The Mitsubishi 3000GT (or Mitsubishi GTO as it’s known in Japan) is one of the most reliable and inexpensive Japanese sports cars from the ‘90s. As if that wasn’t enough to cement its legacy as a dream ‘90s sports car, the twin-turbocharged Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 upped the performance to make it one of the fastest too.
Time has been very kind to the Mitsubishi 3000GT with millennial drivers gaining huge respect for this technologically advanced sports car. As a result, it pains gearheads today to see a 3000GT or any Japanese sports cars ruined by their owners.
Without a doubt, this beloved Japanese sports car was a technological marvel. Here’s why the Mitsubishi 3000GT was ahead of its time and still remains revered to this day.
Cars Are Still Catching Up To Its Advanced Features Today
Not one but several features made the Mitsubishi 3000GT stand out at the time of its release in 1990. This is what makes the 3000GT a great sports car to own still, today.
There was a twin-turbocharger option for its 3.0L V6, the same one that inhabited the Stealth R/T – a captive import that all enthusiasts should know about – and it had all-wheel-drive.
Perhaps the 3000GT’s most noteworthy feature, though, was Active Aero, a technology Porsche employs in its all-new 911 Turbo S. When driven over 45 mph, the 3000GT’s front and back spoilers automatically adjust to increase downforce. There was even a light on the dash to let you know when Active Aero was on.
How Much This Rare Ride Is Worth Today
It’s surprising how much selling prices for the Mitsubishi 3000GT can run all over the place. It’s not impossible to find this JDM legend for less than $10,000 if you look hard enough. On the other hand, the asking price is often much higher for rarer 3000GT VR4 models.
Jalopnik reported that a Craigslister posted his 1998 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 for an astounding asking price of $500,000. Half a million dollars is a lot to pay for it, especially when you take into account its original MSRP of $46,230.
Mitsubishi 4000GT Renderings: Fans Are Hungry For An Update
Gearheads always have a list of cars that are no longer around they want to come back – even strange ones that failed to make a splash in the market. Far from strange, the Mitsubishi 3000GT was a big hit and many are clamoring for an update.
Adding fuel to the demand for a new 3000GT were recent renderings made by a VW designer named Matthew Parsons. AutoEvolution reports that Parsons gave it an appropriate name befitting the model’s logical step forward into the future: 4000GT.
While there’s no official word on whether an update is coming out any time soon, at least the 3000GT remains a state of the art sports car to tide us over until this beloved sports car (hopefully) makes a welcome return.
Sources: Jalopnik, Autotrader, AutoEvolution