This nameplate was introduced for the 1979 model year as Chrysler’s North American captive-import entry in the subcompact class. It was a Plymouth-badged version of the front-wheel-drive Mitsubishi Mirage, sold alongside its Dodge counterpart as part of Chrysler’s strategy of offering small, fuel-efficient imported cars under familiar domestic marques. Early cars were hatchbacks, and the lineup later expanded as the series evolved through the early 1980s.
The model was aimed at buyers looking for an economical, modern-feeling small car at a time when compact imports were gaining ground in the U.S. market. Its Japanese engineering and lightweight packaging gave Plymouth a credible answer to the rising popularity of smaller hatchbacks, while the Chrysler branding helped it fit into the company’s showroom lineup. The car shared its basic hardware and general shape with the related Dodge version, making it a classic example of badge engineering from the era.
For 1982, the final model year under this name, the series was still part of Plymouth’s import-based small-car offering. After that, the nameplate was replaced by Colt, ending the Champ badge’s brief run. Because the name did not disappear and later return as a revived separate series, it is treated here as a single continuous production period from 1979 through 1982.