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Mitsubishi 3000 GT - The sumo ballerina

Name: Mitsubishi 3000 GT 1996
Brand: Mitsubishi

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Created on November 14, 2022

Text:

Paul Krüger

Photos:

Bruno von Rotz

Chrysler/Stellantis

Mitsubhishi / Werk

Bruno von Rotz

Chrysler/Stellantis

Mitsubhishi / Werk

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - in the color "Panama Green Pearl"

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - The roofline of the Dodge Stealth is recognizable in the glass

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - already without adjustable dampers

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - electronically limited to 250 km/h

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - fast and comfortable

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - looks friendlier than the driver

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - the recess for the number plate reveals the US model

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - less aggressive front view

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - wide and low

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - smiling until the end of 1998

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - for small country roads and large highways

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - Wheels from the accessories

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - developed for the US market

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - from 1994 with ellipsoid headlights under a painted panel

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - the eponymous three diamonds

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - transverse-mounted three-liter V6

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - 286 hp in this crowd

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - it's very, very tight under the hood

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - V6 with 60 degree cylinder angle

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - an intake manifold tells a story

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - Yes, the hood closes. Even if barely

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - Valve cover with information on manufacturer, design and valve train

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - Integrated spirit level for adjusting the headlights

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - Schematic diagram of the vacuum system

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - Relay and fuse box with printed location plan

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - Leather steering wheel with radio remote control

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - rev counter up to 9000, speedometer up to 290 km/h

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - Instruments for water temperature, oil pressure and boost pressure

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - Typical Japanese center console, simple and functional

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - Automatic air conditioning as standard

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - Radio with equalizer, cassette deck and CD changer

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - lettering made from simple adhesive letters

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - US model delivered to Switzerland with red indicators

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - low, very wide rear lights

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - Four-flow exhaust system with discreet but sporty sound

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - The air intakes in front of the rear wheel are only dummies

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - from 1994 with two-piston rear brake callipers

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - rear wing adjustable by 14 degrees at the touch of a button

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT VR-4 (1996) - the rear wing in its resting position

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Mitsubishi 3000 GT HSX (1992) - the Japanese version

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Dodge Stealth (1991) - the American brother

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Dodge Stealth (1991) - in the advertisement

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Summary

If aerodynamics is for people who can't build engines, then lightweight construction is for engineers who can't design chassis. In the early nineties, the Mitsubishi 3000 GT weighed more than a mid-size sedan, but cornered like a Mini. Despite this, the nimble little chubby car never really managed to gain a foothold in Europe. For this article, we drove one of the few 3000 GTs that came to Switzerland and tell the story of the technology carrier and its twin brother, the Dodge Stealth. Of course, we also recorded the sound of the V6.

This article contains the following chapters

A Japanese car in disguise
166 to 305 hp
Fully equipped for Europe
Steer and think for yourself
Sumo on ice
Retreat

Estimated reading time: 11min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Overweight! In its youth, the Mitsubishi 3000 GT was hardly ever criticized as often as for its immense corpulence. Today, when even the Porsche 911, celebrated for generations as a precision tool, clearly surpasses this mark in its most voluptuous version, an unladen weight of 1.7 tons is no longer a disgrace for a sports car. Of course, that was quite different 30 years ago. Perhaps this is because the 3000 GT is now far behind the Nissan Skyline GT-R and Toyota Supra Twin Turbo in the eyes of Japanese enthusiasts, although it was once at least on a par with them in terms of technical sophistication.

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