Car Clips: Sept. 4, 2000
Chevy SSR is cruisin’ at GM Click image for larger view. With the runaway success of Chrysler’s... Read More
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Coos Bay, OR - It matters little that the majority of Toyota Camrys and Honda Accords - America’s best-selling cars - are delivered with four cylinder engines. A midsize car simply lacks credibility with U.S. buyers if it doesn’t offer a six-cylinder version. Mitsubishi re-worked the four-cylinder in the Galant two years ago and made a good car even better. But as capable as the Galant is, the market has moved beyond four-cylinder engines. For years Mitsubishi has offered the most powerful four in the segment, which also has the advantage of being smoother than many sixes and vibration free. But sales still lagged.
Now there are no more excuses.
The Galant has always been a solid product, but with a few flaws and quirks that probably affected its sales. With that in mind, this total overhaul given the fourth generation overhaul has concentrated on making the car not only better, but more mainstream - without losing its individuality.
The fact that it's built in the US can't hurt sales.
Mitsubishi gives Galant a V6
There have been hints of a V-6 for the Galant for most of the decade. That speculation was reinforced by the excellent sixes that Mitsubishi made available to Chrysler. However, until the Pentastar folks developed the capacity to design and build their own family of V-6 engines, most minivans - as well as many of Chrysler’s bigger sedans - came with Mitsubishi power.
Consequently, it seemed a bit odd that Mitsubishi avoided putting them in their own products. Not only does the company offer a full line of passenger cars, sporty coupes and convertibles and solid SUVs, but they were a leader in new ideas and technology - including the addition of balance shafts to tame harsh engines and all-wheel-steering to parking easier.
