The
Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 was the range-topping version of
Mitsubishi Motorsis the fifth largest automaker in Japan and the fifteenth largest in the world by global unit sales. It is part of the Mitsubishi keiretsu, formerly the biggest industrial group in Japan, and was formed in 1970 from the automotive division of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.Throughout its history it...
'
GalantThe Mitsubishi Galant is an automobile manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors since 1969. The name was derived from the French word galant, meaning "chivalrous". There have been nine distinct generations, and cumulative sales now exceed five million. It began as a compact sedan, but over the course of...
model, available in the sixth (1988–92), seventh (1992–96) and eighth (1996–2002) generations of the vehicle. Originally introduced to comply with the new
Group AIn relation to motorsport governed by the FIA, Group A referred to a set of regulations providing production-derived vehicles for outright competition. In contrast to the short-lived Group B and the Group C, the Group A referred to production-derived vehicles limited in terms of power, weight,...
regulations of the
World Rally ChampionshipThe World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver, co-driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system...
, it was soon superseded as Mitsubishi's competition vehicle by the
Lancer EvolutionThe Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, colloquially known as the Lancer Evo or Evo ,is a car manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors. There have been ten official versions to date, and the designation of each model is most commonly a roman numeral. All of them share a two litre, turbocharged engine and...
, and subsequently developed into a high-performance showcase of the company's technology.
Background & competition history
Throughout the 1970s and '80s, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) sought to improve its image through the established path of participation in
motorsportAutomobile racing is a motorsport involving racing cars. It is one of the world's most watched television sports.- The beginning of racing:...
. The
Lancer 1600 GSRThe Mitsubishi Lancer 1600 GSR is the high-performance version of the first generation Lancer sedan, developed by Mitsubishi Motors to further their aspirations in off-road racing, especially the Safari Rally of Kenya...
and
Pajero/Montero/ShogunThe Mitsubishi Pajero is a sport utility vehicle manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors. It was named after Leopardus pajeros, the Pampas Cat which inhabits the Patagonia plateau region in southern Argentina. However, because pajero is a slang term for "wanker" in the Spanish language, alternative...
both achieved great success in
rallyingRallying is a form of motor competition that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars. This motorsport is distinguished by running not on a circuit, but instead in a point-to-point format in which participants and their co-drivers drive...
and
Rally RaidThe Dakar Rally is an annual rally raid type of off-road automobile race, organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation...
events, and eventually the company planned an attempt on the
Group BThe Group B referred to a set of regulations introduced in 1982 for competition vehicles in sportscar racing and rally racing regulated by the FIA. The Group B regulations fostered some of the quickest, most powerful and sophisticated rally cars ever built. However, a series of major accidents,...
class of the World Rally Championship with a
four-wheel driveFour-wheel drive, 4WD, 4x4 , or AWD is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
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
homologatedHomologation is a technical term, derived from the Greek homologeo for "to agree", which is generally used in English to signify the granting of approval by an official authority...
the recently-introduced sixth generation of its
GalantThe Mitsubishi Galant is an automobile manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors since 1969. The name was derived from the French word galant, meaning "chivalrous". There have been nine distinct generations, and cumulative sales now exceed five million. It began as a compact sedan, but over the course of...
sedan for the
Group AIn relation to motorsport governed by the FIA, Group A referred to a set of regulations providing production-derived vehicles for outright competition. In contrast to the short-lived Group B and the Group C, the Group A referred to production-derived vehicles limited in terms of power, weight,...
class, using the mechanical underpinnings from its aborted Starion prototype. Between 1988 and '92, it was campaigned by the official factory outfit,
Mitsubishi Ralliart Europeis the motorsports division of Mitsubishi Motors. It is responsible for development and preparation of the company's rally racing and off-road racing vehicles, and is also used as a performance brand with parts available to the public....
, winning three events in the hands of
Mikael EricssonMikael Ericsson is a Swedish former rally driver. During his career he competed in 40 events in the World Rally Championship, including two victories consecutively in 1989, his best year, when he finished fourth overall....
(1989 1000 Lakes Rally),
Pentti AirikkalaPentti Airikkala , was one of the 'Flying Finns' who dominated world rallying in the past four decades...
(1989 Lombard RAC Rally) and
Kenneth ErikssonKenneth Eriksson is a now retired World Rally Championship rally driver. He drove for several manufacturer teams, including the Subaru World Rally Team, Mitsubishi, Hyundai and Skoda...
(1991
Swedish RallyThe Uddeholm Swedish Rally , formerly the Swedish Rally, is an automobile rally competition held in Värmland, Sweden in early February. First held in 1950, when it was called the Rally to the Midnight Sun with start and finish at separate locations, seventeen years later both start and finish...
). It was also driven to outright victory in the
Asia-Pacific Rally ChampionshipThe Asia-Pacific Rally Championship is an international rally championship organized by the FIA. The championship was first held in 1988 and won by Japan's Kenjiro Shinozuka in a Mitsubishi Galant VR-4. Other winners include the two-time World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz of Spain and the 1986...
s by
Kenjiro ShinozukaKenjiro Shinozuka is a Japanese rally driver. Since his debut in 1967, his greatest successes have been as a works driver for Mitsubishi Motors...
(1988) and
Ross DunkertonRoss Dunkerton is a former champion Australian rally driver from Western Australia. He is currently a councilor for the Town of Bassendean....
(1991–92), and the American National GT Championship (1992) by
Tim O'NeilTim O'Neil is an American rally racing driver, and the winner of five North American rally championships. He has driven both as a privateer, and as a factory driver for Volkswagen and Mitsubishi.-1980s:...
.
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.
FordThe Ford Motor Company is an American multinational corporation based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury brands, Ford also owns Volvo Cars of Sweden, and a small stake...
migrated the
Sierra/Sapphire CosworthFord Sierra RS Cosworth is the result of a Ford-project with the purpose of "Producing a downright winner for Group A racing events in Europe."- Development :The project was defined by Stuart Turner in the spring of 1983...
to a smaller
EscortThe Ford Escort is a small family car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company from 1968 to 2003. Although it was originally a European model, the Escort badge has also been applied to several different designs in North America over the years .The first use of the Ford Escort name was in the 1950s...
-based bodyshell;
Subaruis the automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate Fuji Heavy Industries Group .Subaru is internationally known for their use of boxer engines in most of their vehicles. The company decided to use all wheel drive in most international markets as standard equipment in...
developed the
ImprezaThe Subaru Impreza is a compact car that was first introduced by Subaru in 1993."Impreza" is a coined word, deriving from an originally Italian word, impresa, meaning a feat or achievement. In Polish, "Impreza" means "party", "event" or "show"....
to succeed their
LegacyThe Subaru Legacy is a mid-size car built by Japanese manufacturer Subaru since 1989. Available as a wagon or sedan, the Legacy joined the smaller Leone and took over as Subaru's mainstay vehicle. The Legacy has been noted for its reliability and practicality , and many models have been commended...
; and Toyota eventually replaced the
CelicaThe Toyota Celica name has been applied to a series of popular coupes made by the Japanese company Toyota. The name is ultimately derived from the Latin word coelica meaning "heavenly" or "celestial"....
coupe with the
CorollaThe Corolla is a line of subcompact/compact cars manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. In 1997, the Corolla became the best selling nameplate in the world, with over 35 million sold as of...
. 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.
Sixth generation (E38A/E39A)
Group A regulations dictated a
turbochargedA turbocharger, or turbo, is a gas compressor that is used for forced-induction of an internal combustion engine. A form of supercharger, the purpose of a turbocharger is to increase the density of air entering the engine to create more power...
engine of 2.0
LThe litre or liter is a unit of volume. There are two official symbols: the Latin letter L in lower and upper case . The lower case L is also often written as a cursive ℓ, though this symbol has no official approval by any international bureau...
displacementEngine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches...
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 AmericaNorth America is the northern continent of the Americas, situated in the Earth's northern hemisphere and in the western hemisphere. It is bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southeast by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the North Pacific...
,
New ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Māori named New Zealand Aotearoa, commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud...
,
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
,
Japanis an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
& other
AsiaAsia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.6% of the earth's total surface area and with approximately 4 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population.Asia is traditionally defined as part of the...
n
Pacific RimThe Pacific Rim refers to the countries and cities located around the edge of the Pacific Ocean. There are many economic centers around the Pacific Rim, such as Auckland, Busan, Brisbane, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Lima, Los Angeles, Manila, Melbourne, Panama City, Portland, San Diego, San...
territories, with 3,000 reaching the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1991 and '92. 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
liftbackA liftback is a car body style in which the cargo space is accessed through a tailgate that extends up to the higher end of the C-pillar and includes the rear window. Liftbacks have either fastback-like rear ends, which are significantly sloped compared to more vertical hatchbacks, or are...
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.
Technical specifications
- Engine
- 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)(148kw for Aus Spec Model) (240 PS) at 6000 rpm
- Peak torque — 304 N·m
Newton metre is a unit of torque in the SI system. Less commonly, it is used as a unit of energy, in which case it is synonymous with the more common and standard SI unit of energy, the joule. The symbolic form is N m or N·m, and sometimes hyphenated newton-metre...
(217 ft·lbfThe foot-pound force, or simply foot-pound is a unit of work or energy .-Other units of energy:...
) at 3500 rpm
- Transmission — 4 speed auto / 5 speed manual
- Suspension — MacPherson strut
The MacPherson strut is a type of car suspension system which uses the axis of a telescopic damper as the upper steering pivot, widely used in modern vehicles and named after Earle S. MacPherson who developed the design, based in part on designs created by Guido Fornaca of FIAT in the mid-1920s...
s (front), double wishbonesIn automobiles, a double wishbone suspension is an independent suspension design using two wishbone-shaped arms to locate the wheel. Each wishbone or arm has two mounting points to the chassis and one joint at the knuckle. The shock absorber and coil spring mount to the wishbones to control...
(rear)
- Dimensions
- Length — 4560 mm
- Width — 1695 mm
- Height — 1440 mm
- Wheelbase — 2600 mm
- Kerb weight — 1483 kg
The kilogram is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units .[The spelling kilogram is the modern spelling used by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures , the U.S...]
- Fuel tank — 62 L
- Wheels/tyres — 195/60 R15 86H
Seventh generation (E84A)
For 1992, the emergence of the homologated Lancer meant the top-spec Galant was no longer constrained by sporting regulations. The existing, proven 4WD transmission was carried over, in keeping with Mitsubishi's reputation for performance-enhancing technology, but the old straight-4 was superseded by a smoother twin-turbo 2.0 L V6, and mated either to a conventional 5-speed
manualA manual transmission, or manual gearbox is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
, or a 4-speed
INVECSINVECS is the brand name used by Mitsubishi Motors for its electronic automatic transmission technology.-INVECS:...
autoAn automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
complete with "
fuzzy logicFuzzy logic is a form of multi-valued logic derived from fuzzy set theory to deal with reasoning that is approximate rather than precise. In contrast with "crisp logic", where binary sets have binary logic, the fuzzy logic variables may have a membership value of not only 0 or 1 – that is, the...
", which allowed the transmission to adapt to the driver's style and road conditions "on the fly". It was capable of dispatching the 0-60 sprint in about 6.5 seconds, and if derestricted could reach about 140 mph.
Variants of this car using the same engine/drivetrain were sold in Japan as the
Eterna XX-4 liftback (1992) and
Galant Sports GT liftback (1994–96).
Technical specifications
- Engine
- Configuration — DOHC 24v V type 6 cylinder
- Code — 6A12TT
- Bore/stroke, capacity — 78.4 x 69.0 mm, 1998 cc
- Compression ratio — 8.5:1
- Fuelling — ECI-MULTI, premium unleaded fuel
- Peak power — 177 kW (240 PS) at 6000 rpm
- Peak torque — 309 N·m (228 ft·lbf) @ 3500 rpm
- Transmission — 4 speed auto / 5 speed manual
- Suspension — Multi-link
A multi-link suspension is a type of vehicle suspension design typically used in independent suspensions, using three or more lateral arms, and one or more longitudinal arms. These arms do not have to be of equal length, and may be angled away from their 'obvious' direction.Typically each arm has a...
(front & rear)
- Dimensions
- Length — 4630 mm
- Width — 1730 mm
- Height — 1410 mm
- Wheelbase — 2635 mm
- Kerb weight — 1430 kg
- Fuel tank — 64 L
- Wheels/tyres — 205/60 R15 91V
Eighth generation (EC5A/EC5W)
The final VR-4 was introduced in 1996. The engine capacity was enlarged substantially to 2.5 L, which pushed the power up by 15 percent to the Japanese voluntary limit of 280 PS. The car was now capable of over 150 mph when derestricted, and could accelerate from 0-60 in about six seconds.
The
Type-V model could be specified with either the existing 5-speed manual or the optional
INVECS-II, which was now an advanced self-learning 5-speed
semi-autoA semi-automatic transmission is a system which uses electronic sensors, processors and actuators to execute gear shifts on the command of the driver...
based on
PorschePorsche SE is a German automotive manufacturer of luxury high performance automobiles, which is majority-owned by the Piëch and Porsche families. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG , often shortened to Porsche AG, is responsible and manufacturer of the Porsche automobile line...
's
TiptronicTiptronic, is a type of manumatic automatic transmission developed by Porsche, and used in its vehicles, and those of its licensees.- Overview :...
transmission, while the
Type-S model offered the optional
Active Yaw ControlActive Yaw Control is an automobile feature that uses an active differential to transfer torque to the wheels that have the best grip on the road. Unlike traditional mechanical limited slip differentials, an AYC is electronically controlled....
(AYC). This complex rear
diffA differential is a device, usually but not necessarily employing gears, capable of transmitting torque and rotation through three shafts, almost always used in one of two ways. In one way, it receives one input and provides two outputs; this is found in most automobiles...
was first seen on the Lancer Evo IV, and used an array of sensors to detect and quell
oversteerOversteer is a phenomenon that can occur in an automobile while attempting to corner or while already cornering. The car is said to oversteer when the rear wheels do not track behind the front wheels but instead slide out toward the outside of the turn. Oversteer can throw the car into a spin...
, giving the ultimate VR-4 great agility for a vehicle of its size and weight.
A slightly detuned
Super VR4 variant was sold on both the
GalantThe Mitsubishi Galant is an automobile manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors since 1969. The name was derived from the French word galant, meaning "chivalrous". There have been nine distinct generations, and cumulative sales now exceed five million. It began as a compact sedan, but over the course of...
sedan and the Legnum wagon. The Super model had a big rear wing.
With the 8th generation of the Galant, Mitsubishi introduced a
station wagonA station wagon is a passenger automobile with a body style similar to a sedan, or saloon, but with the roofline following the full, sometimes extended rear cargo area and sometimes an extra row of sometimes rear-facing seats, ending with a more vertical door than on a hatchback.Also sometimes...
(known in many markets as the
Legnum) to replace the old 5-door
hatchbackHatchback is a term designating an automobile design, containing a passenger cabin with an integrated cargo space, accessed from behind the vehicle by a single, top-hinged tailgate or large flip-up window...
, and the VR-4 was now available in both body styles.
North America and Europe were again denied this model, but the burgeoning grey import trade meant that it developed a cult following in several overseas territories, especially the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
and
New ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Māori named New Zealand Aotearoa, commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud...
. In 2000 MMC's motorsport partner
Ralliartis the motorsports division of Mitsubishi Motors. It is responsible for development and preparation of the company's rally racing and off-road racing vehicles, and is also used as a performance brand with parts available to the public....
was contracted to
type-approveType Approval is granted to a product that meets a minimum set of regulatory, technical and safety requirements. Generally, type approval is required before a product is allowed to be sold in a particular country, so the requirements for a given product will vary around the world...
Galants and Lancers for UK sales, and 200 VR-4s were officially imported before production finally ceased two years later.
Technical specifications
- Engine
- Configuration — DOHC 24v V type 6 cylinder
- Code — 6A13TT
- Bore/stroke, capacity — 81.0 × 80.8 mm, 2498 cc
- Compression ratio — 8.5:1
- Fuelling — ECI-MULTI, premium unleaded fuel
- Peak power — 206 kW (280 PS) @ 5500 rpm
- Peak torque — 367 N·m (271 ft·lbf) @ 4000 rpm
- Transmission — 5 speed semi-auto / 5 speed manual
- Suspension — Multi-link
A multi-link suspension is a type of vehicle suspension design typically used in independent suspensions, using three or more lateral arms, and one or more longitudinal arms. These arms do not have to be of equal length, and may be angled away from their 'obvious' direction.Typically each arm has a...
(front & rear)
- Dimensions
- Length — 4680 mm
- Width — 1760 mm
- Height — 1420 mm
- Wheelbase — 2635 mm
- Curb weight — 1520 kg
- Fuel tank — 60 L
- Wheels/tyres — 225/50 R16 91V
Future
Production of the VR-4 was halted in 2002 along with the rest of the Japanese-produced eighth generation, and there has been no indication of a direct replacement. At the 2006
Chicago Auto ShowThe Chicago Auto Show is held annually in February at Chicago's McCormick Placeconvention complex. At , with over 1,000 vehicles on display, it is the largest auto show in North America and the third largest in the world .The event, first produced in 1901, has been staged more times than any other...
Mitsubishi North America debuted the "
Galant Ralliart", but this was a US-market vehicle powered by the 260 PS version of the naturally-aspirated
6G75The Mitsubishi 6G7 or Cyclone V6 engine is a series of V6 piston engines from Mitsubishi Motors. Five displacement variants have been produced with both single- and double- overhead camshaft layouts. MIVEC variable valve timing has also been implemented in some versions, and the 2.5 and 3.0 L...
3.8 L V6 from the
Eclipse GTThe Mitsubishi Eclipse is a coupe that has been in production since 1989 for left hand drive markets. It was named after an eighteenth century English racehorse which won 26 races, and has also been sold as the Eagle Talon and the Plymouth Laser captive imports through Mitsubishi Motors' close...
. The Galant VR-4 has most likely been consigned to history, obsoleted by marketing (rally-derived technology is now restricted to the Lancer Evo model), motorsport regulations (the adoption of
World Rally CarWorld Rally Car is a term used to describe racing automobiles built to the specification set by the FIA, the international motorsports governing body, and used to compete in the outright class of the World Rally Championship...
s by the
WRCThe World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver, co-driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system...
negates the need for road-going homologation specials), and ever-stricter economy and emissions legislation.
External links