Eagle Summit

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Eagle Summit

Manufacturer	Mitsubishi Motors Diamond-Star Motors
Parent company	Chrysler Corporation
Production	1989–1996
Predecessor	Renault Alliance coupe (for 3-door hatchback model) Dodge/Plymouth Colt sedan (for sedan) Eagle Vista (for wagon & coupe models)
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 starting in 1989, as part of Chrysler's effort in badge engineering the Mitsubishi Mirage. This coincided with the release of the Mirage's third generation. The Eagle Summit replaced a model in product mix for Jeep-Eagle dealers that was held by the Renault Alliance after Renault withdraw from the U.S. and Canadian markets in 1987. The Eagle Summit line 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)

First generation

Production	1989–1992
Assembly	Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan (Hatchback) Normal, Illinois (Sedans)
Body style(s)	4-door sedan 2-door hatchback
Layout	FF layout
Engine(s)	1.5 L 81 hp (60 kW) I4 1.6 L 123 hp (92 kW) I4
Transmission(s)	3-speed automatic 4-speed automatic 4-speed manual 5-speed manual
Wheelbase	96.7 in (2,456 mm) (sedan) 93.9 in (2,385 mm) (hatchback)
Length	170.1 in (4,321 mm) (sedan) 158.7 in (4,031 mm) (hatchback)
Width	65.7 in (1,669 mm)
Height	52.8 in (1,341 mm) (sedan) 51.9 in (1,318 mm) (hatchback)
Curb weight	2,271 lb (1,030 kg) (sedan) 2,205 lb (1,000 kg) (hatchback)
Related	Mitsubishi Mirage Dodge/Plymouth Colt Mitsubishi Space Wagon

1989: Summit was introduced as a sedan in DL and LX trim, both powered by a 1.5-liter 8-valve 4-cylinder engine with 81 hp (60 kW). The LX could have a 1.6-liter 16-valve DOHC engine with 123 hp (92 kW). The 100.7 cubic feet (2.85 m³) of interior volume classified the Summit into the compact car class, while most of its competitors were still subcompacts. The Summit was also noted for its generous rear legroom.

1990: A low-cost base model was added to the bottom of the Summit line. 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 (360 mm) alloy wheels with P195/60R14 tires. All models received all-capital lettering on the back.

1991: The 1.5-liter engine output increased to 92 horsepower (69 kW) thanks to 4 additional valves (for 12 total). The ES models returned to 13-inch (330 mm) wheels and disc brakes on only the front. New was the 2-door Summit hatchback; both it and the sedan 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 featured a new front grille.

1992: The Summit Wagon joined the line, available in DL and LX trims, as well as in a four-wheel drive (AWD) version.

Second generation (1993-1996)

Second generation

Production	1993–1996
Assembly	Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan (Coupe & Sedan) Okazaki, Aichi, Japan (Wagons)
Body style(s)	4-door sedan 3-door minivan 2-door coupe
Layout	Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Engine(s)	1.5 L 92 hp (69 kW) I4 1.8 L 113 hp (84 kW) I4 2.4 L 136 hp (101 kW) I4
Transmission(s)	3-speed automatic 4-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Wheelbase	Sedan: 98.4 in (2499 mm) Coupe: 96.1 in (2441 mm) Minivan: 99.2 in (2520 mm)
Length	Sedan: 174.0 in (4420 mm) Coupe: 171.1 in (4346 mm) Minivan: 168.5 in (4280 mm)
Width	1993-94: 66.5 in (1689 mm) 1995-96: 66.1 in (1679 mm) Minivan: 66.7 in (1694 mm)
Height	51.4 in (1306 mm) 1995-96 Coupe: 51.6 in (1311 mm) 1992-94 Minivan: 64.4 in (1636 mm) 1992-94 Minivan AWD: 65.0 in (1651 mm) 1995-96 Minivan: 62.1 in (1577 mm) 1995-96 Minivan: 62.6 in (1590 mm)
Related	Mitsubishi Mirage Dodge/Plymouth Colt Mitsubishi Space Wagon Mitsubishi RVR

Eagle Summit coupe

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. The minivan version replaced the Canada-only Eagle Vista wagon. A coupe version was added to replace the Vista and Summit hatchbacks.

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 (360 mm) 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

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