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49-522: The Simca 1307 is a large family car produced by Chrysler Europe and subsequently PSA Peugeot Citroën from 1975 to 1986. Codenamed 'C6' in development, the car was styled in the United Kingdom by Roy Axe and his team at Whitley , and the car was engineered by Simca at Poissy in France. A modern, front-wheel drive hatchback , it was one of the earliest such cars in the class along with

98-574: A Talbot-branded successor to the Horizon, and went on sale in January 1986. The 309 continued the Simca heritage by using Simca-derived engines in its smaller models. The Ryton factory remained open until December 2006. The UK Horizon was available in the following trim levels: Most models were available with 4 or 5-speed gearboxes, which were initially a carry-over of the Simca gearbox, and then later

147-457: A different nameplate or numeric designation to the modern day equivalent, and in some cases there is no modern day direct equivalent Simca-Talbot Horizon The Talbot Horizon is a compact hatchback designed by Chrysler Europe and produced from 1978 to 1987. It was sold under the Simca , Chrysler and Talbot nameplates. The successor to both the Simca 1100 and Hillman Avenger ,

196-569: A five-speed gearbox also became available. The lineup became clearer, with the 1307 GLS replaced by the 1510 LS, the 1307 S by the GL, the 1308 GT by the GLS, and finally the 1309 SX by the 1510 SX (automatic transmission only at first). A four-door saloon version, called the Talbot Solara, was released in the same year, with either 1.3 or 1.6 engines, and was produced alongside

245-535: A larger engine (of VW , then PSA origins on the early versions, replaced by Chrysler's own 2.2L OHC "Trenton" I-4 later) and MacPherson strut suspension at the front instead of the more complex torsion bar system found in the European version. They also featured larger reinforced aluminum bumpers to comply with stricter US safety legislation . Despite the car's European origins, then Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca played this down, emphasizing that features such as

294-505: A more powerful and revvy engine while remaining in a lower tax category. In the UK, the 1307 S has the same single Solex carburettor as the GL. More upmarket models were designated 1308 (1508 in some markets, reflecting the size of the engine) and 1309 (similarly sold as a 1609 in a few markets). All of the models replaced the Simca 1301/1501 range in France, while on the British market it

343-653: A rear-wheel drive saloon which consistently outsold it. Styled by Roy Axe , the Simca 1307, along with the recently introduced Volkswagen Passat , was one of several full-size European family hatchback inspired by the Renault 16 that had defined the sector back in 1965. In the 1970s the most popular mid-size cars in Europe were still traditional sedans like Ford Taunus ( Ford Cortina in Britain), Opel Ascona B ( Vauxhall Cavalier ) and Morris Marina , and indeed it would be

392-668: A segment dominated by an increasing number of newer models including the Ford Escort Mark III, Vauxhall Astra, and Austin Maestro. Foreign models like the Volkswagen Golf and Datsun Sunny were also proving popular in the early 1980s. The last British Horizons were sold in 1986, soon after the launch of Peugeot 's Ryton-built 309 which had originally been intended for sale as the Talbot Arizona , as

441-823: A subsidiary of Chrysler Europe in Spain, and assembled from CKD kits by Todd Motors (later Mitsubishi Motors NZ) in New Zealand between 1977 and 1984. It was also assembled in Colombia as Dodge Alpine between 1978 and 1982 at the Chrysler Colmotores plant in Bogotá . Between 1979 and 1985 the car was also built by Saab-Valmet in Uusikaupunki factory in Finland . Saab-Valmet was only interested in building

490-470: Is because premium cars are included. From 2014 to 2018 premium cars are not included in total segment sales. Premium brands and models are marked italic . Electric cars are included in D-segment from 2019. year. 2019 - After years of decline, the midsized car segment is actually up 1% in 2019 to 1.05 million sales, maintaining a 6.7% share of the overall car market. 2020 - The midsized car segment

539-466: Is down 25% in 2020 to just under 790,000 sales, as its share of the European car market drops to 6.6%, slightly down from 6.7% last year. And luxury brands have now officially taken over control of this class, improving their share to 62.3% from 60.5% last year and claiming four of the top-5 positions. The top-3 players all gain share, outperforming not only the class but also the overall market. Note: this list includes cars from these decades which carried

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588-663: Is equivalent to the Euro NCAP "large family car" size class, and the present-day definition of the mid-size car category used in North America. Compact executive cars are part of the D-segment size category. D-segment sales represented about 7% of the market in the 2010s. Most D-segment cars are sedans/saloons or wagons/estates but hatchbacks , and coupes have been common. Pricing and specification of D-segment cars can vary greatly, from basic low-cost transport to more luxurious and expensive models. As of 2021

637-591: The Renault 20 , Renault 30 and Volkswagen Passat , and became the 1976 European Car of the Year . It had been in development since 1972. The model was marketed variously as the Simca 1308 and 1309 models (with larger engines), Chrysler Alpine (UK, Ireland and New Zealand ), Dodge Alpine ( Colombia ), Chrysler 150 (Spanish market), and later Talbot 1510 / Talbot Alpine / Talbot 150 (a facelifted version launched by PSA after its takeover of Chrysler Europe) and Talbot Solara (the saloon version). Originally

686-409: The 1970s. A Talbot Horizon turbo concept car was produced in 1984 with a full cream leather interior and sporty body kit, the car was designed at Whitley , Coventry . The Turbo Horizon is very different from those models once seen out on the street and is kept at Coventry Transport Museum , Coventry England. Due to corrosion problems the Horizon is now a rare sight, with just 20 examples still on

735-725: The 305 and BX. Valmet did not offer the Solara with the diesel engine so as to avoid competing in-house with the 305 Diesel, as they were both saloons. Whilst the 1307 sold in big numbers in France, the Chrysler Alpine did not fulfil its potential in the UK, initially losing out to contemporaries such as the Ford Cortina/Sierra and the Vauxhall Cavalier primarily due to the lack of larger engines (Ford and Vauxhall offered 2.0L engines in their products, whilst

784-586: The Alpine/Solara range topped out at a 1.6L unit). The Alpine's OHV Simca engines were particularly "tappety" and unrefined compared to the more modern overhead camshaft units of its rivals which further dented its appeal. In more recent years, due to corrosion problems similar to those of the Horizon few Alpines have survived in the UK. As of 2017, there were only 19 examples (including the later Talbot-badged versions) still licensed on British roads. However,

833-403: The British market, the rear-wheel drive Avenger saloons and estates remained in production alongside it, giving British buyers a full choice of bodystyles in a market where hatchbacks still only accounted for a minority of sales. There was never a three-door version of the Horizon. To fill this niche, the Simca 1100 remained on sale in continental Europe, while the rear-wheel drive Chrysler Sunbeam

882-671: The Car of the Year award, it was initially a success both at home and in the export. Production levels shot up from a daily 400 at introduction in September 1975 to 850 in December of that year, to 1100 a day in late 1976. The 1307 (7  CV ) had the smaller engine, while the 1308 (8 CV) received the larger version. Unlike the other models, the more sporting 1307 S received twin Weber carburettors in continental European markets to provide

931-536: The GLS. The Horizon was voted European Car of the Year in 1979. Initially only available in LS or GL trim, its launch saw the end of the rear-engined Simca 1000 . The Simca 1100 remained in production in France until 1981, being sold for a time as a low cost alternative to the Horizon, but the two cars competed in virtually the same segment and the older car, its model range drastically reduced, saw its sales plummet. On

980-652: The Horizon adopted a front-wheel drive, transverse-engine layout. The model line was the Chrysler Corporation's first and only world car , with the Chrysler Europe project developed in tandem with the American-market Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon . While similar in appearance, and in one case even sharing a model name, the European and American Horizons had significant mechanical differences. The Horizon

1029-454: The Horizon was rebadged as a Talbot in 1979. In 1981, the revisited models were introduced with minor improvements. By then however, the Horizon was becoming increasingly uncompetitive next to rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf (which was actually four years older), Opel Kadett / Vauxhall Astra and third generation Ford Escort . The unrefined overhead-valve engines carried over from the Simca 1100 were largely to blame, while body corrosion

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1078-594: The PSA BE gearbox. An automatic transmission was available on most 1500 models, and was standard equipment on the 1500 SX model. The lowest level LE had very meagre equipment, not even being fitted with a rear parcel shelf. Some limited editions were: In 1982 Talbot and Lotus Cars began work on a Group B rally car meant to succeed the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus . Based on the Talbot Horizon, the car

1127-666: The Talbot Arizona. The end of Horizon production early in 1987 also marked the end of the Talbot badge on passenger cars. However, the North American version of the car continued to be produced until 1990. The PSA XUD9 diesel engine of 1905 cc diesel engine was fitted to certain models of the Horizon, which was the first example of this engine available in the UK. All UK-market diesel Horizons were made in Spain. The British Peugeot-Talbot brochure of October 1984 shows

1176-415: The UK and many other export markets. In early 1985, with the end of production nearing, Finnish assemblers Saab-Valmet began offering the Talbot 1510 GLD, using PSA's 1.9-liter XUD9 diesel engine with 65 PS (48 kW). This was the only diesel-engined version of the Simca 1307 ever offered; PSA's Spanish branch had worked on such a model but work was never completed due to internal competition from

1225-733: The United Kingdom, the last cars were rebadged as the Rapier and Minx which were badged depending on trim level rather than body style. Production of the Alpine, Solara and Horizon models had already finished at Ryton in the autumn of 1985 to make way for the Peugeot 309 . The names were sourced from the corporate ancestor of Chrysler Europe, the Rootes Group , having been used on the Sunbeam Rapier and Hillman Minx . Supply of these models

1274-532: The acquisition of Chrysler's European car division by Peugeot in 1978, both the Chrysler and Simca brands were dropped and the car was sold under the Talbot brand in all its European markets. The Horizon was intended to be a "world car" designed for consumers on both sides of the Atlantic , but in execution, the European and North American versions of the vehicle have very little in common. Born largely out of

1323-564: The car has fared better in its native France, where it still has a cult following among Simca enthusiasts and many hundreds are still in service. The body styling of the Simca 1307 was the direct inspiration for the design of Russian Moskvitch Aleko (1986–2001) The car was originally manufactured in Poissy in France, in Ryton in the United Kingdom, from 1977 in Villaverde by Barreiros ,

1372-411: The car was powered by 1294 cc and 1442  cc versions of the "Poissy engine" with electronic ignition and a four-speed gearbox. From launch it was available in three trim levels: GL, S and GT. Equipment levels were high, with the later GLS version featuring central door locking and electric windows, accessories that up until then had only generally featured in larger more upmarket cars. Having won

1421-477: The edge of the speedometer dial. There was also an LED tachometer on top-of-the-range models; this horizontal row of green, yellow, and red LEDs was positioned atop the steering column and lit up in 250 rpm intervals. The Horizon was updated again in 1985, with different interior trim and slight changes to instrument dials and door cards to make the car look more modern, but with the Fiat Ritmo /Strada, it

1470-578: The fitment of a heated driver's seat, which was not originally available. Talbot did not allow Valmet to export any Finnish-built cars; they were only meant for local sales. In New Zealand , Chrysler, Talbot, Alpine, and 1510 badges were used on the car during its lifetime, though it was officially in price lists as an Alpine, following the UK convention. In 1982 the car was facelifted and renamed "Talbot SX" there. Rebadged models, mostly from Japanese or Korean manufacturers – Rebadged Chrysler/Plymouth models for external markets Large family car It

1519-535: The hatchback version. Trim levels were similar to the Alpine. It effectively took over from the Hunter, axed a year earlier, as the four-door large family saloon in the range. In the Benelux countries, a well-equipped "Ultra" special edition with metallic paint, alloy wheels, and velour interior appeared in December 1983. French manufacturing of 1510, Alpine and Solara, along with the smaller Horizon , ended in 1986. In

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1568-417: The interior and electrical system. The Saab-Valmet factory also made a series of 2,385 cars that ran on kerosene or turpentine . The Horizon was produced in France and also Britain (where production had begun in the 1980s) until June 1986, and in Spain and Finland until 1987. Its successor was the Peugeot 309 , a car developed in the UK and launched towards the end of 1985, originally destined to be sold as

1617-453: The need to replace the ageing Simca 1100 in France, the Horizon was essentially a shortened version of the larger Alpine model, giving the vehicle an unusually wide track for its length. Featuring transversely mounted Simca-designed 1.1, 1.3 and 1.5-litre "Poissy" OHV engines , 4-speed gearboxes, and torsion-bar suspension, the Horizon earned praise for its crisp styling, supple ride, and competent handling. The SX version which joined

1666-575: The next generations of those competing vehicles (the Ford Sierra and the Ascona C ) before the concept became fully accepted in the mainstream. Near the end of the original model's run, the Italian importer marketed a sporty and luxurious version of the bigger-engined 1308 GT. Called the "1308 GLS Superstrada", it featured alloy wheels, black striped along the lower flanks, and all chrome (aside from

1715-602: The only diesel Horizon being the LD 1.9, the XUD9 engine only available in the Peugeot 305 GRD as well. The Horizon was not the first diesel in the Talbot family of cars with the Chrysler 180 in Spain having been available with diesel power during the 1970s. The Peugeot 309 used some of the Horizon range of Simca-based engines for most of its production life, until replaced with the more modern Peugeot TU engine in 1992. In Britain, it

1764-676: The pentastar logo) was blacked out. For 1980 the car, which was now sold under the Talbot-brand, received an extensive facelift. The new model, shown at the Frankfurt Show , was known as the Talbot 1510 (the Talbot Alpine name was used in the UK). It received new front and rear lights and the new top of the range SX featured alloy wheels, cruise control, headlamp wash/wipe, power steering and trip computer. Automatic transmission and

1813-672: The range for the Paris Motor Show , in October 1978, attracted interest for its innovative trip computer. The device took information from three sources, a clock, a "débitmètre" mounted on the fuel feed to the carburetor, and distance information from the feed for the odometer . Using these three pieces of information the "computer" was able to report current fuel consumption and average speeds as well as information on distances and times, in either metric or imperial units. The trip computer later became an option on lesser models such as

1862-750: The road in the UK at the end of 2016. The main Horizon production lines were Poissy in France and PSA Ryton Assembly in England. British manufacture commenced on 4 January 1982, and soon thereafter the Ryton plant was working a full five-day week for the first time in sixteen months. At the time, British Horizons had 60% British parts content. It was also manufactured in Spain in Villaverde by PSA Peugeot Citroën's Spanish subsidiary, and in Finland by Saab - Valmet from 1979 onwards. The Finnish-made Talbot Horizons integrated many Saab components, especially in

1911-402: The similar-sized 305 saloon and estates in production. UK sales of the Horizon (which went on sale there in early 1978 and was badged as a Chrysler until 1 August 1979, when it became a Talbot) were initially acceptable, held back by the fact that it was a French import. Sales improved as manufacture was brought to the United Kingdom in 1982. Soon thereafter, however, it started to lose sales in

1960-428: The smaller Horizon , but Simca-Talbot would only license that car if Valmet also agreed to assemble the larger 1307. The Finnish-made cars gradually introduced some local changes, including the option of a diesel engine, and featured many Saab interior parts. The most visible Saab-parts were the seats, which began to use Saab's internal structure at the time that the Talbot name replaced Simca. This change also allowed for

2009-515: The typical D-segment category size span from approx. 4.6m to 4.8m. D-segment cars in Europe are the BMW 3 Series, Tesla Model 3, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4/S4/RS4, Mazda6, Škoda Superb, Volvo S60/V60, Citroën C5X, Peugeot 508, Audi A5/S5/RS5, BMW 4 Series, Volkswagen Arteon, Toyota Camry and Polestar 2. 100,000 – 200,000 sales (Best-Selling) 50,000 – 100,000 sales 10,000 – 50,000 sales Notes: Jump in segment total sales after 2019. year

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2058-533: Was a serious issue – at least until the Series II ;– giving many cars a short service life. The series 2 Horizon launched in July 1982 had a 5-speed gearbox, and was badged series II 5 speed . The bumpers were painted black and the backlite was smaller, because the parcel shelf was raised to increase the size of the boot. Some models had an electronic LED 'econometer' which lit up several lights around

2107-462: Was developed by Chrysler Europe under the codename C2. It was designed in the United Kingdom at the Whitley design studio by Roy Axe and engineered in France at Poissy by Simca as a replacement for their ageing 1100 range . It was introduced to market in summer 1978. In France it was initially sold under the Simca brand, whilst elsewhere in Europe it was initially badged as a Chrysler. As a result of

2156-624: Was fitted with a mid-mounted Lotus type 911 engine driving the rear wheels. The project was cancelled after two prototypes had been built. Peugeot subsequently began development of their all-wheel drive 205 T16 . The North American versions of the Horizon were the Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon . Although they appeared to share the same external bodywork as the European Horizon, the panels were in fact not interchangeable. They were also vastly different mechanically – using

2205-672: Was limited and in 1986 production ceased, with the Talbot marque being shelved soon afterwards on all passenger vehicles. Thus, the Alpine/1510/Solara series was not directly replaced; however, the Citroën BX (already released in 1982) and the forthcoming Peugeot 405 (launched in late 1987) were effectively its de facto successors as PSA's entries in the D-segment . Both of these cars were very successful in Europe and helped Citroën and Peugeot increase their market share in

2254-438: Was now one of the oldest mainstream family hatchback on sale in Europe, and faced competition from even more new competitors. Fewer paint colours were available and fewer models. Many of the late cars, which were built between 1985 and 1986, were painted in an unsympathetic pale green or cream. Horizons had initially been available in more adventurous colours including orange, but many of these colours had gone out of fashion after

2303-427: Was seen as a modern alternative to the existing Rootes-designed Avenger models, offering buyers a front-wheel drive hatchback alongside the rear-wheel drive saloons and estates. The Avenger was produced alongside it until 1981, by which time the company had come under Peugeot ownership and no new models were launched to replace it, as the front-wheel drive hatchback style was becoming more popular and Peugeot already had

2352-485: Was sold alongside the Horizon in the United Kingdom until 1981. Although it didn't officially replace any of the British Chryslers ;– despite being a similar size to the rear-wheel drive Sunbeam and traditional Hillman Avenger saloon and estates which had been on sale since 1970 – both of the latter finished production in 1981. After Chrysler Europe collapsed in 1978 and was sold to Peugeot,

2401-522: Was sold alongside the ageing Hillman Hunter , a rear-wheel drive range of saloons and estates which would continue until 1979. This type of car was generally more popular in Britain in 1975, with the best-selling cars in this sector being the Ford Cortina and Morris Marina . The Chrysler Alpine was first sold in Britain in January 1976, going on sale just after the similar-sized Vauxhall Cavalier ,

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