Talbot : Horizon
Model Introduction
The Talbot Horizon, launched in 1978 and sold variously as the Chrysler Horizon in the UK, the Dodge Omni in the United States, and later under the Talbot badge after Peugeot took control of Chrysler Europe, was a forward-thinking five-door hatchback designed to rival the Volkswagen Golf. It offered a spacious interior, good visibility, and a comfortable ride, combining European packaging with a touch of American influence. Voted European Car of the Year in 1979, it was offered with a wide range of petrol and diesel engines, including economical PSA units in later years. Built in several countries and sold worldwide, the Horizon stands out as one of the first truly global hatchbacks, with French engineering, British assembly, and American-market variants that introduced many US drivers to the compact front-wheel-drive format.
Magazine Articles
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Giant Test
Fiat Strada v Chrysler Horizon v Alfasud
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Giant Test
Talbot Horizon 1.5 SX v Lancia Delta v Volvo 345DL
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News Flashes
The first UK-produced versions of the Talbot Horizon rolled off the French-owned company's production lines at Ryton, Coventry, last week with advance orders for the car worth £12 million. Peugeot, Talbot's French parent has invested £10 million in switching Horizon production from Poissy in France to Coventry. The move is hoped to double sales of the five-door hatchback range in the UK this year, with the main attack being at the fleet market. British fleet buyers have tended to buy from home manufacturers in the past.
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[On the 1.9 Diesel] It probably reflects more on the fast fading charms of the Horizon rather than the powerplant itself that the car feels, subjectively at least, less lively than the VW or Vauxhall diesels. For the fact is that once you acclimatise to the heavy throttle action and ponderous steering of the Horizon the PSA diesel really does perform. And unlike VW's oil burner it does not vibrate.