Design
The Medallion used a 2.2 L I4 engine that was borrowed from the European Renault 25. It was mounted in a longitudinal (front-back) configuration, driving the front wheels through either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 3-speed computer-controlled automatic. The longitudinal engine placement is unusual for a front-wheel drive car, as the transverse engine layout is more space-efficient.
The reason for this layout was to help reduce torque steering, which is a challenge in transverse transmission design. The gearbox is centrally mounted resulting in equal-length axle shafts. In Europe, Renault 21 models with small and less powerful engine displacements below had transverse engines, just like smaller models such as the Renault 9. On the other hand, high-end models with engines of 2 L or more retained the longitudinal layout of the previous Renault 20 and 30 series. The same layout was used for the Renault 25, whose engines all had displacements in excess of 2 L.
When the original European Renault 21 models were shown for 1986, they featured a different design compared to contemporary cars of the era and the new French automobiles most closely resembled the Audi 100 versions that were introduced in 1983. The interior of the Medallion was spacious compared to similar cars in the compact segment. The sedan was also notable for its rather commodious trunk. The station wagon was unique in that it offered a longer wheelbase than the sedan, and featured a front-facing third-row seat, such as in the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser and Ford Freestyle. Base models came in DL trim, while customers could choose up-level LX models, with more standard features, in both body styles, for the duration of the Medallion's run.
Starting in model year 1988, the Medallion was sold under the then-new Eagle brand with "by the mere substitution of a new (and rather handsome) badge." However, they sold no better in part because they were considered conventional automobiles for Renaults, but still too "quirky" for most U.S. customers. Their workmanship was also wanting. Chrysler decided to cease importing this model from Renault at the end of the 1989 model year.
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