When you think about America’s contributions to the world of turbocharged all-wheel-drive cars, the list is… well, pretty short. Europe had the Audi Quattro. Japan brought the Skyline GT-R, the WRX, the Evo, and a handful of other turbo terrors. But what about the U.S.? Surely there had to be at least one factory-backed, street-legal AWD turbo machine that came out of Detroit or somewhere nearby, right?As it turns out, there was. And it showed up way earlier than you probably think. Before the rise of the Subaru WRX in the States or the Mitsubishi Evo’s eventual U.S. debut, America had its own AWD boost junkie ready to tear up gravel roads and high school parking lots alike. The only problem? Almost nobody remembers it today. The Eagle Talon Is An Underappreciated American Icon Bring A Trailer The car in question? The 1992 Eagle Talon TSi AWD — a turbocharged, all-wheel-drive coupe that absolutely deserves more love than it gets.Built as part of the Diamond-Star Motors (DSM) joint venture between Chrysler and Mitsubishi, the Talon shared its platform and powertrain with the Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX and the Plymouth Laser RS Turbo. But the Eagle version had its own vibe going on. With a sharp, almost exotic rear roofline, angular headlights, and that massive black wraparound rear wing, the Talon looked the part of a serious sports coupe. America's Affordable, Rally-Adjacent Option Bring A Trailer Under the hood, the TSi AWD packed Mitsubishi’s proven 2.0-liter 4G63 turbocharged inline-four, good for 195 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque (though these numbers would bump up slightly in later years). Mated to a five-speed manual and hooked up to a viscous coupling all-wheel-drive system with a limited-slip rear diff, this car was built to put power down in places where front-drivers would just spin.The Talon TSi AWD wasn’t just America’s first real turbocharged AWD street car — it was also one of the earliest affordable ways to get into a boosted, rally-adjacent platform without going European. The 4G63 Engine Was Built For Boost Bring A Trailer1992 Eagle Talon TSi AWD Key Specs The heart of the Talon TSi AWD was its 4G63 turbo-four, an engine that gained legendary status thanks to its Mitsubishi Evo ties and ridiculous aftermarket potential. Even in stock trim, the Talon felt properly quick for the early ‘90s, with 0-60 mph times dipping under seven seconds if you knew how to launch it right.But the real charm was how effortlessly this engine handled more boost. With a few bolt-ons and a tune, you could easily get these cars pushing 300+ horsepower without cracking open the block. Some DSM diehards even squeezed four-digit power figures out of these mills — though by that point, you're not exactly daily-driving it.And while the Talon wasn’t officially designed for rally, the combination of AWD grip and turbo grunt meant it could play in the dirt with the best of them. This was a true enthusiast platform before “enthusiast platforms” were even really a thing. A Proper AWD Coupe Before Subaru And Mitsubishi Owned The Game Bring A TrailerToday, when people talk affordable AWD performance, the conversation usually jumps straight to the Subaru WRX or Mitsubishi Lancer Evo. But the Talon TSi AWD was already there, years before either of those cars became household names in the U.S. Easy, Accessible Performance For The Masses Bring A TrailerThe Talon might not have had the rally pedigree or WRC posters on every teenager’s wall, but it had the bones of a proper AWD performance car. More importantly, it was accessible. This wasn’t some limited-run homologation special or unattainable exotic — it was a regular production car that you could actually find on a dealer lot.The handling was sharp for its day, thanks to independent suspension front and rear. Combine that with the grip from the AWD system, and the Talon had a playful, planted character that let you get away with a lot more speed than you probably should have. On dry pavement or slick backroads, it was confidence-inspiring in a way most American cars of the era simply weren’t. The Talon’s Styling Still Holds Up (Kind Of) Bring A TrailerLook, we’re not going to argue that the Eagle Talon is the best-looking car of the ‘90s. But there’s something undeniably cool about the styling, especially on the early first-gen models like the 1992 TSi AWD.Angular, aggressive lines? Check. Big wraparound wing that feels straight out of an early arcade racing game? Double check. The Talon had a stance and shape that stood out without trying too hard. And in an era where “sporty” often meant some half-baked stripe package on a rental-spec sedan, the Talon looked like it meant business.Sure, the interior was classic ‘90s Chrysler plastic, but there was a simplicity to the layout that worked. You got proper analog gauges, supportive seats, and not much else to distract you from the task at hand. Used Values Are Still Shockingly Reasonable Bring A TrailerDespite its place in turbocharged AWD history, the Talon TSi AWD remains criminally undervalued in the collector car world. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, you can still find decent examples for well under $10,000, with “Good” condition cars averaging around $7,500. Even cleaner examples in “Excellent” condition rarely crack the $15,000 mark.For reference, first-gen Mitsubishi Eclipse GSXs and Plymouth Lasers of similar spec also hover in the same price range — but the Eagle badge tends to keep prices a bit softer. That’s good news if you’re looking to get into the turbo AWD game without spending WRX money.The downside? Finding one that hasn’t been beaten within an inch of its life can be tough. These cars were cheap, fast, and mod-friendly — which means a lot of them were raced, rallied, or poorly “upgraded” at some point. A stock, unmolested TSi AWD is a rare bird today. The Eagle Talon Deserves A Spot In The Turbo AWD Hall Of Fame Bring A TrailerThe Eagle Talon TSi AWD isn’t just America’s first turbocharged AWD production car — it’s one of the most overlooked performance bargains of its era. It showed up before Subaru made turbo AWD cool. It had the power, grip, and tunability that would later define the import tuner scene. And it did it all without the attention or acclaim it deserved. The Ideal Budget Project Car? Bring A TrailerThese days, the Talon rarely makes anyone’s list of iconic performance cars. But maybe that’s what makes it so special. It’s a forgotten gem that quietly paved the way for the AWD turbo wave that followed.If you’re hunting for a project car with real history, real potential, and real driving fun — and you’re not afraid to dig through some classifieds or rescue one from a life of questionable mods — the Talon TSi AWD might just be the boost-fed underdog you’ve been missing.