6. Eagle Premier
The 1980s were interesting times for the Chrysler Corporation. Because they were under new leadership, the company flourished. The introduction of the Chrysler Voyager, the first minivan, brought the company a great amount of money. It also inspired them to try something new. First, Chrysler bought AMC and later discontinued it, keeping the Jeep brand alive. Then, later in the decade, they struck a deal with Renault, introducing a new brand to the U.S. market. Also, they presented the Eagle in 1989. It was supposed to be a fresh start for Chrysler, who wanted to produce new, affordable cars with an import car flavor.
Renault and Mitsubishi, as two of Chrysler’s foreign partners, provided the technology while Chrysler invested their money and effort. The first model was the Eagle Premier, a big, four-door sedan with front-wheel drive and luxurious features. It was the Chrysler vision of an import premium model for American car buyers. The car had good driving dynamics and decent power. The main selling points were its smooth V6 engines and loads of interior space. However, despite those, the market didn’t respond well to the new brand and model. They discontinued the Eagle Premier in 1992 and the Eagle brand itself in 1999. Today, the Premier is a rare, mostly forgotten car.