From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mitsubishi GTO
Manufacturer	Mitsubishi Motors
Also called	Mitsubishi 3000GT Dodge Stealth
Production	1990–2001 (Mitsubishi GTO) MY1991–1996 (Dodge Stealth)
Assembly	Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Predecessor	Mitsubishi Starion
Class	Sports car Grand tourer
Body style(s)	Coupe Convertible ('95–'96)
Platform	Z11A, Z15A, Z16A
Engine(s)	6G72 3.0 L V6   • SOHC 12v   • DOHC 24v   • DOHC 24v twin-turbo
Transmission(s)	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual 6-speed manual ('94–'01)
Wheelbase	2470 mm (97.2 in)
Length	4600 mm (179.7 in)
Width	1840 mm (72.4 in)
Height	1285 mm (49.5 in)
Curb weight	1400 kg (3086 lb)–1710 kg (3770 lb)
Fuel capacity	75 L (16.5 Imp gal, 19.8 U.S. gal)

The Mitsubishi GTO is a sports grand tourer built by Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors between 1990 and 2001, although in most export markets it was rebadged as a Mitsubishi 3000GT. It was also sold by Chrysler in North America as a Dodge Stealth captive import from the 1991 to 1996 model years with only minor detail/appearance differences. It took its name from the Galant GTO, a well-regarded two-door hardtop coupé sold by the company in the early 1970s, with contemporary American muscle car styling, straight-4 engines and rear wheel drive.

Following the successful showing of the Mitsubishi HSX concept car at the 1989 Tokyo Motor Show,^[1] Mitsubishi developed the new GTO as a technically advanced sports coupe to compete with the Mazda RX-7, Nissan 300ZX and Toyota Supra. They resurrected the GTO name, and the car went on to serve as Mitsubishi’s flagship for the remainder of the decade. However, despite the cachet of the badge at home, it was known as the Mitsubishi 3000GT 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. However, regardless of its badge or eventual target market, every car was built on the same production line at Mitsubishi's plant in Nagoya, Japan.^[2]

A 1992 Dodge Stealth.

A Dodge Stealth was initially to be used as a pace car for the 1991 Indianapolis 500 race. The United Auto Workers (UAW), however, did not like the idea of a Japanese-manufactured car being a pace car for the race, and a prototype Dodge Viper was substituted.^[3]

The first generation incorporated many of Mitsubishi's contemporary performance-enhancing technologies, such as full time all wheel drive, four wheel steering, active aerodynamics featuring automatically-adjusting front and rear spoilers, a tuneable exhaust and electronically controlled suspension (ECS). Visually, the cars featured pop-up headlights and noticeable "caps" on the hood to accommodate the ECS controllers at the top of the strut turrets.

The active aero spoiler on a 1992 3000GT VR-4. It was an option on the first two generation VR-4 models but was later phased out.

Second generation models are identified by a revised front bumper to accommodate projector beam headlights and small, round fog lights. Bigger wheel/tire combinations were offered, and the caps on the hood were eliminated, and the side air vents (which are actually faux air vents) and rear bumpers were modified. The interior was redesigned with dual air bags and revised air conditioning refrigerant. The engines in all models received a slight boost in torque. To complement this, the VR-4 now included a six-speed GETRAG transmission.

As the price of the cars increased, many of the "gadgets" on the car were discontinued. The tuneable exhaust was phased out as early as 1994, the ECS disappeared in 1995, and the active aerodynamics in 1996. Finally, Chrysler ceased sales of the Dodge Stealth captive import, and for the remainder of its life only Mitsubishi-badged versions were available.

In 1995 and 1996, special edition hardtop convertible models of the 3000GT SL and VR-4 were sold in the USA. Customized by ASC in California, these cars had retractable hardtops which could be opened or closed at the touch of a button. It was the first of its kind in America since the 1957–59 Ford Skyliner, and although it was abandoned after two years because of slow sales (1618 units), it presaged a market which would eventually mature the following year with the Mercedes SLK.

The SOHC 12v 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. The car then soldiered on until 1999 until imports were discontinued. Production for the domestic market finally ceased in 2000, with the last two cars sold the following year.^[4]

• GTO Press Release, Mitsubishi-motors.com, August 25, 1998 (Japanese)
• Mitsubishi GTO at the Open Directory Project