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The 1987 Plymouth Sundance and Dodge Shadow were targeted to replace thePlymouth Horizon and Dodge Omni.

But when the U.S. government decided to lift Japanese import quotas,Chrysler Chairman Lee Iacocca said the low-priced competition would be toomuch and Sundance/Shadow would become upscale cars. Besides, Omni/Horizon wereselling well and he didn`t want to discontinue them yet.

Sundance and Shadow were positioned between the subcompact Omni andHorizon and compact Plymouth Reliant and Dodge Aries. We test drove the `87Sundance and at first glance the styling is so similar to the LeBaron GTS, youcould confuse the two.

Neither Sundance nor Shadow is a larger version of the Horizon/Omni; both are smaller versions of the compact LeBaron GTS and Dodge Lancer hatchbackEurosedans. Sundance and Shadow will be offered in four-door and two-doorhatchback versions, with the four-doors arriving in dealerships now, the two- doors in September.

Both are built on a 97-inch wheelbase and are 171.7 inches overall, which compares with a 99.1-inch wheelbase and 163.2-inch overall length of theHorizon.

Sundance/Shadow come with 47 standard items, including front-wheel drive, Chrysler`s 2.2-liter four cylinder engine with a 5-speed, power steering andbrakes, all-season steel belted radials, wide decorative and protective bodyside moldings.

They also come with galvanized metal body panels that eliminate need fordealer rustproofing, a stainless steel exhaust system for long life, fold downrear seats that allow access to the rear cargo area from inside the car, dual remote mirrors, child safety door locks and a five year-50,000 mile warranty. The 2.2-liter is the only engine offered, but you can equip it with aturbo boost and what must be the loudest turbo whistle in the industry. Inturbo powered cars, a loud whistle usually is used to give the impression ofswiftness. True here.

Sundance performs well, but when it comes to 0-to-60 or off-the-lineperformance, the car owes more to the smaller Horizon than to the largerLeBaron GTS. With the turbo you get a speedometer that will register 125 milesan hour, without it, 85 m.p.h. We suspect that either is for show, not toindicate go, as evidenced by Environmental Protection Agency estimates of 25miles per gallon city/33 m.p.g. highway.

Once Chrysler`s 2.5-liter four cylinder is more widely available, thatengine would be a welcome option in Sundance/Shadow for those who wantquickness without the expense of turbo power. The 5-speed shifts adequatelybut it isn`t a finger tip touch unit. Eventually, the 2.5 and automatic would make the best combination in this car.

Ride, handling and cornering are more like the Horizon than GTS inSundance, with some road wander on the straightaways, body roll and sway inthe corners.

A nuisance is the high-standing accelerator, which Chrysler says lets“performance drivers“ use the heel-t oe method on the accelerator pedal.

Heel and toe in an economy car? Get serious. In most cases the pedalplacement means your toe can slide off and your heel then hits the floor.

A nice touch is the abundance of floor and door carpeting that helps keep the interior quiet. The worst feature is the rear seat room–two adults won`t be able to carry on an animated conversation.

Other nice features are a spacious cargo area and a lightweight spring-held hood that, when open, exposes oil filter and four spark plugs within easysight and reach.

Sundance and Shadow start at about $7,500, or about $200 more than afully equipped Horizon/Omni America. After you add air conditioning,automatic, top-of-the-line AM/FM stereo and assorted power window/door lockand other goodies, Chrysler says you can drive away for less than $10,000.

Sundance is an economy car that doesn`t look like one and isn`t equippedlike one though it acts like one. Chrysler expects to s ell 70,000 Shadows and Sundances by year end and about 180,000 in 1987. That LeBaron GTS and cousinDodge Lancer haven`t broken sales records could affect the look-alikeSundance/Shadow.