With all due respect to Mitsubishi fans, they have always seemed a little low on brand pride. Sure the Evolution is one of the all-time greats when it comes to performance cars, but it never seemed that Mitsubishi generated the same sort of excitement among its owners that other brands did. After taking a trip to Mitsubishi Owner's Day on Saturday, I found out I was very wrong.
Held at the Mitsubishi's American Headquarters in Cypress, California, MOD is an annual celebration of all things Mitsubishi. I knew I was in the right place when I started to see dozens of Evos and other Mitsubishi products making their way into the parking lots around the facility.
Promptly after getting out of the car, I spotted this Starion in the parking lot. Not a bad way to get things started.
Well over half the cars that had come out were Evos of some sort. After all, this is the car that defines Mitsubishi as a performance brand.
But I was actually surprised at how many non-Evos were there too. The Eclipse still has a decent following, especially the versions that offered all wheel drive and 4G63 power.
Another important car in Mitsubishi's history – the 4G63-powered Galant VR-4. Besides being one of the great sleeper cars of all time, it also laid the groundwork for the Lancer Evolution.
Meanwhile here's a later model Galant looking VIP-inspired. Props to the people that work with uncommon platforms like this.
A set of Advans and a little lowering. There's not a whole lot more you really need.
The event included a large vendor area where companies showed off all their Mitsubishi tuning products. A couple drool-worthy wheels on display in the Rays booth here.
The Eagle Talon, sister-car to the Eclipse and product of the Mitsubishi-Chrysler partnership known as Diamond Star Motors.
Evo MR with a healthy drop. The BBS wheels that came on these cars are one of my favorite OEM wheels of all time.
I'm actually a fan of the OEM Evolution rear wing, but that's not to say I can't appreciate the smooth trunk look.
The technology-laden 3000GT VR-4. It's amazing how few of these cars you see around these days. This one was spotless.
Throughout the day Mitsubishi was giving out test drives in the i MiEV electric car. Can you handle it?
Lunch time! The line at the In-N-Out truck was massive. Sorry Charles, had to post it…
Evo X street car perfection?
Love this Mirage hatchback. I honestly cannot remember the last time I've seen one of these on the streets.
You can never go wrong with the the Storm Trooper look, especially on an angry looking car like the Evo X.
Outlander from the 2008 Dakar Rally in Repsol livery. This is one of the vehicles from Mitsubishi's corporate collection.
I'm just getting started with my look at Mitsubishi Owner's Day 2011, so keep an eye out for more soon.
-Mike Garrett
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
thats not a mirage hatchback.thats a mitsubishi colt
I must say that black talon gets my pacemaker going into overtime...
Oh my god!
@colt: Same difference. It was sold as the Mitsu Mirage AND as the Dodge/Plymouth Colt in the US.
I remember reading about a Mitsu Mirage Turbo that had its 4G61T swapped out with a 400+hp 4G63T in an old issue of Sport Compact Car. The engine was so powerful and the rest of the car so weak it actually spat up an axle while SCC was trying to get a 1/4-mile time! Helluva sleeper, that car.
I need NAWWWS!
@RexSeven: I believe that was one of Road Race Engineering's cars. I believe Mitsu called it the Colt in Japan and other markets, but since they made a deal with Chrysler to sell rebadged Colts in the states during the previous generation, they called it the Mirage here. I had a friend in high school back in the 80's that had an 85 or 86 Colt Turbo, which he'd increased the boost on a bit...it was pretty damn quick for a little, angular hatchback.
Seeing all these cars makes me miss my old 16G turbo'd GSX. I might buy a Galant VR4 if I can find one in decent enough shape that hasn't been modded too much.
It's almost like a museum road show. Awesome pics. I'm really liking the old school Mitsu's.
I owned two dodge stealths in the past. Sucks the 3000Gt following isn't that great.
It may not be the fastest or most popular car outthere but it has its crowd, a stealth or 3000gt spotlight would be awesome
3000GT are such crap... There useless compared to Evo's
Johnny and RexSeven is correct. The hatchbacks were sold here as both colts and mirages here in the states. I had one in high school. Easily swappable with a 4g63t...if the swap is done right it can actually handle the power really well...look up the Cyborg and RS Mitsubishi's rocking MIVEC 4g63t, 4g93t and 4g92t motors with AWD.
Mike Garret can back me up that he's seen the AWD Evo swapped Cyborgs back when he lived in Japan. Ralliart UK built a few rally spec Cyborgs with full evo conversions before as well.
daymn the Evo X looks a beast in any shape or form!!! all of them look sick!
and i saw a 3000GT rolling around in my area...or a GTO...i cant remember...!
@johnny: Mitsubishi called this particular model the Mirage in Japan, however there were some cars in the lineup that actually were marketed as Colt.
Still have fond memories of my C50 Colt eventhough it was a lame 1.3 liter version and not the mouth watering GTi... Thanks for the beautiful picture Mike!
That's a MIRAGE ! The COLT'S came with body colored bumpers and side moldings.
nice.. any Lancer 2000's out there??
funny Leboe I have video of a evo doing nothing but holding a stealth up on the way to mod. dont get me wrong evos are nice cars but 3/S's are far from crap as the video can show you
no amount of awd-ness, turboness, or tuning changes the fact that the eclipse is a lil' bitches car, i mean 'ladies vehicle'
@Leboe: That's not a proper comparison.
@ Manny - a Stealth Turbo AWD R/T maybe...
Also, makes me sad not to see a 04-06 Lancer Sportback. I have a soft spot for those...
You sure about the BBS wheels?
Looks like O.Z. F1's to me... or the updated O.Z. Super / Ultraleggera.
Mirage hatch <3
How about an Early Evo Spotlight?!?! There are a LOT of good examples floating around out there (perhaps not many in the US, but there are a few). I spot an E3 swapped Mirage in the first pic. You need some more E1-3 goodness on this website and you know it! I am building a TA/HillClimb E1 RS in the states as we speak. NOT A SWAPPED MIRAGE EITHER! There is plenty of Mitsu love out there if you know where to look.
Check out Alex Grabau's E2 from Dent Sport Garage. Perhaps a spotlight on DSG is in order as well? Both shop cars are awesome (240rs Maxi and the Pleasure Evo). I'm giving you guys some great ideas here (but I'm sure you're are full of ideas for spotlights regardless).
http://www.evo123.net/
http://www.dentsport.com/
Thank,
Pete
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uemZDeK-a7I
Oh god this is so hot!!
To much evo's
Glad my car could be of service. Thanks for snapping a shot!
I understand the irritation. At the lack of respect and love for Mitsu by its owners and the scene in general. I think this is the case because all mitsus are about Performance above all and most mitsu owners spend more time in the pursuit of performance more than loving their cars.
This is why its dam near impossible to find a unmolested or clean version of its many cars by the time. These cars start to gain nostalga, also why they are generally worthless...
But @ the same time I wouldn't have it any other way. The mitsu scene is underground and its all about dominating and embaressing any and all others.
Weather its a 9sec streetcar evo killing the drag strip (google bad bish for more info),
An all out time attack fwd spyder time attack eclipse showing the hondas how aero is done (google andrew briliant),
A automatic grudge street racing 1G hustlin big power V8s (ask anybody on the streets of kentucky what I'm talkin about)
An early gen evo pwning tt lambos and vipers in the mile (google mike reichen)
Or even the editor of a very popular print magazine chilling with all the kids @ I.A. this weekend. In a blue wheeled 2g showing how good these cars look.
We are out there and were feared by all forms of motorsport and therefore respected, but lookin arround you would think we never existed. But that's ok I love being underdogg of. The car scene, it makes the win even more priceless...
Spotlight on the Evo 3!
Anyone ever notice the mirage/colt of that generations front bumper, headlights, and grill look exactly like a nissan silvia S13???
I still love 2g DSM's !
I heard in JAPAN, evo 1,2, & 3 can easily beat out Newer evos because of the weight to engine power ratio.... I want more spotlight on the evoIII and white 4dr Mirage
I love the old 2 evo/Mirage... but is it just all looks with the 12 valve motor?
or is it actually a 4g63T under the hood.
if those 2 mirages are turbo then I can just imagine the power of the 63t on that lighter body!
more highlights on older evos please!
Actually, its not only in japan. According to an article i read before, Older evos in general 1996 and earlier are the fastest evos made. 97 and up have a bigger body and more space for the interior to provide more comfort. Those mirage, if setup right will beat any of our evos even if they are front wheeldrive. All they need are slicks.
Most likely if those 2 mirages have a 4g63 motor then most likely theyre wheels are overspinning on take off.
Actually, its not only in japan. According to an article i read before, Older evos in general 1996 and earlier are the fastest evos made. 97 and up have a bigger body and more space for the interior to provide more comfort. Those mirage, if setup right will beat any of our evos even if they are front wheeldrive. All they need are slicks.
Most likely if those 2 mirages have a 4g63 motor then most likely theyre wheels are overspinning on take off.
that Mirage Turbo/Colt GT has the JDM Cyborg front bumper. sick!
if im not mistaken, the 2 old evomirage are the same cars from below
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/184220_185187678190734_100000985108559_445487_4874148_n.jpg
"Evo X street car perfection? " Absolutely !