Introduction:

We won't speculate on why that's so (save that for Psychology Today), but it explains a great deal about the appeal of the 1997 Eagle Talon line-up, as well as its tribe of identical cousins from Mitsubishi, surname Eclipse. People on the sidewalk pick this smart-looking coupe out of traffic as it flies past--and since it's an Eagle-brand car from Chrysler, flying is, naturally, what it likes to do best.

Talons and Eclipses are built in Mitsubishi's factory in Normal, Illinois, sharing major sheetmetal and virtually identical interiors as well as subdural mechanical bits. Ob-servations made concerning the Talon, therefore, also apply to the Eclipse.

The Talon/Eclipse duo comprise a modern range of sporty cars that provide ample driving fun, with engine options from mild to wild--if your definition of mild power in a base model starts at a whacking 140 hp. Turbocharging and all-wheel-drive models add another order of magnitude to the driving excitement. And the Eclipse adds the option of a soft top, new to the lineup last year and available only in the Mitsubishi version.

These cars are way stylish and big fun to drive, even in entry-level form.