Eagle Talon

In short

• Two generations: 1G for the 1990–1994 model years and 2G for 1995–1998; the last Talon left the line on 10 February 1998.
• Engines: Mitsubishi 1.8 l 4G37, 2.0 l 4G63 with and without turbo, and Chrysler's 2.0 l 420A in the 2G ESi.
• The 2G TSi with a manual gearbox had 157 kW (210 hp) and 278 Nm; the 1G TSi AWD had 145 kW (195 hp).
• Production by model year: 144,970 first-generation and 54,262 second-generation cars, 199,232 in all.

Eagle Talon at a glance

Eagle Talon generations

The production figures are sums of English Wikipedia's model-year table. The first generation peaked in 1991 with 33,537 cars; the second fell from 25,066 in 1995 to only 4,308 in 1998, which makes the 1998 car the rarest Talon.

First generation (1990–1994)

The Talon appeared in mid-1989 as a 1990 model. On the Chrysler D platform it shared almost everything with the Mitsubishi Eclipse and the Plymouth Laser. At the same option level the three were mechanically identical and differed only in wheels, colours, tail lamps, bumpers and spoilers. The front suspension used MacPherson struts.

The early cars (1GA) had pop-up headlamps. For 1992 they gave way to fixed composite lamps with integrated indicators. From May 1992 the turbo engine changed too. The "7-bolt" 4G63 had lighter connecting rods, a lighter crankshaft and a larger one-piece crankshaft girdle; the 1992 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution used the same engine. The TSi and TSi AWD were on Car and Driver's 10 Best list for 1990, 1991 and 1992.

Second generation (1995–1998)

The second Talon arrived for 1995 alongside a new Eclipse, while the Plymouth Laser was dropped. The front suspension switched to double wishbones with a better roll-camber curve, and a multi-link axle sat at the rear. The turbo engine's compression rose from 7.8:1 to 8.5:1. A Garrett T25 turbocharger gave a peak boost of 14 psi (1.0 bar) and spooled up faster than the first generation's Mitsubishi 14b.

The Talon and Eclipse were still almost identical underneath, but now looked more different:

• the Talon had amber rear indicators, the Eclipse red ones;
• the Talon had a black roof, the Eclipse a body-coloured one;
• the Talon's "sickle" spoiler sat at the rear window, while the Eclipse had a "basket handle" spoiler on the deck;
• the Talon's badges were embossed in the body colour, the Eclipse used stickers.

For 1997 the Talon gained a larger front air intake, a bigger "Eagle" emblem in the bumper and a high-mounted rear spoiler instead of the flush one. The turbo cars lost their side skirts, gained "16V DOHC TURBO" lettering and moved from 16 in to 17 in wheels. The Mitsubishi side of the family is covered in our article on the Mitsubishi Eclipse generations.

Engines, transmissions and performance

All Talons used a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic; the 1990 turbo models came only with the manual. The first-generation front-drive TSi was held to 142 kW by a restrictive exhaust. English Wikipedia gives no acceleration or top-speed figures. Its account of the T25 turbo is also unclear, as it places the change under both 1995 and 1997.

Dimensions and body

English Wikipedia lists these figures without full labels, so some assignments are approximate. To see how the Talon's 4.4 m body compares with a current coupé or hatchback, use the car size comparison tool.

Trims and equipment

The second-generation ESi came with the 2.0-litre engine, a five-speed manual, four-wheel disc brakes, driver and passenger airbags, variable-assist power steering, cloth bucket seats and 195/70R14 tyres. The TSi added the turbo engine, a sport exhaust, firmer suspension, a leather-wrapped wheel and gear knob and power mirrors. It also had boost and oil-pressure gauges, a cassette player, fog lamps and 205/55R16 tyres on alloy wheels. The TSi AWD added permanent all-wheel drive, cruise control, power locks and windows and 215/55VR16 tyres.

Options included the automatic, anti-lock brakes, a limited-slip differential for the TSi AWD, air conditioning and leather. Buyers could also order a power sunroof, a CD player with graphic equaliser and HomeLink, offered for 1996–1998 only.

Racing

The Talon was a winner in American production-car racing. It took the SCCA World Challenge touring car title in 1990 and 1991 and the GT Touring title from 1993 to 1995. Eagle and Oldsmobile are the only American brands to win the TC title in the 1990s. In the Escort series, Talons won classes every year from 1989 to 1993, including the 1989 Class A Endurance title for Bobby and Tommy Archer in an AWD Turbo. English Wikipedia credits the car with seven straight SCCA Pro Racing championships, with HKS and Archer Racing dominant.

The end of the Talon and of Eagle

Chrysler announced the end of Eagle in September 1997, and the Talon was the brand's last model. English Wikipedia names the reasons. Chrysler had no clear marketing plan for Eagle and spent its money on the more profitable Jeep. Dealers preferred Jeeps, and many Eagles were rebadged Chrysler or Mitsubishi cars that confused buyers. A planned 1999 Vision became the Chrysler 300M instead. The Talon's place went to the Chrysler Sebring coupé and Dodge Stratus coupé; the Sebring family is covered in our article on the Chrysler Sebring. Other models of the brand are in the Eagle catalogue.

Photo gallery