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1990s cars5 MIN

The Eagle Talon Is a Forgotten AWD Sports Coupe

The Eagle Talon TSi AWD paired a 2.0-liter turbo four with all-wheel drive in an attainable coupe. Here is how the trims, generations, performance and ownership risks differ.

By CarCody Team

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The Eagle Talon TSi AWD was an unusual performance bargain when it arrived: a compact 2.0-liter turbocharged coupe with all-wheel drive, sold for about $16,500 and reported at 6.6 seconds to 60 mph in period coverage. It was Eagle’s version of the Diamond Star Motors (DSM) coupe also sold as the Mitsubishi Eclipse and Plymouth Laser. Talon production ran from 1990 through 1998, but the all-wheel-drive turbo model was only one configuration in a lineup that also included naturally aspirated and front-wheel-drive cars.

What is an Eagle Talon TSi AWD?

The TSi AWD was the turbocharged, all-wheel-drive performance version of the Eagle Talon. It combined a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with all-wheel drive in a small coupe, a formula that was uncommon in an attainable sporty car at the start of the 1990s.

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Talon, Eclipse and Laser models were closely related DSM products built in Normal, Illinois. Eagle was not selling an entirely separate engineering concept; it was offering its own version of the jointly developed coupe. The AWD feature belonged specifically to the TSi AWD configuration, not to every Talon.

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How the Talon lineup changed by generation

First generation: 1990–1994

The first-generation range covered several engines and drivetrains. The DSM FAQ model table identifies the DL as a 1.8-liter base model, ES and ESi as 2.0-liter naturally aspirated cars, and TSi and TSi AWD as 2.0-liter turbo models.

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For manual-transmission turbo cars, published ratings show either 190 or 195 horsepower depending on the marque and model-year specification source. Automatic turbo cars are listed at 180 horsepower. Those differences reflect the published specifications rather than an established mechanical change described in the table. The TSi AWD was the all-wheel-drive version.

Second generation: 1995–1998

The later Talon continued to separate naturally aspirated ESi models from turbo TSi and TSi AWD models. The DSM FAQ table lists 210 horsepower for the upper turbo trims. Trim equipment and exact specifications vary by year, so a seller’s badge or a generic “turbo Talon” description is not enough to establish the car’s original configuration.

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Generation Model years Relevant trims Engine and output listed in the model table Drivetrain note
First 1990–1994 DL, ES/ESi, TSi, TSi AWD DL: 1.8-liter; ES/ESi: 2.0-liter naturally aspirated; TSi/TSi AWD: 2.0-liter turbo; manual turbo ratings 190 or 195 hp, automatic 180 hp TSi AWD is the all-wheel-drive configuration
Second 1995–1998 ESi, TSi, TSi AWD ESi: naturally aspirated; TSi/TSi AWD: 2.0-liter turbo; upper trims listed at 210 hp AWD remains specific to TSi AWD

How fast was a Talon TSi AWD?

A 2019 MotorTrend retrospective, reporting figures from Automobile Magazine’s period coverage, gives the early Talon TSi AWD a 0-to-60-mph time of 6.6 seconds and a price of about $16,500. These are period performance and pricing figures, not a current used-car value or a new independent test.

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That combination explains the car’s appeal: buyers got turbocharged acceleration and all-wheel-drive traction in a relatively affordable coupe. The figures should not be applied to every Talon, because naturally aspirated, front-wheel-drive and automatic versions used different specifications.

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Was the Eagle Talon AWD?

Some Talons were AWD, but the model line as a whole was not. The all-wheel-drive system was attached to the TSi AWD trim. DL, ES/ESi and regular TSi examples may have different engines or front-wheel-drive layouts depending on generation and year.

When evaluating a car advertised as AWD, verify the VIN, factory equipment, transmission, engine and underbody hardware. A replacement engine, drivetrain swap or incorrect badge can make a car look like a TSi AWD without proving what it was built as.

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Is the Eagle Talon the same as a Mitsubishi Eclipse?

The Talon and Eclipse are sibling DSM coupes, and the Plymouth Laser was the third version of the same program. They share a development and manufacturing context, but a shared platform does not automatically prove that every trim, calibration, body panel or replacement part is interchangeable.

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For a comparison, identify the exact model year and generation first, then compare drivetrain, turbo or naturally aspirated engine, transmission and original equipment. The most meaningful distinction for a performance buyer is usually whether the car is a turbo TSi AWD, a turbo front-drive model or a naturally aspirated ESi/DL.

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Why did Talon production fall so sharply?

The DSM FAQ production table lists total Talon production by model year as follows. These figures include all trims; they are not counts of TSi AWD cars.

Model year Total Talons listed
1990 32,708
1991 33,537
1992 27,945
1993 26,740
1994 24,040
1995 25,066
1996 15,100
1997 9,788
1998 4,307

MotorTrend’s 2019 retrospective says more than 100,000 DSM triplets were sold in 1990, with Talons making up one-third of that total. Neither that statement nor the production table establishes how many AWD cars remain today or how rare a particular TSi AWD is.

What to check before buying an old Eagle Talon

Condition and configuration matter more than the badge. A shop owner quoted by MotorTrend, Road Race Engineering’s Mike Welch, described surviving examples as cars that “have been hacked on by 27 different owners.” That is an anecdotal warning about modified older cars, not a measured failure rate for all Talons.

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Verify the identity and specification

  • Confirm the model year and generation from the VIN and title.
  • Check that the trim is genuinely TSi AWD rather than a naturally aspirated, front-wheel-drive or rebadged car.
  • Record the engine, transmission and drivetrain before assuming factory specifications.
  • Look for evidence of swaps, conversions or missing AWD components.

Audit the modification history

  • Ask for receipts and tuning information for turbo, fuel, exhaust, intercooler and engine-management changes.
  • Inspect wiring, hoses, mounts and fasteners for improvised repairs or poorly executed installations.
  • Determine whether the current setup can be returned to a known, supportable configuration.

Inspect age-related condition

  • Check the body, floor, suspension mounting points and subframes for corrosion or accident repairs.
  • Verify that the turbo system, cooling system, brakes, steering and all-wheel-drive components operate correctly.
  • Review maintenance records rather than relying on mileage alone.
  • Have a technician familiar with DSM cars perform a pre-purchase inspection and compression or leak-down testing where appropriate.

What documentation and parts support should you seek?

A model-specific service or repair manual can help, but fitment must match the exact year and generation. “Eagle Talon TSi AWD service manual” is a sensible search phrase; availability, publisher and year coverage should be verified before purchase. Factory technical manuals and DSM documentation are particularly useful because the engine, transmission and drivetrain combinations changed across the range.

Why the Talon still matters

The Talon TSi AWD distilled the early-1990s performance formula into a compact coupe: turbo power, all-wheel-drive traction and a period price far below many specialized sports cars. Its forgotten reputation is an editorial description, not a measured ranking. What is established is the configuration’s distinctiveness and the need to judge each surviving car individually, because age, ownership history and modifications now define the buying experience as much as the original brochure did.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

1990s carsAWD sports carsDiamond Star MotorsEagle TalonMitsubishi EclipseTalon TSi AWD

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