Typically, when one buys a car for its engine muscle and brisk handling, one can expect to make some compromises in terms of interior space. And although that's certainly true of the Talon, the +95 model does offer a bit more breathing room in the cabin. Plus, by pushing the cowl closer to the front, Talon designers have given the driver a better outlook on life - or, at least, on surrounding traffic.
Also on the plus side, the leather seats are plushly perforated, while the door-panel armrests and instrument panel have a scooped, futuristic visage. Speaking of this panel, our TSi AWD model featured full sport instrumentation, including a large 9000 rpm tachometer, with turbo boost and oil pressure gauges paired to the left of the tachometer and fuel level and coolant temperature gauges paired to the right. Nice touch.
Other positive impressions: The unique revolving-lid design of the sturdy, recessed cup-holder kept our cups firmly in place, and the switches for the climate control and windshield wipers were easily accessible.
On the downside, however, the location of the steering-wheel spokes forces the driver to crane his or her neck to the left in order to get a peek at the cruise control and power-mirror switches. Also, the aforementioned space compromises that we anticipated showed up in terms of rear legroom.
And though the blacked-out side- and rear-window borders may be visually dramatic, they cut down on rearward visibility. That+s never a good idea with a hatchback because the deck-lid pillars already create a larger blind spot than the pillars on a sedan - or even a coupe - with a trunk. Rear visibility in the Talon could have been increased by taking the space used by the dark window borders and devoting it to more window glass.
Because this is a sport coupe, let's get right to the point. The 16 valves, upgraded turbocharger intercooler, dual overhead cams, 210 horses and 5-speed manual overdrive transmission conspired to give our Talon TSi AWD a breathless, slingshotlike 0-to-60 mph performance of 6.6 seconds. During this muscular launch, as the talon's nose carved through the wind and sent it whistling past our ears, all seemed right with the world.
Admittedly, sometimes that much power can be, well, overpowering. But the talon's AWD system reigns in some of that power by distributing it to all four wheels. Depending on speed, road surface and other driving conditions, the AWD system automatically increases the torque to the wheels with the most traction. When accelerating on a slippery surface, the AWD system helps the slipping wheels regain traction more quickly than rear-wheel drive.
AWD also makes a good deal more sense than a front-wheel-drive design, which can sometimes lead to a loss of control during rapid acceleration or emergency maneuvers. During our test drive, the talon's AWD system delivered impressive road-gripping power - especially coming out of high-speed turns and during darty multilane changes.
Credit for the talon's firm handling and assured responsiveness during such maneuvers also goes to the multi-link, double wishbone suspension and the gas-charged, variable-damping shock absorbers.
On the freeway at a moderate speed of 65 mph in fourth gear, our Talon TSi's tachometer simmered along at an unperturbed 3100 rpm. Then, when we simultaneously veered across three lanes (with only a single finger controlling the steering wheel) and punched the gas pedal up to 80 mph, we could feel and hear the Talon drawing confidently on its source as the tach topped out at a still-unruffled 4800 rpm. Exiting the freeway and downshifting, we then quickly tested the TAlon's acceleration power at lower speeds and found that it exploded similarly out of second gear.