In 1987 the same platform was used for a sixth-generation model which adopted taller, rounded styling. This generation won the Car of the Year Japan award in 1987 and the GS model became Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year in 1989.[6] This Galant began American sales in 1989 side by side with the Sigma.
In 1991 Mitsubishi Motors Company complete a new assembly facility at Barcelona, Venezuela being the Galant one of the first produced models. It was sold until 1994 under the ZX, MF, MS and MX names, which indentified the various levels of equipment and transmission.
The Sigma designation disappeared with the 1990 model. A new hardtop liftback model was added in 1988, called the Mitsubishi Eterna. This generation was also sold in Canada as the Dodge 2000GTX and Eagle 2000GTX. Sales ended in 1992.
A limited edition based on the GTi-16v model was introduced in 1989, modified by German tuning company AMG (now owned by Mercedes-Benz),with mildly uprated engine (172 PS (127 kW; 170 hp)) and unique bodykit, alloy wheels & leather interior.
The sixth generation was also the first to see the introduction of the VR-4 variant, which was the basis for Mitsubishi's participation in the 1988–1992 World Rally Championships. The Galant's 4G63 two litre DOHC turbocharged engine and 4WD transmission was later adopted for the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution with little modification, and would remain in production for fifteen years.
Also called -Mitsubishi Eterna
-Dodge 2000GTX (Canada)
-Eagle 2000GTX (Canada)
-ZX/MF/MS/MX (Venezuela)
Production 1987–94
Class Compact
Body style(s)-4-door sedan
-5-door hatchback
Layout-Front engine, front-wheel drive/four-wheel drive
Engine(s) 1.6 L
1.8 L DOHC
2.0 L 102 hp (76 kW) I4
2.0 L 135 hp (101 kW) I4
2.0 L 197 hp (147 kW) turbocharged I4
Transmission(s)-4-speed automatic
-5-speed manual
Wheelbase 2,600 mm (102.4 in)
Length 4,670 mm (183.9 in)
Width 1,695 mm (66.7 in)
Height 1,360 mm (53.5 in)
Related to-Eagle Talon
-Mitsubishi Eclipse
-Plymouth Laser
Basic Regular passenger model Galant
Galant Hatchback
Galant VR4 (JDM/European version)
Galant VR4 (USDM version)
AMG Galant
E38a/E39a Mitsubishi Galant VR-4Throughout the 1970s and '80s, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) sought to improve its image through the established path of participation in motorsport. The Lancer 1600 GSR and Pajero/Montero/Shogun both achieved great success in rallying and Rally Raid events,[1][2] and eventually the company planned an attempt on the Group B class of the World Rally Championship with a four-wheel drive version of its Starion coupé. However, the class was outlawed following several fatal accidents in 1986 and '87, and Mitsubishi was forced to reassess its approach. It instead homologated the recently-introduced sixth generation of its Galant sedan for the Group A class, using the mechanical underpinnings from its aborted Starion prototype. Between 1988 and '92, it was campaigned by the official factory outfit, Mitsubishi Ralliart Europe, winning three events in the hands of Mikael Ericsson (1989 1000 Lakes Rally),[3] Pentti Airikkala (1989 Lombard RAC Rally)[4] and Kenneth Eriksson (1991 Swedish Rally).[5] It was also driven to outright victory in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championships by Kenjiro Shinozuka (1988) and Ross Dunkerton (1991–92), and the American National GT Championship (1992) by Tim O'Neil.[6]
However, Mitsubishi — and their competitors — realised that the WRC cars of the '80s were simply too big and ungainly for the tight, winding roads of rally stages. Ford migrated the Sierra/Sapphire Cosworth to a smaller Escort-based bodyshell; Subaru developed the Impreza to succeed their Legacy; and Toyota eventually replaced the Celica coupe with the Corolla. Mitsubishi, meanwhile, carried the VR-4's engine/transmission over to the new Lancer Evolution, bringing to an end the Galant's representation in MMC's motorsport efforts.
Group A regulations dictated a turbocharged engine of 2.0 L displacement and a four-wheel drive transmission. In order to satisfy the mandatory minimum sales requirements of 5,000 units, Mitsubishi made it available in North America, New Zealand, Australia, Japan & other Asian Pacific Rim territories, with 3,000 reaching the United States in 1991 and '92.[7] In road-going trim the four-door sedan produced up to 240 PS depending on market, giving the car a top speed of over 130 mph and allowing it to accelerate from 0-60 in 7.3 seconds, with a quarter mile elapsed time of 15.3 seconds. This car also featured power-assisted speed-sensitive four-wheel steering: the rear wheels steered in the same phase as the front wheels above 30 mph, up to 1.5 degrees.
A liftback version was also produced, known as the Eterna ZR-4. This had some minor cosmetic differences, but mechanically was the same as the VR-4 sedan. The manual version (both VR4 and ZR4) came with a TD05 turbo while the auto came with a TD04.
There were also several trim levels of the Galant VR4 which were:
-Galant VR4: Was the "base" Galant VR4
-Galant VR4 "RS": More race ready with aluminum hood with dual vents, extra cooling vent for FMIC on the front bumper, larger FMIC, Larger "yellow top" injectors, TDO5 16g turbo, stronger internal 4G63t, etc
-Galant VR4 Monte Carlo Edition: Basically a Galant VR4 RS with a few extra interior upgrades
-Galant VR4 Evolution / Evo Zero: Basically the last version of the Galant VR4 "RS" but named "Evolution" right before the birth of the Lancer Evolution.
Technical specificationsEngine
Configuration — DOHC 16v inline 4 cylinder
Code — 4G63T
Bore/stroke, capacity — 85.0 x 88.0 mm, 1997 cc
Compression ratio — 7.8:1
Fuelling — ECI-MULTI, premium unleaded fuel
Peak power — 177 kW (240 PS) at 6000 rpm
Peak torque — 304 N·m (217 ft·lbf) at 3500 rpm
Transmission — 4 speed auto / 5 speed manual
Suspension — MacPherson struts (front), double wishbones (rear)
Dimensions
Length — 4560 mm
4Grim's 1991 Galant VR4 #1948/2000
