Editing Eagle (automobile) (section)

==Origin==
Following the introduction of [[General Motors]]' [[Saturn Corporation|Saturn]] brand automobile, Chrysler promised a similar new brand designed to take Saturn on with innovative design and building methods.<ref>{{cite web|last=Torchinsky |first=Jason |title=Let Us Remember Eagle, The Car Brand Made Of Four Other Brands From Three Different Countries |url= https://jalopnik.com/let-us-remember-eagle-the-car-brand-made-of-four-other-1788419857 |work=Jalopnik |date=11 September 2016 |access-date=4 May 2024}}</ref> A press release by then Chrysler Chairman [[Lee Iacocca]] indicated that the company was working on a car that would be known as the "Liberty" which aimed to achieve significant cost savings.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Corey |title=Abandoned History: Chrysler's Liberty Project, to Saturn or Not to Saturn |url= https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/08/abandoned-history-chryslers-liberty-project-to-saturn-or-not-to-saturn/ |website=thetruthaboutcars.com |date=26 August 2021 |access-date=10 February 2025}}</ref> However, these plans never reached fruition. However, ''[[Popular Mechanics]]'' soon reported that the AMC-developed Premier would replace Chrysler's Liberty project attempts at using the [[Chrysler K platform|K-car platform]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Dunne |first1=Jim |title=Inside Detroit |magazine=Popular Mechanics |date=September 1989 |volume=166 |issue=9 |page=45 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=a-QDAAAAMBAJ&q=The+Premier+takes+the+place+of+the+so-called+Liberty+car+Chrysler |access-date=10 February 2025 |via=Google Books}}</ref> The Liberty name was later applied by Chrysler for a [[Jeep Liberty|Jeep model]] marketed in the U.S. starting with the 2002 model year, replacing the AMC-designed [[Jeep Cherokee (XJ)|Cherokee XJ]] line.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.backthenhistory.com/articles/the-history-of-the-jeep-liberty |title=The History of the Jeep Liberty |first=Lauren |last=Cabral |date=26 August 2024 |website=backthenhistory.com |access-date=10 February 2025}}</ref>

The main objective of Chrysler acquiring American Motors was the long-established [[Jeep]] vehicles, but [[Renault]] forced the company to take on the contractual obligations of the passenger car models as part of the deal.<ref name="Stoy">{{cite web|last1=Stoy |first1=Andrew |title=Whatever Happened To Eagle? |url= https://jalopnik.com/5067793/whatever-happened-to-eagle |work=Jalopnik |date=23 October 2008 |access-date=4 May 2024}}</ref> Another major factor was that, due to state franchise laws, Chrysler could not start selling Jeeps through their existing dealer networks, nor could ex-AMC dealers begin to sell other Chrysler products.<ref>{{cite web |date=6 August 1987 |title=AMC, Last of Its Kind, Fades Into Auto History |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-06-fi-1799-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=4 May 2024}}</ref> Thus, the Eagle marque was born.<ref name="Stoy" /><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Jeep Milestones |magazine=Automotive News |year=1996 |volume=The Almanac and Market Data Book |page=18}}</ref>

Under new ownership, Chrysler quickly discontinued the domestic-built front-wheel drive [[Renault Alliance|Alliance]] and Encore that were developed under Renault (plans by AMC to import the [[Renault Espace]] minivan and the [[Renault Alpine GTA/A610|Alpine GTA]] halo car were also scrapped), but continued to build the four-wheel drive [[AMC Eagle]] crossover.<ref name="Gold">{{cite web|last=Gold |first=Aaron |title=AMC Eagle: No, Seriously, This Was the First Crossover SUV |url= https://www.autotrader.com/car-news/amc-eagle-no-seriously-this-was-the-first-crossover-suv-265257 |work=Autotrader |date=May 2017 |access-date=4 May 2024}}</ref> It was now called '''Eagle Wagon''' and marketed into the 1988 model year until production ended in December. This meant the [[Brampton Assembly (AMC)]] manufacturing capacity could be used for making more Jeeps.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Chrysler Acquires American Motors |magazine=U.S. News & World Report |date=1987 |volume=102 |page=84}}</ref> Moreover, Chrysler kept AMC's long-established Eagle brand by continuing to import the mid-sized Renault 21 (renamed [[Eagle Medallion]]) as well as starting production of the Renault 25-based full-size sedan that was developed by AMC (renamed [[Eagle Premier]]).<ref name="Gold"/>