From the Magazine Rack
Sharing some magazine clippings from the era when these cars were new. These were the kinds of articles that shaped how we saw the Eclipse and Talon back then... not just as sporty coupes, but as genuinely competitive performance cars with real engineering behind them.
Eclipse/Talon — The Full Car and Driver Feature (3 Pages)
The first set is a three‑page Car and Driver preview of the ’95 Eclipse and Talon. It’s peak mid‑’90s automotive journalism... studio shots, interior photos, engine‑bay glamour, and plenty of optimism about the Diamond‑Star partnership.
A few highlights from the piece:
The turbo 4G63 was still the hero: 210 hp and 214 lb‑ft
Mitsubishi handled the interior design, aiming for something “androgynous” and sculpted
The Normal, Illinois factory gets a full shout‑out
The article frames the new cars as more refined, more powerful, and more grown‑up than the first generation
It’s fun reading this stuff now, knowing how these cars aged and how rare clean survivors have become.
Diamond‑Star Specs & Design Notes
The next is a full breakdown of the Eclipse GSX... specs, design notes, and a couple of Talon photos mixed in. It’s the kind of page you would’ve stared at in high school, memorizing numbers:
0.29 drag coefficient
AWD, 5‑speed, 0–60 in 6.7 sec
Garrett T‑25 turbo
3140 lbs curb weight
And a great quote from designer Amy Hiroshige about creating a passionate, sculpted interior
Even the rear seat gets roasted — “suitable only for gnomes and their most intimate quarters.”
The Comparison Test — “Good Sports”
Last up is a two‑page spread from Car and Driver’s “Good Sports” comparison: seven coupes under $20K, all parked on a scenic overlook like a ’90s movie poster.
The lineup included:
Eclipse/Talon
Probe GT
Prelude VTEC
Integra GS‑R
Celica GT
240SX SE
And one more rounding out the group
It’s pure nostalgia:
“Blistering performance costs less than one game’s pay for Barry Bonds.”
They talk about VTEC screaming to 8100 rpm, the Probe aging gracefully, and the Eclipse/Talon standing out with swoopy new bodies and upgraded drivetrains. It’s the kind of comparison that made you want to hit the dealership with a copy of the magazine in hand.
These were the articles that made you believe in these cars.
They weren’t just sporty... they were engineered, styled, and positioned to punch above their weight.
__________________
Ty Ingle, USAF Retired
FREEDOMBIRD Hoodpins.com, Inland Empire Driveline, Billet Accessories Direct, Modo Innovations, AutoRad Radiators, Morris Classic Concepts, Marquez Design, Anvil Auto, Fesler Billet, US Collision (DOOM), AGR, Pro-touringF-body.com, Phoenix Transmission Products, Shiftworks, ACC Carpet, Hedman Hedders, BMR Fabrication, American Autowire, MityMounts, TIN INDIAN Performance, Kauffman Racing Equipment, Pypes, RobbMc Performance, WMC, Holley, NOS, PST
|