With the release of the impressive new 2008 Lancer, it got us here at GrandJDM thinking about great Mitsubishis of the past (hey, we’re not just Nissan and Mazda whores here!) In 1982, Mitsubishi’s best sports car was the Starion. Today, Mitsubishi’s brand image is so infused with the Lancer Evolution, that it’s hard sometimes to remember that at one time, they had a good RWD turbo sports car in the proper old school idiom.
The Starion was released in 1982 and was sold in most markets. Power was by a “Sirius” 2.0L 8 valve four banger with a non intercooled turbo. Technology was definitely of the old school with single point injection (ie one giant fuel injector to handle the whole engine!) but power was quite reasonable at 168hp. Suspension was independent Macpherson strut all round with an optional LSD. Weight was a slightly porky 1250kg, some of which can be explained by the massive doors, which are reinforced to take the seat belt mounts (that’s right, the seat belt reel and top buckle are not on the B-pillar but on the doors). The Starion was also larded with heavy luxury equipment like electric leather seats, etc which added to the pounds.
