1981–1983 Talbot Murena Matra Murena 2.2 Specs & Performance

Unlike most sports coupes of its era, the Matra Murena placed its engine behind the passenger compartment and arranged three seats across the front cabin. This unusual layout gave the car a distinctive identity, while its fibreglass body over a steel chassis helped keep the design both unconventional and purposeful. The transverse mid-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive also created a balanced foundation for its sporting character, without sacrificing the option of carrying two passengers alongside the driver.

The 2.2-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder produces 115 hp at 5,800 rpm and 133 lb·ft of torque at 3,000 rpm. A five-speed manual gearbox transfers that output to the rear wheels, giving the coupe a 124 mph top speed. Produced from 1981–1983, the standard Murena 2.2 offers a different balance from the later, more powerful Murena S, retaining the original model’s distinctive three-abreast seating and understated engineering approach.