Eagle Summit

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Eagle Summit
Eagle Summit DL wagon
ManufacturerMitsubishi Motors
Diamond-Star Motors
Parent companyChrysler Corporation
Production1989–1996
PredecessorDodge/Plymouth Colt sedan
ClassSubcompact
ManualsService Manual

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)

First generation
Eagle Summit DL sedan
Production1989–1992
AssemblyKurashiki, Okayama, Japan (Hatchback)
Normal, Illinois (Sedans)
Body style(s)4-door sedan
2-door hatchback
LayoutFF layout
Engine(s)1.5 L Template:Convert/81 I4
1.6 L 123 hp (92 kW) I4
Transmission(s)3-speed automatic
4-speed automatic
5-speed manual
4-speed manual
Wheelbase96.7 in (2,456 mm) (sedan)
93.9 in (2,385 mm) (hatchback)
Length170.1 in (4,321 mm) (sedan)
158.7 in (4,031 mm) (hatchback)
Width65.7 in (1,669 mm)
Height52.8 in (1,341 mm) (sedan)
51.9 in (1,318 mm) (hatchback)
Curb weight2,271 lb (1,030 kg) (sedan)
2,205 lb (1,000 kg) (hatchback)
RelatedMitsubishi Mirage
Dodge/Plymouth Colt
Mitsubishi Space Wagon
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 (60 kW). The LX could have a 1.6-liter 16-valve DOHC engine with 113 horsepower (84 kW). 100.7 cubic feet (2.85 m3) 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 (360 mm) 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 (69 kW) thanks to 4 additional valves (for 12 total). The ES also lost its 14-inch (360 mm) 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.

Second generation (1993-1996)

Second generation
1993-94 Eagle Summit sedan
Production1993–1996
AssemblyKurashiki, Okayama, Japan (Coupe & Sedan)
Okazaki, Aichi, Japan (Wagons)
Body style(s)4-door sedan
3-door minivan
2-door coupe
LayoutFront 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
WheelbaseSedan: 98.4 in (2499 mm)
Coupe: 96.1 in (2441 mm)
Minivan: 99.2 in (2520 mm)
LengthSedan: 174.0 in (4420 mm)
Coupe: 171.1 in (4346 mm)
Minivan: 168.5 in (4280 mm)
Width1993-94: 66.5 in (1689 mm)
1995-96: 66.1 in (1679 mm)
Minivan: 66.7 in (1694 mm)
Height51.4 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)
RelatedMitsubishi 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.
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