The Eagle Talon is a two-door 2+2, Front-wheel drive (FWD) or All-wheel drive (AWD) hatchback coupé manufactured and marketed between 1989 and 1998 and sold by Eagle[1][2] along with rebadged variants the Plymouth Laser and Mitsubishi Eclipse.The last year for the Eagle Talon—as well as the Eagle division of Chrysler—was 1998.[3]CharacteristicsThe Talon, Laser and Eclipse were badge variants using the Chrysler D platform, manufactured at the DSM (Diamond Star Motors joint venture between Chrysler and Mitsubishi) manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois. All three vehicles were mechanically identical (when comparing the same option level) including engine, transmission, and drivetrain.Cosmetically, differences between the three were found in wheels, availability of colors, tail lights, front and rear bumpers, and spoilers. The Talon featured two-tone body color with a black 'greenhouse' (roof, pillars, door-mounted mirrors) regardless of the body color. The variants featured 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmissions and a hood bulge on the left-hand side of the car in order for camshaft clearance on the 4G63 engine. The base model DL did not use this engine but still had a bulge as evident in the 1992 Talon brochure. 2nd Generation cars all had such a bulge, even with the inclusion of the 420A engine.
The first generation Talon was released in mid-1989 as a 1990 model and ran through 1994. This era of DSM vehicles is commonly referred to as the first generation, or "1G" for short. However, there were two 1G styles. The "1GA" models of 1990–1991 featured pop-up headlights lights and a "6-bolt" engine, while the "1GB" model of 1992–1994 featured composite style headlights with integrated turn signals.The 1993–1994 base model DL was front-wheel drive and used a 92-horsepower 1.8 L engine (4G37). The ES model (or just the base Talon before 1993) sported a naturally aspirated 2.0 L 135 hp Mitsubishi 4G63 engine. The TSi and TSi AWD models used the same engine but added an intercooled Mitsubishi 14b turbocharger producing 11.06 psi of peak boost from the factory, resulting in 195 horsepower (145 kW) on TSi AWD models. The front-drive TSi produced only 190 hp due to a more restrictive exhaust system, and the automatics produced 180 horsepower (130 kW) due to a 13g turbo.The "six-bolt" engine on all Talons built before April 1992 refers to the number of bolts connecting the flywheel to the crankshaft. All 1G Talons built after April 1992 received a freer revving "7-bolt" engine borrowed from the 1992 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution's lighter rods and seven-bolt crankshaft.The Eagle Talon was consistently featured on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1990–1992.