Hailing from Diamond-Star Motors – a collaboration between Mitsubishi and Chrysler – comes this 1990 Plymouth Laser RS Turbo. Built alongside its siblings – the Mitsubishi Eclipse and the Eagle Talon – the trio of badge-engineered cars represented the company’s best hope for competing with Japanese car makers. The three sport coupes utilized Chrysler’s D platform, but the running gear was Mitsubishi. Today’s example is listed here on facebook Marketplace for $8500, and it’s located in Bayonne, New Jersey. Thanks to Mitchell G for spotting this rare Plymouth.
The Laser RS Turbo is the top-shelf offering – equipped with Mitsubishi’s 4G63 2.0-liter, DOHC, multi-point injected, turbo-charged four-cylinder, good for 190 hp and a zero to sixty time around 6.6 seconds. That’s fast, and the power band is broad, with little of the hitchy turbo lag that can be so annoying. Best yet, gearchanges are courtesy of a five-speed manual driving the front wheels. Yup – the first DSM cars were front-wheel drive. Somehow that didn’t detract from the driving experience, as the Laser received good reviews, but the king of the bunch was the mid-’90s Eclipse AWD GSX – a car that would be happy to take you rallying. While the seller notes several maintenance rituals performed, no mention is made of the timing belt, which ought to be changed in cadence with either mileage or time.
The cosmetics of this car belie its 138,000 miles for the most part, though the lower wheel arches have sprouted a few dents. What we can see of the interior is in decent shape. This photo doesn’t show the dash, but it’s exceptionally ergonomic, with well-lit, center-placed instruments and a right-hand control pod tilted toward the driver. The seller notes that he’s had the tape deck rebuilt (!) and the speakers upgraded. We’re promised that everything works as it should. No underside photos are provided, but the struts and shocks are new, as are most of the brake components. The “RS” package delivered higher spring rates for better handling along with 16″ wheels.
While the Laser’s engineering is credited to Mitsubishi, the design is credited to Chrysler. The car’s teardrop shape is nearly devoid of trim. Unlike the Talon and the Eclipse, no ground effect panels sully the visuals – or tip the scales weight-wise. The Laser is light on its feet – and looks it. Alas for Chrysler, this car didn’t sell as well as its stablemates, so production ceased in 1994. Today, Lasers – even the turbos – are lolling in the four-figure range – one of the few performance bargains remaining in the collector-car landscape.
Loved all these varieties. The awd models for the snow belt folks were amazing. Once drove one exactly like this. Can guarantee it spins those front tires very easily lol. Thanks ✍️ Michelle
The Eclipse, Talon, and Laser were an upgrade over the GTI, and were great to drive. Fast, tossable, and could corner. I had moved on from my 86 GTI to a 911 Targa, but came pretty close to buying the Eclipse.
These are real sleepers and a lot of value for the bucks.
The enthusiasts of a certain age have a hard time understanding the performance desert that existed in the marketplace. For context, the announcement of the Turbo Dodge Daytona with 140 horsepower caused everybody I worked with to angle to get one for a company car, and failing that, get a local to loan them one for the day. I almost always worked for the domestics and recall many meetings where the salesmen would be dumbfounded that a BMW costing twice the price was unthreatened by anything with a transverse engine. Of course, their bosses thought that all it needed was good old fashioned “salesmanship”. Hard to believe now that any of these bedrock 20th century companies were considered too big to fail. That said, this car is treated kindly in the era of a 5500# hybrid Porsche, even if the SUV does get to 60 in 3 seconds. I remember these as fun and well suited to a single person as they could be had decently equipped for a reasonable payment. I recall seeing one of the triplets every time I went to the grocery store circa 1993. Now, does Mitsubishi a longterm zaibatsu(?)even try to sell in the USA? If not, too bad because I always saw innovation. Maybe it was desperation disguised.
Had a friend at the local Jeep dealer in VT who ‘allowed’ me an extended test drive of his demo AWD Talon turbo for over an hour on the local dirt and gravel roads. The best test drive ever being sideways whenever possible..that thing was fast!
The Laser, as the “entry level” offering, was FWD only for 1990 and 1991, but the Talon and Eclipse were available with AWD from the start.
Nice to see the good comments for these Diamond Star cars. An absolute blast to drive, even a bit of a handful with fwd. Awd removed the torque steer. Laser was the entry level model but offered most everything the Talon did except awd. These are fantastic cars and a treat to drive in this age of over legislated transportation.
👍 Nelson
I had a bright blue ’91 Eclipse, same engine, no turbo, 5 speed manual. I tried a 240SX too, because it was RWD, but the Eclipse won because it was a far more exhilarating car to drive.
It was a fun car, but it needed to go when I required a car with a usable back seat. I sold it to my sister who enjoyed it for many more years.
I would rather have a mid 80s Laser. Not quite as fast, but so much more comfortable.
Miss my 90 Plymouth Laser RS turbo. I ate a late 60s Pontiac lemans 400 for dinner one night. 140mph. Maybe more, I don’t know, I was pegged.
He wanted to know what I did to that car. Sorry dude, it’s stock. Hahahahah