| Eagle Summit | |
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Motors |
| Production | 1989–1996 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Subcompact Compact MPV (wagon) [1] |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor |
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| Successor |
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The Eagle Summit is a line of subcompact cars produced for two generations by Mitsubishi and sold by Eagle from 1989 until 1996. It was marketed as a captive import by the Jeep-Eagle sales division that was established after Chrysler Corporation purchased American Motors Corporation (AMC) in 1987.
Use of the Eagle model name originated with the innovative all-wheel-drive AMC Eagle that was introduced for the 1980 model year. [2] Production continued even after Chrysler's purchase of AMC, but both the AMC brand and the original Eagle line were discontinued after 1988. [3] The replacements were "badge-engineered products designed, Chrysler said, to compete with hot-selling import cars." [3]
The Eagle Summit joined the Dodge Colt and Plymouth Colt starting in 1989 as Chrysler wound down the production of the subcompact Plymouth Horizon and Dodge Omni twins. [4] The introduction of the Summit coincided with the release of the Mitsubishi Mirage's third generation.
The Eagle Summit was positioned as a subcompact automobile model in the product mix for Jeep-Eagle dealers. [5] Previously this position was held by the Renault Alliance until it was discontinued following Chrysler's acquisition of AMC from Renault in 1987.
The Eagle Summit line continued through the extent of the Mirage's fourth generation, which ended in 1996. The somewhat related Eagle Summit Wagon (which was a compact MPV) ran from 1992–1996 and was based on the Mitsubishi RVR.
The Chrysler Neon was introduced in January 1994 and was marketed by Dodge and Plymouth dealers. Chrysler officials declared that no Eagle version of the Neon was planned. This meant that Eagle dealers had no competitor to the Neon, and combined with the Summit's Mitsubishi heritage, made the line expendable. [1]
| First generation | |
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 | |
| Overview | |
| Production | 1989–1992 |
| Assembly |
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| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Related | |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine |
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| Transmission | |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase |
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| Length |
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| Width | 65.7 in (1,669 mm) |
| Height |
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| Curb weight |
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The Summit was just a badge engineered version of the Mitsubishi Mirage. In a pairing of the Japanese-built Mitsubishi Mirage and the identical Eagle Summit to test if Lee Iacocca's theory was true regarding the preference of a Japanese to an American brand on similar cars, Popular Mechanics found that American consumers were "not sold on Japanese cars. Quite the opposite. They want to "Buy American," but the Japanese manufacturers seem to offer more of the type of cars Americans need and at a better price, and from more cooperative dealers." [7] The Summit was originally manufactured in Japan. Starting with the 1991 model year, the Eagle Summits were also built by Diamond-Star Motors (DSM), a joint-venture between Chrysler and Mitsubishi, in Normal, Illinois. [8]
| Sedan | Hatchback | Yearly Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 27,213 | - | 27,213 |
| 1990 | 13,772 | - | 13,772 |
| 1991 | 9,257 | 8,363 | 17,620 |
| 1992 | 3,348 | 6,881 | 10,229 |
| Total | 53,590 | 15,244 | 68,834 |
| Second generation | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Also called | Wagon: Mitsubishi Space Runner (Europe) [12] |
| Production | 1993–1996 |
| Assembly | Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan (coupé & sedan) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | |
| Layout | Front engine, front-wheel drive |
| Related | |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine |
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| Transmission | |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase |
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| Length |
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| Width |
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| Height |
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| Curb weight | Wagon: 2,700 lb (1,225 kg) |
The 1993 model year Summits were completely new and featured more room on the inside as well as weighing less than before. [13] The Summit was now based the fourth generation Mitsubishi Mirage 'CC' chassis platform featuring a mutlilink rear suspension and the body was given a rounder shape.
The hatchback body design was dropped in favor of a 2-door coupe version, while a 4-door sedan joined the Summit lineup. [13] [1]
The Summit Wagon, a rebadged Mitsubishi RVR was classified as a compact minivan, [14] or a compact MPV. [15]
Eagle was a brand of the Chrysler Corporation following the purchase of American Motors Corporation (AMC) in 1987 and marketed through the end of the 1998 model year. It was aimed at the enthusiast driver and promoted as more "European" than the automaker's similar models.
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Summit may be ranked as a subcompact based on exterior dimensions, but it has interior room most midsize cars would envy.
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