Mitsubishi is known for its World Rally Cross pedigree. Naturally, most of its most popular sports cars have been all-wheel drive and based on its rally cars. The Lancer Evolution is a competitor to the Subaru WRX and the two rivals have been at each other’s throats since their conception. Some models of the Evolution are arguably, but the Subaru has always won in total sales. Unfortunately, the Lancer Evolution was discontinued in 2015. Mitsubishi has been selling cars in the U.S. for 40 years now, but currently, it doesn’t have even one sports car in its lineup. Anyway, let’s take a look at the 10 best sports cars that the Japanese automaker has produced.
The most powerful Evo IX model is the FQ 360, which is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that generates 366 horsepower and 363 pound-feet of torque. From 0 to 60 miles per hour, the Evo IX FQ 360 takes 3.9 seconds, and its top speed is 160 miles per hour. The Mitsubishi FQ 360 is equipped with a six-speed manual transmission as standard. The FQ 360 is the successor to the Evo VIII FQ 400. This Evo IX FQ 360 has less power but higher torque than the FQ 400. It features Bilstein monotube shock absorbers used for suspension, and the FQ 360 runs on super unleaded petrol only. The Ralliart Sports meter kit, Speedline alloy wheels, and a carbon fiber front splitter are among the equipment upgrades.
The Lancer 1600 GSR was the hottest version of this early model Mitsubishi Lancer. A SOHC 1597cc engine replaced the standard 1.2- and 1.4-liter engines, giving the vehicle a five-speed transmission in place of the standard four-speed ’box. The 4G32 “Saturn” engine was outfitted with twin downdraft two-barrel Hitachi carburetors and a 4-2-1 cast-iron exhaust header from the factory. The GSR package included an upgraded interior with embossed vinyl seats, a four-channel audio system, and, of course, an eight-track tape player. The 1974 and 1976 Rally Safari in Southern Africa were won by a factory-modified Lancer, as well as the 1973 Southern Cross Rally in Australia. Lancers were popular among rally privateers in Australia and Zimbabwe due to the early success of the car. As a result, the Lancer was renowned for its durability.
The VR-4 was the top-of-the-line Galant version for three generations of the Japanese vehicle. The World Rally Cross Group A model was converted into a road vehicle. It also has a rally pedigree, winning six WRC rallies in three years, including the 1000 Lakes in Finland. The first generation of VR-4s were equipped with inline-four 2.0-liter engines derived from their competition versions, which could generate 237 horsepower. The next generation of VR-4s came with V-6 engines. The 2.5-liter V-6 version generated 279 horsepower.
The Evolution X (FQ 440) is the fastest Mitsubishi car ever produced, with a 0-62 miles per hour time of 3.6 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155 miles per hour. The FQ 440 was produced to commemorate Mitsubishi’s 40th anniversary in the United Kingdom, utilizing a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine with 440 horsepower and 412 pound-feet of torque. The FQ 440 was restricted to 40 models and cost around $82,900 to commemorate the company’s 40th anniversary. It had bi-xenon headlights, forged BBS alloy wheels, leather bucket seats, and a high-contrast LCD setup.
The Starion was marketed in North America as the ’Conquest’ and was sold by Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth. Even though the Starion was the second Japanese sports car to include electronic fuel injection on a turbocharged engine, sales were slow. The Mazda RX-7 and the Toyota Supra were the Starion’s competition. Only one engine was available in North America, the well-known 2.6-liter G54B that was also used by Chrysler on its K-platform cars. Two body styles were available (narrow and wide-body), but only one was available in North America.
The Evo VII was driven by Brian O’Conner in 2 Fast 2 Furious, but he was not driving the fastest version of the Lancer Evolution VII. The Evo VII Xtreme SC isn’t outlandish if you’re familiar with the wacky-tuned Evolutions you’ll find around here. However, this isn’t just any modified Mitsubishi Evo - it’s one from a company with strong ties to Mitsubishi. Ralliart UK imported Evolution models. The Ralliart UK name was sold to the Colt Car Company in 2002. At the time, it was the most powerful thing they had created. In addition to its forged pistons, high-lift camshafts, and crankshaft, the 2.2-liter inline-four featured 1000cc injectors and an Apexi turbocharger. The Xtreme SC offers 458 horsepower at 5,800 rpm, 410 pound-feet of torque at 3,500 rpm, and 0-60 miles per hour in only 3.5 seconds. Only one example was ever built.
This is not your mom’s new Eclipse crossover. The Mitsubishi Eclipse was in continuous production since the Lancer Evolution, and it is the longest-running sports model in the company’s history. This compact sports car was made from 1989 until 2011 and sold under Mitsubishi, Eagle, and Plymouth badges, in addition to being assembled at Mitsubishi’s Illinois plant. The Eclipse set the pace as a small, light, simple-to-handle, and enjoyable-to-drive vehicle that was also simple to modify. The Eclipse was available in both coupes and convertibles. The last generation of Diamond-Star engines were a 2.4-liter with 162hp and a more powerful 3.2-liter providing 263hp.
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI Tommi Makinen edition is one of the most limited Mitsubishis, with only 2,500 copies built. It was created to commemorate the four championships Makinen won driving a Diamond-Star vehicle in the WRC. The only real difference between the standard Evo VI and this one is the 276-horsepower, 2.0-liter inline-four turbocharged engine. It has a special front bumper, a titanium turbine, TME edition stickers, signature Recaro seats with an embossed “T. Makinen” logo, a different front bumper, red and black Recaro seats with an embossed “T. Mäkinen” logo, 17" white Enkei wheels, a leather steering wheel, and shift knob, a titanium compressor that spools up quicker, a front strut brace, a lowered ride height (in order to handle tarmac stages), and a quicker steering ratio. This special Evo VI only comes in red.
The Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 weighs 3,737 pounds, and it’s an all-wheel-drive, twin-turbocharged machine. It weighs about 500 pounds more than a Chevrolet Corvette, even though it’s just an inch longer overall. The VR-4 has a 320 horsepower 3.0-liter V-6 engine in its nose, which belies its front-drive ancestry. To boost this vehicle, two turbos are used, which blow through individual intercoolers. The horsepower peak occurs at 6,000 rpm, but all 315 pound-feet of torque is available at just 2,500 rpm. To ensure that enough boost is available to hurl this much mass, a high-rpm launch is required. It pulls eagerly through each of its six Getrag gears, except the sixth, which is an extreme overdrive ratio for highway fuel economy. Although the Mitsubishi beats the similarly powerful Toyota Supra Turbo to 60 mph by 0.3 seconds (4.8 versus 5.1 seconds) thanks to the impressive all-wheel-drive launch, the 3000GT takes much more time than the lighter Toyota Supra to reach 100 mph (13.4 versus 12.3 seconds).
The FQ 400 series was among the quickest Mitsubishi vehicles ever made. It was the second car on this list because of its 0-62 miles per hour time of 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 175 miles per hour. Its 4G63 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine was specially tweaked by Rampage Tuning, Flow Race Engines, and Owen Developments. The Lancer FQ 400 was produced by Ralliart in the United Kingdom and sold exclusively with 405 horsepower and 355 pound-feet of torque. It was sold to commemorate Mitsubishi’s 30th Anniversary in the UK. In those days, the FQ 400 was limited to 100 examples and came with a price of $85,000. Mitsubishi manufactured this Lancer FQ 400 to celebrate its 30th Anniversary in the United Kingdom. The Evolution VIII was the first Lancer to be sold officially in the United States.