In the 1980s, the Chrysler Corporation went all in on front-drive, four-cylinder performance cars. Here’s the Chrysler brand’s Camaro fighter, the Laser.

The basso profundo voice in this Chrysler spot is instantly recognizable: Here’s Darth Vader himself, actor James Earl Jones (1931-2024). He’s pitching the 1985 Chrysler Laser, a virtual twin to the Dodge Daytona. Both front-drive sport compacts were built on the Mopar G-body package, yet another K-car spinoff. With more standard features, the Laser sold for around $500 more than the Daytona, but wonders be, the Laser actually outsold the Daytona by a small margin in all three production years, 1984 through 1986.

In the 1980s, the Chrysler Corporation was all in on front wheel-drive, four-cylinder performance cars, greatly aided by a turbocharged version of the company’s versatile 2.2-liter engine. In the Laser the 2.2 Turbo was good for 142 hp, and here Lord Vader informs us that the Laser is quicker than the Camaro Z/28, Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, and Toyota Supra in a 0-to-50 mph contest.

Road & Track magazine matched the ’84 Laser turbo against the Mustang GT and Firebird Trans Am in a three-way comparison test, where the Mustang and Pontiac V8s were a few tenths of a second quicker in 0-to-60 mph, but the three were nearly a dead heat in their quarter-mile elapsed times. The editors reported the handling as “capable” and “controllable” but found the front-drive torque steer “an annoyance.” In their final verdict, the Laser was “a very strong performer and a good handler,” but overall, the package needed  “refinement.” Sounds about right. Video below.