The Eagle Talon is a sporty compact hatchback car. It was made through a partnership between Chrysler and Mitsubishi in two different versions, beginning with the 1989 model year.
The Talon was sold by Eagle. It was also sold under different names as the Plymouth Laser and the Mitsubishi Eclipse.
The final year the Eagle Talon was produced, along with the Eagle division of Chrysler, was 1998.
Characteristics
The Talon, Laser, and Eclipse were car models built using the Chrysler D platform. They were made at the DSM manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois, which was a partnership between Chrysler and Mitsubishi. All three models had the same mechanical parts, including the engine, transmission, and drivetrain, when they had the same features.
Cosmetically, the models differed in some ways, such as wheel designs, color options, taillights, front and rear bumpers, and spoilers. The Talon had a two-tone body color with a black "greenhouse" (roof, pillars, and door mirrors), no matter what color the body was. It could have either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. A bulge on the left side of the hood was needed to allow space for the camshaft when the 4G63 engine was used. Every version of the car, including the base DL model, had this hood design.
First generation (1990)
The first-generation Talon was released in mid-1989 as a 1990 model and was produced until 1994. This period of DSM vehicles is called the first-generation, or "1G." There were two styles of 1G models. The 1990 and 1991 "1GA" models had pop-up headlights and a "6-bolt" engine, while the 1992 through 1994 "1GB" models had exposed composite-style headlights with built-in turn signals and a "7-bolt" engine.
The 1993 and 1994 base model DL was front-wheel drive and had a 1.8 L engine (4G37) that produced 92 horsepower. The ES model (or the base Talon before 1993) had a naturally aspirated 2.0 L 4G63 engine that produced 135 horsepower. The TSi and TSi AWD models used the same engine but added an intercooled Mitsubishi 14b turbocharger that produced 11 psi. The TSi AWD model was rated at 195 horsepower, while the front-wheel-drive TSi model was rated at 190 horsepower due to a restrictive exhaust system. Automatic transmission versions were rated at 180 horsepower because of a 13g turbo. The 1990 turbo models were only available with a five-speed manual transmission.
All 1G Talons (and DSMs) built after VIN xxxxxxxxNE005602 or from May 1992 received a "7-bolt" bottom-end engine, which was also used in the 1992 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. This engine had lighter rods, a 7-bolt lighter crankshaft, and a larger one-piece crankshaft girdle with added bracing.
The Eagle Talon TSi and TSi AWD models were listed on Car and Driver magazine's 10 Best list for 1990, 1991, and 1992. Talon models also shared the "10 Best" designation with other Mitsubishi models from 1989 through 1992.
Second generation (1995)
The second-generation (or "2G") Eagle Talon was introduced in 1995 at the same time as its Mitsubishi Eclipse counterpart, while the Plymouth Laser version was no longer produced. The new Talon and Eclipse models shared similar engines with the turbocharged versions, but they had more power due to changes in the intake and exhaust systems, higher compression pistons (8.5:1 compared to 7.8:1), and a new turbocharger. The T25 turbocharger, made by Garrett, provided more boost (14 psi or 1.0 bar) and was smaller than the previous Mitsubishi 14B turbo used in the first-generation models. The T25 turbocharger started working faster, which improved the car's response and reduced delays in power delivery.
The first-generation Talon used MacPherson struts in the front, but the second-generation model used a double-wishbone suspension in the front and a multilink suspension in the rear. The double-wishbone suspension improved how the car handled during turns.
The Eagle Talon and its Mitsubishi Eclipse had more noticeable differences compared to the first-generation models. The Talon’s rear had a bumper cap with a dip in the middle to fit a high-mounted license plate, while the Eclipse used red turn signals instead of the Talon’s amber ones. The Talon’s reverse lights were part of the main tail light clusters, whereas the Eclipse’s reverse lights were placed separately near the license plate. The Talon had a sickle-shaped rear spoiler painted black for the TSi and TSi AWD models, while the Eclipse had a body-colored, basket-shaped spoiler. The ESi models (non-turbo) did not have side skirts, but the TSi and TSi AWD models had side skirts with the words "16V DOHC TURBO" printed on them. The front bumper had minor differences, such as no body-colored splitter in the air intake compared to the Eclipse, slightly different fog lamp shapes, and a recessed air intake section. The Talon had a black roof, while the Eclipse had a roof that matched the car’s body color. Badges on the Talon were embossed plastic pieces glued to the rear bumper, while the Eclipse used stickers on the hatch.
In 1997, both the Talon and Eclipse received a design update called "2Gb." The front and rear of the cars were redesigned with more aggressive features. The front had a larger air intake and a bigger "Eagle" emblem embossed in the center of the bumper. A new high-mounted spoiler replaced the previous flat "sickle" spoiler. Side skirts were removed from the TSi and TSi AWD models. The words "16V DOHC TURBO" were added between the doors and rear wheels. All badges and lettering on the sides and rear were now in contrasting colors instead of matching the car’s body color. Plastic moldings were added to the bumpers and doors. The TSi and TSi AWD models received 17-inch wheels with an angular design, replacing the 16-inch curved wheels.
The TSi and TSi AWD models had an intercooled turbocharged engine, now using the Garrett T25 turbocharger instead of the older Mitsubishi 14B model. The smaller T25 turbocharger worked faster at lower engine speeds, improving acceleration. The TSi AWD model kept its all-wheel drive system.
The ESi model had a 2.0-liter DOHC inline-four engine, a five-speed manual transmission, four-wheel disc brakes, airbags for the driver and passenger, power steering with adjustable assist, cloth front bucket seats that could recline, a folding rear seat, a front console with storage and an armrest, tinted windows, a tachometer, a coolant temperature gauge, a trip odometer, map lights, remote mirrors, visor mirrors, an AM/FM radio, a digital clock, remote fuel door and hatch releases, a tilt steering column, intermittent wipers, a rear wiper and washer, a rear spoiler, color-matched body side moldings, 195/70R14 tires, and wheel covers.
The TSi model added a turbocharged engine, a sport-tuned exhaust system, an upgraded suspension, adjustable lumbar support for the driver’s seat, a split-folding rear seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift handle, power mirrors, gauges for turbo boost and oil pressure, a cassette player, lighted visor mirrors, a rear defogger, a cargo-area cover, a cargo net, lower body side cladding, fog lamps, 205/55/R16 tires, and alloy wheels.
The TSi AWD model added permanent all-wheel drive, cruise control, power door locks and windows, and 215/55/VR16 tires.
Eagle offered option packages and equipment that could be added individually.
By 1998, the Talon was the last model in the declining Eagle lineup and the rarest Talon model year. As sales dropped, Chrysler decided to stop promoting the Eagle brand. The final Eagle Talon was produced on February 10, 1998.
Eagle Jazz
In 1994, a concept car named the Eagle Jazz was created for the 1995 car show events. It was a sporty sedan with a curved back end. A special hatch that could be opened separately was built into the back, making it easier to load items into the trunk. Some people thought it looked similar to a 4-door Eagle Talon. Later, some of the Eagle Jazz's designs and ideas were used again in the second version of the Chrysler Concorde.
Motorsport
The Eagle Talon won the SCCA World Challenge touring car championship from 1990 to 1991 and the GT Touring championship from 1993 to 1995. Together with Oldsmobile (Achieva 1992–1994), Eagle is one of only two American car brands to win the TC championship during the 1990s. As of 2020, GM’s Oldsmobile Achieva and Chevy Sonic (TCB) have achieved this success, along with Chrysler’s Eagle Talon. The Dodge Shelby Charger won SSA of the earlier SCCA / Escort Endurance Championship in 1986, and its Eagle Talon TSI AWD won SSA in 1989.
The TSi name
Before the Talon was introduced, the TSi (Turbo Sport Intercooled) model name was used for the 1986 through 1989 Mitsubishi Starion wide-body versions that were sold as Dodge, Plymouth, or Chrysler Conquest models.
The TSi model name was used for a version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee (ZJ) during 1997 and 1998. This model was marketed as a sportier option and included a single-color paint scheme with indigo-blue trim, a feature that had previously been available on the Talon.
The TSi name was used again as a high-performance model for the Chrysler Sebring sedan during the 2005 and 2006 model years.