All About Stars!
DSM, also know as Diamond Star Motors, was created for the relations between Chrysler and Mitsubishi began in 1970 when Chrysler agreed to import and distribute cars manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation under the Plymouth and Dodge brand names. This was to be the foundation for the Diamond Star Motor division. The mid eighties the Chrysler Corporation was have much trouble. Their sales were down and people were not buying their cars like they used to. Chrysler Corporation needed to do something to up their sales and get back their customers before it was too late. Mitsubishi, on the other hand, had troubles of their own. They wanted to sell more cars without going through the import quota system by importing more cars. The United States Mitsubishi company needed to do something quick also. |
Mitsubishi came along
to help Chrysler in 1985, thereby forming Diamond Star Motors or DSM
for short. Each company believed they would benefit greatly from this
mere and Chrysler went on to replace its FWD Laser, which was stopped
in 1986, and made it into a sports car. Mitsubishi looked to increase
their foreign sales. Since, each company's budget was low, both of these
companies decided that they would produce a line of cars together to
make these new sports cars come true. |
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After the merge was complete, the new company now needed a manufacturing facility. After looking at many locations Bloomington-Normal, Illinois was chosen for its prime location. COnstruction began and with its completion, the DSM factory could produce up to 240,000 vehicles per year.Here is where they decided to produce the in 1990 Eagle Talon, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Plymouth Laser, Mitsubishi 3000GT, Dodge Stealth, and the Mitsubishi Galant. All three of the main cars produced (the Talon, Eclipse and Laser) were FWD cars. The company didn't want to rush anything since there were still new. The ABS feature would be added to the cars with AWD systems that the Chrysler's Eagle division first started. |
 1993 Eclipse |
Production began in August of 1989 sometime. There were four models to choose from: the base model (SOHC 1.8L), the 2.0L engine (420A), the turbocharged 2.0L (4G63), as well as the awesome turbocharged AWD model. Sales were at a all time high now. At the time of its production, the Laser, Eclipse, and Talon were some of the fastest four cylinder cars on the planet. Aftermarket parts for the three began to come out for better apperance and also for performance. The demand for the cars was very high that the production line couldn't keep up in making them. Eagel originally only had the AWD cars but then later added a later FWD one. From the years 1990 to 1994 this trio was known as the first generation or 1G. |
In 1992, Chysler decided to drop its part of the equity of the plant. Some think it is because of the slight changes in the car (lights, etc). In 1993 the car changed from flip lights to regular ones and the shape was modified a little more for areodynamics. The end of 1994 another change was in for the DSM company. The Plymouth Laser was dropped from production because lack of appeal that the two other cars offered.. For the 1995 lineup, a new, more aggressive, comfortable, and luxurious design was chosen to replace the older Talon and Eclipse. This would be known as the second generation or 2G. |
The 2G would be two
inches lower to the ground than the 1G, and a bit wider. As far as mechanics
is concerned, the car's engine was upgraded to a 2.0L engine, 15 more
horsepower, some of them coming turbo charged with a T-25 and with "non-ticking"
lifters! There is much arguement about whcih generation is the better
one. In my opinion the 2G is because of looks and performance. |
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| People had been asking for the DSM company to release a convertable edition of these cars. In 1996 the Eclipse came convertable and calling it the Eclipse Spyder. Of course this car was much heavier because of the extra reinforcement the car needed but it was still a powerful beast. The engine was also upgraded to a 2.4L engine and it also came turbo charged with a 2.0L engine, but not AWD. |
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It was in 1996 that the Crysler Company would not renew it's contact for DSM after 1999, but that they would still keep in touch with Mitsubishi and help them out in parts and research information. With only two years left on Cryslers contract, with Mitsubishi they made some slight changes to the 2G's body including front and rear bumper, lights, and spoiler. Also the Crysler Company bought back a little less than half of their stock from Mitsubishi. Some say that there might be a come back in the DSM Company...but who knows? Only the future can tell! |
With the Cryslers contact ending, in 1998 was the last produced Talons out in the market due to the lack of sales. Mitsubishi now was the only one now. In the last year of the Talon, hardly any advertising was spent to get popularity back. The company kind of let the car die hard. 1999 was the last year for the second generation Eclipse also. At this point the whole DSM Company was no more. Mitsubishi carried out the longest production of the Eclipse. But that did not stop Mitsubishi itself to produce another Eclipse. The Third Generation, or 3G, Mitsubishi Eclipse was released in 2000, but cannot really be called this because it was not produced under the Diamond Star Motors Corporation. Many, including myself, do not consider the 2000+ Eclipse to be part of the family, but there are still those who insist it is! The fact that the 2000+ Eclipse does not contain the 2.0L turbocharged engine that the Eclipse/Laser/Talon had is one perspective as to why it should not be included. Also, some know features of this trio was not carried on to the "new" Eclipse like the hump on the hood. That was a trademarket for the trio and now it is no more. |
DSM Evolution:
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1990-1991 Eclipse FWD. DSM also produced the Eagle Talon and the Plymoth Laser. These cars came with 1.8L SOHC and flip up head lights. |
| 1992-1994 Mitsubishi Eclipse. Changes were made to this car. The tio no longer came with flip lights and he shape had become more aerodynamic. Models: GS 1.8L, GS 2.0L, GST, GSX | |
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1995-1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse. The Plymoth Laser is no longer in production for the second generation. The body shape of the Talon and the Eclipse has changed majorly. The car is lower and more aerodynamic. 2.0L Engine that you could also get turbo charged. Models: RS, GS, GS-T, GSX |
1997-1999 Eagle Talon. The shape once again changed slightly. The Eclipse took on a new front and rear bumper along with higher spoiler. Talon would cease production in 1998...the Eclipse would continue production until 1999 with the 2G. Models: RS, GS, GS-T, GSX |
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2000-2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse continued in production but not under the DSM Corporation. The body once again took a dramatic change. The Eclipse no longer turbo chanrged or AWD, and it comes with a Inline 4, or a V6 engine depending on the model. The spyder version was also released in 2001. Models: RS, GS, GT |
| 2002+ Eclipse took a few body changes. The front bumper was changed, along with the rear tail lights. Anoterh model was introduced that came with everthing standard. Models: RS, GS, GT, GTS |  |
Feel free to email me: eclipsecrz@yahoo.com