wraith, a 1986 supernatural film,^[6]^[7] which has since gained it an enthusiast cult following.^[6]^[8]^[9]

A 1982 Dodge M4S Concept was present at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum before its closure.^[7]

References

Florea, Ciprian (February 21, 2021). "The Dodge M4S Is the Mid-Engined Mopar You Never Knew Existed". autoevolution. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
Mehta, Sajeev (July 12, 2023). "This "Dodge M4S" is a Wraith reincarnated". Hagerty. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
Golden, Conner (August 28, 2015). "The Top 10 Most Interesting Vehicles at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum". Motor Trend. Retrieved March 3, 2024. On December 31, 2012, the Walter P. Chrysler Museum closed its doors to the general public [...] Still, Chrysler has preserved the museum and occasionally opens the doors for special events. Luckily, we got behind the usually closed doors earlier this year at the 2015 Chrysler Employee Motorsport Association (CEMA) charity car show.[...] "1982 Dodge M4S Concept"; This wild-looking coupe was created in 1981 as a Indy pace car, designed as a joint project between Chrysler and PPG Industries. A 2.2-liter, fuel-injected twin-turbo Chrysler/Cosworth four-cylinder gave the coupe a heady 440 hp. This rocketed the M4S from 0-60 in 4.1 seconds, on its way to a lofty top speed of 195 mph. While the M4S never made it into production, it was cemented into the minds of movie fans with a starring role in the 1986 film "The Wraith," where it made an appearance under the guise of the "Turbo Interceptor", a name which it has been unable to shake to this day.

^ ^a ^b Florea 2021; "Designed by Bob Ackerman, the M4S was built in 1981 [...]"
^ ^a ^b ^c "The Dodge-PPG M4S Pace Car: Restored". November 16, 2020.
^ Mehta, 2023
^ "Dodge M4S (Dodge PPG Turbo Interceptor; 1981, 1984)". Allpar.com. Archived from the original on January 29, 2010. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
^ "Joe Pappas Talks About the Dodge-PPG M4S Twin-Turbo Indy Pace Car", Allpar.com. Retrieved July 2, 2014
^ ^a ^b Florea 2021; "The M4S was intended to be used as a pace car, but it made more waves years later, when it was featured in The Wraith, an action-fantasy film from 1986. [...] The Dodge M4S has gained somewhat of a cult following after the film's release, but it's nowhere near as iconic as other movie cars. Based on its looks and unique layout compared to other Dodge cars, the M4S definitely deserves more attention."
^ ^a ^b Golden, 2015
^ "The Wraith Car (based on the Dodge M4S Turbo Interceptor)". November 16, 2020.
^ "Dodge M4S Turbo Interceptor is on Facebook". Facebook.