Mitsubishi is a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a long track record of success not only on the consumer market but also motorsports. Today, Mitsubishi might be on the ropes, but they were once neck in neck with the best automobile sports car manufacturers not just in Japan, but all over the world. Mitsubishi never made high-performance supercars, but the brand's work was equally respected.

The sports cars segment is where the Diamond-Star shone the brightest. Making race-winning rally cars was their bread and butter. They took all of their rally-bred weight saving and engine tuning knowledge and applied it to their sports cars, which was a brilliant step. Mitsubishi cars are well known to be fun to drive and engineered to perfection.

While most of us know and probably love the Lancer, that’s not the only great sports car Mitsubishi ever made. The brand also turned heads with the Starion, Colt GTi-16 Turbo, Galant, and the Colt Celeste well before the Lancer was developed. A great thing about Mitsubishi is that even though they haven’t been the best seller in the sports car segment (or any segment for that matter), what they do have is a loyal and dedicated fanbase.

Today, the JDM brand is looking forward to reemerging in the automobile industry as a competitive manufacturer of crossover and electric/hybrid cars soon thanks to the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance. But that’s to come, right now, let’s look at the past and commemorate some of the best sports cars they have made.

10 Lancer 1600 GSR

Lancer-1600-GSR-1
Via wikimedia.org

The Lancer 1600 GSR was the first Mitsubishi car to become a rally legend. In the ‘70s, the rally edition of this car won numerous times on some of the most difficult rally stages, including two in Africa in 1972 and 1974. Over there, it earned the nickname “King of Cars.”

Lancer 1600 GSR
via claspgarage

The Lancer 1600 GSR was such a brilliant and tough car that it was used in private races long after it went out of production. The road version made 108 HP, while the rally edition was tuned to make a sweet 169 HP.

9 Diamante

Diamante
Via cars-directory.net

In the 1990s, full-size premium sedans were getting popular. When you look at the Diamante, it might remind you of the BMW 5 Series, especially when it’s in black. The German sedan wins between the two in terms of power, but Mitsubishi went all out in the comfort department.

Diamante
Via wikipedia.org

The Diamante was equipped with rare (for that time) features like active suspension, CD player, power sunroof, and traction control. The base trim also had optional ABS. Diamantes, however, did not sell like hotcakes, and the later generation models evolved (or devolved rather) into mediocre family sedans.

8 Colt GTi-16 Turbo

Colt GTi-16 Turbo
via: autodata

Hot hatches are some of the most fun vehicles to drive. This GTi-16 Turbo was one of Europe’s favorites of them all. But that didn’t help it become as successful as competitors like the Golf GTi, Renault 5 Turbo, and Peugeot 205 GTi.

Colt GTi-16 Turbo
via: Shpock

This little hatchback had a 1.6-liter turbo petrol that made 128 HP and yet was accessible to most people and easy to drive. The GTi-16 Turbo helped Mitsubishi create an image as a family car maker with great daily driving capability and sporty options to please both types of drivers.

7 Lancer Evo 7

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII driven by Brian O'Conor, Paul Walker in Fast and Furious
Via: USA Today & IMCDB

The 2001 Lancer Evo 7 was the first Evo completely redesigned from the Rally-era Lancers. The external design generated positive reactions from critics and audiences alike. The interior was on another level of smooth and comfortable as well.

via Universal Pictures

Full leather Recaro seating was utilized in these Evos, along with tweaked engine and suspension settings. The Evo VII also had active center diff which worked well with its active yaw control to make four-wheel drifting not only easier but more manageable as well.

6 Galant VR-4

Galant-VR-4-1
Via japanesenostalgiccar.com

The Galant was a 6-time WRC rally stages winner that dominated in most stages including Finland’s 1000 Lakes. The Road going version of the Galant is just as impressive, especially the top trim, VR-4. The first Gen Galant had a 237 HP Inline 4, while the succeeding 2 generations came with V6 powertrains.

Galant VR-4
Via gomotors.net

The first one was a 2.0-liter 24-valve V6 that made similar power as the inline-four, and the second was a 2.5-liter V6 that developed 279 HP. The Galant is an underrated car, mostly because we remember the Lancer and Pajero more, but if you come across a used Galant VR-4, the car is worth considering at the very least.

5 1995 Eclipse

Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX
Via Cars and Bids

Ever since we saw Paul Walker’s Brian O’Conner appear in The Fast & The Furious for the first time in his Green 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse RS, we were introduced not just to the amazing character, but this amazing car as well. The Eclipse was way way better and cooler than the deceitful and abysmal Eclipse Cross we have today.

1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse In The Fast & Furious Movie
Via: Pinterest

The original Eclipse and its GSX Turbo edition was a great small sports car that could handle tuning and modding. The Eclipse was one of the best beginner cars to dip into the mid-level sports coupe segment.

Related: These Are The Coolest Cars Driven By Brian O'Conner In The Fast & Furious Franchise

4 Lancer Evo VI - Tommi Makinen Edition

Mitsubishi EVO VI Tommi Makinen - Front Quarter
Via Classics.com

The Evo VI is already a great car in itself. But the Tommi Makinen Edition, of which only 2500 were made, is one of the most limited specials made by Mitsubishi. Tommy Makinen is a rally legend who won four WRC Championships piloting a Mitsubishi in his hands, kinda like how McLaren named their car after Ayrton Senna.

Mitsubishi EVO Vi Tommi Makinen - Rear Quarter
Via Classics.com

What’s different in this one, get ready for the list: A special front bumper, TME edition stickers, signature Red/Black Recaro seats (with embossed T. Mäkinen logo), 17" white Enkei wheels, a leather Momo steering wheel & shift knob, a faster-spooling titanium turbine, lowered ride height (with tarmac stages in mind), and a quicker steering ratio.

3 Lancer Evo 8

EVO VIII - Front Quarter
Via Bring A Trailer

The Evo VIII is an even greater leap forward than the previous-gen Evo 7. It gloriously combines the redesign following the sixth generation with the power and comfort that we had gotten accustomed to with the newer cars. Mitsubishi was nowhere near the top-selling charts, but they did sell more cars than they used to.

EVO VIII - Rear Quarter
Via Bring A Trailer

Hence, these newer Lancers got more and more luxurious with every succeeding model. They started becoming more consumer-friendly, but the manufacturer did not sway away from the origin and the rally-bred roots of the Lancer. It was still a heck of a thing to drive.

Related: A Detailed Look Back At The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8: A Four-Door Turbocharged Lambo Beating Monster

2 3000GT VR-4

Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4
via WheelWell

The 3000GT VR-4 was Mitsubishi’s somewhat of a dark horse when it came out. People were shocked and delighted when they learned about Mitsubishi’s newest creation in 1990. The 3000GT was a Grand Tourer, but it was packed with features that were more commonly found in supercars of that time.

1994-Mitsubishi-3000GT-VR-4
via bringatrailer

Full-time four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, active aerodynamics with adjusting front and rear spoilers or electronically controlled suspension are just some of the tech used in this JDM. A DOHC 3.0-liter V6 powered it with the power of 222 horses. But the VR-4 took things even further with a 300 HP twin-turbo engine.

Related: Here's Why The Mitsubishi 3000GT Was Ahead Of Its Time

1 Lancer Evo X

Red Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
Via: Flickr

It’s safe to say that the Lancer, one of the most iconic sports car series of all time, went out on a high note. The Lancer had evolved (pun intended) so much by the time the 10th and last generation came out. The Evo X was an AWD beast that made anywhere between 276hp and 440hp depending on the trim level.

 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X FQ440
Via Mitsubishi

The Lancer was a part of one of the automobile industry’s best rivalries of all time, but now, even the WRX feels sad and lonely without its arch-nemesis. The Lancer still remains one of the most sought-after sports cars and one that we definitely want to make a comeback.