Mitsubishi GTO
The Mitsubishi GTO is a front-engine, all-wheel/front-wheel drive 2+2 hatchback sports coupé and Grand Touring car manufactured and marketed by Japanese automobile manufacturer Mitsubishi for 1990–1999 model years, across a single generation with one facelift. Manufactured in Nagoya, Japan, the four passenger coupés were marketed in the Japanese domestic market as the GTO and globally as Mitsubishi 3000GT. The Dodge Stealth — a badge engineered, mechanically identical captive import — was sold for model years 1991–1996 along with the 1991–1999 Mitsubishi 3000GT in North America. As a collaborative effort between Chrysler and Mitsubishi Motors, Chrysler was responsible for the Stealth's exterior styling.
The GTO, 3000GT and Stealth were based on Mitsubishi's Sigma/Diamante and retained their transverse mounted 3-liter, 24-valve V6 engines and front-wheel-drive layout. The GTO's engines were naturally aspirated or with twin-turbochargers and were also available with active aerodynamics, four-wheel-steering, full-time all-wheel-drive and adaptive suspension. Mitsubishi also marketed a retractable hardtop variant, engineered and converted from coupé models in California by ASC and marketed as the GTO Spyder or VR4 Spyder for model years 1993 through 1995. - the first fully automated retractable hardtop since the 1959 Ford Skyliner.
The JDM model took its name from the Galant GTO, a two-door hardtop coupé marketed by the company in the early 1970s, which in turn took its name from the Ferrari 250 GTO, short for Gran Turismo Omologata which signified that it met motorsport homologation regulation.
Overview
Following the successful showing of the Mitsubishi HSR and Mitsubishi HSX concept cars at the 1989 Tokyo Motor Show, Mitsubishi unveiled the new GTO as a 2+2 seating grand touring car in order to compete with the Mazda Cosmo, Nissan 300ZX, Subaru SVX, and the Toyota Supra. They resurrected the GTO name, and the car went on to serve as Mitsubishi's flagship for the remainder of the decade. Despite the cachet of the badge at home, it was marketed as the Mitsubishi 3000GT and as the Dodge Stealth outside Japan; the company was concerned that connoisseurs would object to the evocative nameplate from the highly regarded Ferrari 250 GTO and Pontiac GTO being used on a Japanese vehicle.Each was built on the same production line at Mitsubishi's plant in Nagoya, Japan. Its Japanese introduction coincided with the softening Japanese economy, subsequently known as the "bubble economy".
JDM GTOs were marketed at Mitsubishi's Car Plaza retail chain, with JDM buyers paying additional annual road tax as well as elevated taxes for being classified as a large car by Japan's exterior dimension regulations.
A Dodge Stealth was scheduled as a 1991 Indianapolis 500 pace car, until the United Auto Workers rejected it because of its Japanese rather than US-manufacture. A prototype of the Dodge Viper was substituted in place of it. Still used as a backup pace car, eventual race winner Rick Mears received a Dodge Stealth for winning the race and dealers sold pace car replica editions, as the Viper did not begin production until later that year.
1990–1993 Z16A
First generation models were internally designated Z16A and incorporated full-time four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, active aerodynamics with automatically adjusting front and rear spoilers, sport/tour exhaust modes and electronically controlled suspension. The GTO, 3000GT and Stealth featured pop-up headlights and articulated blister caps on the hood to accommodate the ECS controllers at the top of the strut turrets. The Dodge Stealth featured a signature cross-hair front bumper fascia and crescent-shaped rear spoiler — and did not include active aerodynamics. In 1993 the engine went to a 4 bolt main and a forged crankshaft. In the U.S., both the 1990 to 1993 Dodge Stealth R/T Turbo and Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 received the transversely mounted 24V V6 paired with a long ratio 5-speed manual.Magazines from the era praised its brutal acceleration and AWD grip but disliked its Active Aero and other 'special' gadgets, saying they were useless and added weight to an already heavy platform. By 1993 all electronic gadgets were still standard on the VR-4 model, with magazines quoting 0- acceleration times ranging from sub 5 seconds to 6.3 seconds and quarter mile times of 13.6-13.9 seconds at Only US 3000GT models could be configured with front-wheel drive rather than all-wheel drive. In Japan, the base GTO SR included all-wheel drive; no front-wheel drive version was offered. The GTO SR had similar power output figures as the US spec 3000GT SL and was offered with the same five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions. Japanese buyers did not receive the SOHC V6 which was standard on the base model US only Dodge Stealth and US spec 3000GT. Japanese buyers had the choice of either a naturally aspirated DOHC V6 and twin-turbocharged DOHC V6.
In Europe, only the Twin Turbo model was offered. Instead of the TD04-09B turbochargers used on Japanese and US Twin Turbo models, the EU-spec model received the higher capacity TD04-13G turbochargers. While power output is no higher than contemporary market models, these have lower discharge temperatures to better handle the prolonged high speeds possible on the German Autobahn, along with an upgraded transmission. The engine was rated at ; the modifications took time and European models only went on sale in the Autumn of 1992. In 1994, Mitsubishi released a limited edition of what was now the previous generation 3000GT, branded as "Beckenbauer Edition." Honoring Franz Beckenbauer. All were painted Lamborghini yellow and were equipped with a Remus sports exhaust, OZ Futura rims, a numbered plate signed by Beckenbauer, and a C-net mobile phone system. Only 30 were made, sold through 1995.
| Model name | Engine | Peak power | Peak torque |
| Dodge Stealth | SOHC 12v V6 | at 5,500 rpm | at 4,000 rpm |
| Mitsubishi GTO SR | DOHC 24v V6 | at 6,000 rpm | at 4,500 rpm |
| Mitsubishi 3000GT, 3000GT SL ; Dodge Stealth ES, Stealth R/T | DOHC 24v V6 | at 6,000 rpm | at 4,500 rpm |
| Mitsubishi GTO twin turbo | DOHC 24v V6 twin turbo | at 6,000 rpm | at 2,500 rpm |
| Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4, Dodge Stealth R/T twin-turbo | DOHC 24v V6 twin turbo | at 6,000 rpm | at 2,500 rpm |
| Mitsubishi 3000GT | DOHC 24v V6 twin turbo | at 6,000 rpm | at 3,000 rpm |
1994–1997 Z15A (2WS) and Z16A (4WS)
Second generation models were internally designated Z15A and Z16A and featured a revised front bumper to accommodate projector beam headlights and small, round projector fog lights. They were unveiled in August 1993 in Japan and gradually made their way to other markets as the first generation cars sold out. Some markets didn't get these models until 1996, such as the UK. The caps on the hood were replaced with integrated sheet metal blisters, and revised side air vents and rear bumpers were added. The interior was redesigned with dual air bags, a new audio system, and revised air conditioning refrigerant. The engines in the twin-turbo models received an increase to and an increase in torque from. Japanese models received an increase in torque, but the power rating remained unchanged at.The VR-4 model now included a six-speed Getrag manual transmission with revised gear ratios, especially in lower gears like 3rd which went until approximately . With subsequent price increases, features were discontinued: the tunable exhaust was phased out after 1994 model year, the ECS after 1995 model year, and the active aerodynamics disappeared after 1996. This was also when Chrysler ceased sales of the Dodge Stealth captive import, and for the remainder of its life only Mitsubishi-badged versions were available.
Chrysler and Mitsubishi worked with ASC to engineer and convert 3000GTs into retractable hardtops, marketed as the Spyder VR4 for 1995 and 1996 model years.
In 1995, Mitsubishi's 3000GT Spyder was available in four color combinations: red with grey leather interior, black with ivory leather interior, white pearl with grey, and martinique yellow with ivory leather interior. In 1996 the 3000GT Spyder was available in red with tan interior, black pearl with tan leather, white pearl with tan leather interior, and green pearl with tan leather. SL Spyders were only available with an automatic transmission while the VR4 Spyder was only available with a 6-speed manual.
GTO MR
The GTO MR model appeared in the Japanese market in August 1994. The ‘Mitsubishi Racing’ or MR moniker, has been used in most performance Mitsubishis such as the Lancer Evolution, and usually meant a lighter model. The GTO MR was essentially a lightweight GTO Twin Turbo that deleted 4WS, ABS, ECS and Active Aero, but was mechanically identical to the normal GTO Twin Turbo. Chassis numbers for the MR start with Z15A.Best Motoring, a Japanese television program about Japanese cars, debuted the 1994 GTO MR in an hour long program where it beat the lighter R32 Skyline GT-R over a mile in acceleration.
Reception
The redesign of the second generation 3000GT was well received, especially the loss of pop up headlights and smoother hood. As the years went on, the Tuneable Exhaust System was phased out in 1995 and the Active Aero was phased out in 1996, allowing for less weight, which made the vehicle much quicker. The new 6-speed, while notchy, was geared well and the extra horsepower and torque allowed it to out-accelerate most of its rivals, especially from a standing start to top speed.Road tests at the time showed the second generation 3000GT VR-4 to be capable of in 4.8 - 5.4 seconds and the quarter mile in 13.5 seconds at, making it faster in a straight line than the Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo and Mazda RX-7 Twin Turbo. Though heavy, it could be taken around a track quickly, with noted under steer and a feeling of nose heaviness.
| Model name | Engine | Peak power | Peak torque |
| Dodge Stealth | SOHC 12v V6 | at 5,500 rpm | at 4,000 rpm |
| Mitsubishi 3000GT, 3000GT SL, 3000GT SL Spyder ; Mitsubishi GTO SR ; Stealth R/T | DOHC 24v V6 | at 6,000 rpm | at 4,500 rpm |
| Mitsubishi GTO twin turbo, GTO MR | DOHC 24v V6 twin turbo | at 6,000 rpm | at 2,500 rpm |
| Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4, 3000GT VR-4 Spyder ; Dodge Stealth R/T twin-turbo | DOHC 24v V6 twin turbo | at 6,000 rpm | at 2,500 rpm |
1997–2000 Z15AM
The SOHC engine, previously only available in the base model Stealth, was added to the Mitsubishi range after the Dodge version was discontinued. Slower sales in the American sports car market led to a planned facelift for 1997 being abandoned in favor of minor cosmetic adjustments, including a new front bumper and rainbow shaped arched type wing. In 1999, the car received another exterior makeover, including a new aggressive front bumper, headlamps, turn signals, sail panels, and a true inverted airfoil spoiler coined the "Combat Wing" for the 1999 VR-4 to distinguish it from previous models. 1999 was the final year the 3000GT was available in the U.S. market. With sales slowing to a trickle and new side impact regulations looming, production for the Japanese domestic market finally ceased in 2000. A last two cars were sold the following year. In a test by Popular Mechanics the VR-4 ran a 13.44 seconds quarter mile at.| Model name | Engine | Peak power | Peak torque |
| Mitsubishi 3000GT | SOHC 12v V6 | at 5,500 rpm | at 4,000 rpm |
| Mitsubishi 3000GT SL ; Mitsubishi GTO SR | DOHC 24v V6 | at 6,000 rpm | at 4,500 rpm |
| Mitsubishi GTO twin turbo, Mitsubishi GTO MR | DOHC 24v V6 twin turbo | at 6,000 rpm | at 2,500 rpm |
| Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 | DOHC 24v V6 twin turbo | at 6,000 rpm | at 2,500 rpm |