Classic: Mitsubishi Starion
Posted on 16-01-2016 to 18:00 by larssb – 22 Comments”
From the time that dual nationality only but was convenient and considerably wider, was welcomed: the Mitsubishi Starion.
In 1982, launched Mitsubishi’s share in the market of Japanese sports cars, which until then consisted mainly of Toyota’s Supra, the RX-7 of Mazda and the Datsun 280 ZX. That market was a significant part in the USA. Even the greatest patriot of his dearly cherished dollars cheat was the Starion there via Chrysler sold as the Dodge, Chrysler or Plymouth Conquest. Patriotic drove Joe around in his Japanese athlete, proud that he still had held to the Buy American Act.
In Europe that badge-engineering would be unnecessary and came out of the car on the market as the Mitsubishi Starion, exactly as the plant in Japan left. Incidentally, ever conceived as a Stallion, according to the persistent, never-confirmed rumors: by a Japanese engineer who had difficulty with the pronunciation and a journalist who just left, went in the compartment unintentionally by the life as a Starion. Fine. Paardenplaatjes we found already more often on the cars, galloping or rearing. Another explanation is that Starion is a contraction of Star and Orion, and also a reference would be to Arion. Yet again a horse.
Clearly very popular in the automotive industry, four-legged friends. And rightly so, they are crucial under the hood and especially when the sportier needs, you have a good number of required. In the case of the Starion, there were between 150 and nearly 200 at the rear wheels, depending on the engine power and boost pressure. Because this were the eighties: Turbo was the new religion, or at least a magic word. The Whistling Thing was missing on both engine variants: a 2.0 or 2.6-litre four-cylinder. The 2 liter version is known in Europe of the Lancer 2000 Turbo, the larger variant is the standard propulsion in ‘Murcia. Later on this big four-cylinder also in front of some of the European versions installed, mainly as the catalyst in vogue. There is-ie a bit less powerful and flexible and, often, this is, suddenly a lot thicker.
But that is him without a doubt good. The introduction of widebody version put the slim Starion a bit in the shade and later on dries the demand for this implementation almost completely. Except in Japan itself, there was also the narrow popular. That home market was initially in addition a quite a Zeeland version available: this GX had no power steering, electric windows, air conditioning or other luxuries on board. Even the turbo was missing. That was probably a bit too zuunig, after more than a year disappeared this spaarversie again. Even Japanese people found that twenty thousand yen is too much for the stripped-down Mitsubishi topper.
On our European and the American market was the car a lot more carried out. Also things like a limited slip differential, oil cooler, independent rear suspension and ventilated disc brakes all around was standard on this quick 2+2. The deluxe EX version came out there have ABS (only rear), leather upholstery, radiocassettespeler. With the release of the widebody version is this EX level in addition to immediately the standard. The car goes in this version, on the sporting field forward: the larger track width and improved suspension make it a lot bolder and firmer in his handling. The performance remain unchanged, with a top 220 km/h and an acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 7.5 seconds, thanks to the 180 HORSEPOWER behind that klapkoplampen.
That fit, of course, stunning when the angular 80’s styling. The dashboard design showed the same krommingenfobie, everything had to be right. That worked fine, except the vierspaaks sports steering wheel hit you everywhere more or less sharp corners. There we loved. But even more of spoilers and there was the Starion a couple of big instances of roles. Especially the rear spoiler was made of the type of Patty Brard: fat and useless. But on this Subject smoelde wonderful and just could.
On the race – and rallyuitvoeringen of the Starion was it even necessary, because the fast Mitsubishi was successful in many rallies and on the various circuits. With a power of 300 HP or more, even more lavishly bodykit, 4WD, and a pair of huge, fixed lamps in the front, this meant sample a boost for the image of the ordinary Starion. In following this came the Mitsubishi in the last two years of its existence, with a special Sports Handling Package for the street version. This consisted of adjustable struts all around with wider wheels and could also be retrofitted on older models be fitted.
In 1989 stopped production and was the Starion followed by the Eclipse. Less than 50,000 pcs were built of this angular throw – and throw-Japanese, just better off going to see as he is getting fatter. I would also like to. A Starion.
Gallery: Mitsubishi Starion
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