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It was designed and engineered by Renault, and most components bear theFrench automaker`s stamp. But since AMC and Chrysler merged, Chrysler isbuilding and selling the Premier.

How successful the car will be depends on whether consumers focus on thenatural parents or the adoptive Chrysler. If Premier is accepted as a memberof the Chrysler family, the car has a better-than-even chance to succeed,especially because among cars now offered by Chrysler, Premier is one of thebetter vehicles.

Premier is a midsize, front-wheel-drive, four-door sedan built on a105.5-inch wheelbase and is 192.6 inches long, about the size of a ChevroletCelebrity.

It`s offered in LX ($12,474) and ES ($14,079) versions. A 2.5-liter, 111- horsepower, 4-cylinder engine will be standard (not available untilFebruary) in the LX. A 3-liter, 150- h.p. V-6 is standard in the ES andoptional in the LX ($630). Both are fuel injected. A 4-speed automatictransmission, which is annoying at times because of frequent downshifting, is standard on both cars.

Premier is plain but pleasant. The cloth seats (leather comes later) arecomfortable and easily hold two adults front and rear. The spacious trunkextends well under the rear seat for added room. Gear shift and turn signallevers were moved from the steering wheel housing to pods flanking the wheel. They take getting used to.

Styling is rather ordinary, with about the only eye-grabbers being thewide body side moldings and an Eagle ornament in the grille. A plasticurethane coating protects rocker panels, and 5 m.p.h. impact bumpers guardagainst minor impacts in the parking lot.

The V-6 is fairly quick, though added firewall insulation could make itquieter. Ride is smooth, and handling is crisper than expected. No sports car,but no sloppy luxury sedan, either. If your experience with Renault-engineeredride and handling has been the Alliance or Encore, you`ll be pleasantlysurprised with Premier.

You`ll also appreciate the attention to such creature comforts as easilyused hood and fuel door release levers on the floor along the driver`s seat;solid springs rather than jittery metal rod props to hold up the hood; a radiothat offers more sound than confusing buttons; and two deeply recessedcupholders in the glovebox lid.

Standard equipment includes AM-FM radio, digital clock, pile carpet,leather-wrapped wheel, visor vanity mirror, trip odometer, four-wheelindependent suspension, Michelin all-season tires, gas-filled shocks, frontsway bar, power steering, power brakes, electronic ignition and a 17-gallontank. The ES version adds front buckets, rallye instrumentation, tripcomputer, upgraded radio with eight speakers, Goodyear GT+4 tires, touringsuspension, sport wheels, dual outlet muffler and decklid accent stripes,among others.

Premier`s dash has an antilock brake warning light and was designed totake antilock brakes, but not for a year to 18 mont hs, Cappy said. There`s an air bag warning light in the ES, too, but again, no bags for now.