One of the most striking design features of the Prowler are the open, Indy-racer-style front wheels. The design of the Prowler was said to have been inspired after Chrysler engineers were given free rein to create whatever they wanted in a "hot rod" or "sportster" type vehicle. The design for the Prowler took inspiration from famous hot rod designer Chip Foose's Hemisfear.

The Prowler featured a powertrain lifted from Chrysler's LH-cars, a 3.5L SOHC V6 producing 214 horsepower (160 kW). For the 1999 model year the engine was replaced with a more powerful 253 hp (189 kW) version of the engine. Both engines were coupled to a 4-speed Autostick automatic transmission. The transmission is located at the rear of the vehicle and joined to the engine by a flexible driveshaft that rotates at engine speed; this arrangement is similar to that used by the C5 Corvette and Alfa Romeo 75, and helped to facilitate a desirable 50-50 (percentage, front-rear) weight distribution. The Prowler was the first rear-wheel drive Plymouth since the 1989 Plymouth Gran Fury and was based on the 1993 concept car of the same name.