Eagle Summit

Infobox Automobile


name = Eagle Summit
manufacturer = Mitsubishi Motors
Diamond-Star Motors
parent_company = Chrysler Corporation
production = 1989–1996
class = Subcompact

The Eagle Summit was a subcompact car produced by Mitsubishi Motors from 1989 to 1996. It was sold as a captive import by the Jeep-Eagle sales division that was created after Chrysler Corporation purchased American Motors (AMC) in 1987. The Summit was one of the passenger car lines to expand the marketing mix of the Jeep dealer sales and service network in North America.

Overview

The Eagle Summit joined the Dodge Colt and Plymouth Colt in Chrysler's Mitsubishi Mirage clone club starting in 1989, coinciding with the release of the Mirage's third generation. It lasted 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.

Year-to-year changes

First generation (1989-1992)

Infobox Automobile generation
name=First generation
related=Mitsubishi Mirage
Dodge/Plymouth Colt
Mitsubishi Space Wagon


production=1989–1992
assembly = Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan (Hatchback)
Normal, Illinois (Sedans)
class=
layout=FF layout
engine=1.5 L 81 hp I4
1.6 L 123 hp I4
wheelbase=convert|96.7|in|mm|0|abbr=on (sedan)
convert|93.9|in|mm|0|abbr=on (hatchback)
length=convert|170.1|in|mm|0|abbr=on (sedan)
convert|158.7|in|mm|0|abbr=on (hatchback)
width=convert|65.7|in|mm|0|abbr=on
height=convert|52.8|in|mm|0|abbr=on (sedan)
convert|51.9|in|mm|0|abbr=on (hatchback)
weight=convert|2271|lb|kg|0|abbr=on (sedan)
convert|2205|lb|kg|0|abbr=on (hatchback)
aka=
body_style=4-door sedan
2-door hatchback
transmission=3-speed automatic
4-speed automatic
5-speed manual
4-speed manual: 1989: Summit was born as a sedan in DL and LX trim, both powered by a 1.5-liter 8-valve 4-cylinder engine with 81 horsepower. The LX could have a 1.6-liter 16-valve DOHC engine with 113 horsepower. 100.7 cubic feet of interior volume let the Summit squeak by into the compact car class while most of its competitors were still subcompacts; Summit was noted for its generous rear legroom.: 1990: A stripper base model was added to the bottom. Added to the top was a new ES, which paired the 1.6-liter engine with a sport suspension, 4-wheel-disc brakes, and 14-inch alloy wheels with P195/60R14 tires. All models got all-caps lettering on the back.: 1991: Mitsubishi transplanted the 1.6-liter engine from all Chrysler derivatives into the Mirage, stranding all Summits with only the 1.5-liter engine, though it at least grew from 81 to 92 horsepower thanks to 4 additional valves (for 12 total). The ES also lost its 14-inch wheels and disc brakes. New was the 2-door Summit hatchback; both it and the sedan now simply came in base and ES trims. The manual transmission was a 4-speed on the base hatchback and a 5-speed on all others; the automatic was a 3-speed on hatchbacks and a 4-speed on sedans. All models got a new front grille.: 1992: The Summit Wagon joined the line, available in DL, LX, and AWD trims.

econd generation (1993-1996)

Infobox Automobile generation
name=Second generation


production=1993–1996
related=Mitsubishi Mirage
Dodge/Plymouth Colt
Mitsubishi Space Wagon
Mitsubishi RVR
class=
transmission=3-speed automatic
4-speed automatic
5-speed manual
platform=
engine=1.5 L 92 hp I4
1.8 L 113 hp I4
2.4 L 136 hp I4
assembly = Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan (Coupe & Sedan)
Okazaki, Aichi, Japan (Wagons)
wheelbase=Sedan: Auto in|98.4|0
Coupe: Auto in|96.1|0
Minivan: Auto in|99.2|0
length=Sedan: Auto in|174.0|0
Coupe: Auto in|171.1|0
Minivan: Auto in|168.5|0
width=1993-94: Auto in|66.5|0
1995-96: Auto in|66.1|0
Minivan: Auto in|66.7|0
height=Auto in|51.4|0
1995-96 Coupe: Auto in|51.6|0
1992-94 Minivan: Auto in|64.4|0
1992-94 Minivan AWD: Auto in|65.0|0
1995-96 Minivan: Auto in|62.1|0
1995-96 Minivan: Auto in|62.6|0
weight=
aka=
body_style=4-door sedan
3-door minivan
2-door coupe
layout=Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive: 1993: The new Summit adopted the new Mirage's larger and lighter body, curvier styling, and mutlilink rear suspension. As with the Mirage and both Colts, the base 1.5-liter engine remained, paired to a 5-speed manual or 3-speed automatic. New was a 113-horsepower 1.8-liter SOHC engine, whose optional automatic was a 4-speed. The Summit came in sedan and coupe body styles, DL and ES trim lines. At first, only the ES sedan had the better powertrain.: 1994: All Summits got a driver's side airbag, replacing one of the motorized seatbelts. The lower-end DL sedan was rebadged LX and inherited the 1.8-liter engine, which was now an option for the ES coupe as well. The ES sedan upgraded to much-needed 14-inch wheels.: 1995: Summit replaced the other motorized seatbelt with a passenger's side airbag, and ES models were renamed ESi. More significantly, the 1994 demise of both Colts left the Summit as the only remaining Mirage clone, and the cancellation of the Mirage sedan at the end of 1994 left the Summit as the only 4-door offering.: 1996: Summit entered its last year with new fabrics and colors.

Trim levels overview

4-door sedan (1989-1996)

*"DL" - 1989-1990; 1993
*"LX" - 1989-1990; 1994-1996
*base - 1990-1992
*"ES" - 1990-1994
*"ESi" - 1994-1996

2-door coupe (1991-1996)

*base - 1991-1992
*"ES" - 1991-1994
*"DL" - 1993-1996
*"ESi" - 1994-1996

3-door minivan (1992-1996)

*"DL" - 1992-1996
*"LX" - 1992-1996
*AWD - 1992-1996

External links