Years ago, before Mitsubishi was building SUVs as a member of “The Alliance” with Renault and Nissan, the Diamond-Star brand was a serious contender with the likes of Toyota, Subaru and Ford, both in Rallies and in major off-road competitions like the Paris-Dakar, which they won 12 times. Mitsubishi Motors’ story is deeply intertwined with racing and that is shown throughout the manufacturer’s history, with multiple awards won across decades of motorsport.

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Although Mitsubishi’s cars were never huge sellers, the brand managed to build a dedicated fan base thanks to it’s refined engineering and design of sports cars. Here’s ten of the best ever. Yes, it would be easier to list all Lancer Evolution models (there’s ten of them after all), but this Japanese maker is so much more than it’s most well-known child.

10 Lancer 1600 GSR

Mitsubishi Lancer 1600 GSR racing
via: ClaspGarage

This was the first Mitsubishi to become a rallying legend. Developed to be an off-road winner, the GSR gave its Japanese manufacturer repeated wins in some of the hardest rallies. Such as two victories in the Safari Rally in Kenya – 1972 and 1974 –, Ivory Coast Rally – 1977 -, Zaire Rally – 1979 – along with repeated wins in Australia’s Southern Cross Rally – 1973-1976. This record of wins granted the Lancer 1600 GSR the nickname King of Africa, at the time.

Mitsubishi Lancer 1600GSR exhibition
via: Wikipedia

Street versions were powered by a 109hp powertrain. The rally versions had a 169hp engine and even after it went out of production, private racers still used the GSR well into the 1980s.

9 Lancer Evolution VI (Tommy Makinen Edition)

Mitsubishi Evo 6 Tommi Makinen Edition
via: Autocar

With only 2500 of these made, The Lancer Evo VI Tommi Makinen edition is one of the most limited specials made by Mitsubishi. It was built to celebrate the four championships Makinen won while driving a Diamond-Star model in the WRC.

Mitsubishi-Lancer-Evolution-VI-TME
via: Autocar

While it might seem just like a regular Evo VI, apart from the 2.0-liter, 276hp inline-four turbocharged engine, it came with a special front bumper, titanium turbine, TME edition stickers, signature Recaro seats – with an embossed “T. Makinen” logo –, a different front bumper, Red/Black Recaro seats (with embossed T. Mäkinen logo), 17" white Enkei wheels, a leather Momo steering wheel and shift knob, a titanium turbine that spooled up more quickly, front upper strut brace, lowered ride height (with tarmac stages in mind), and a quicker steering ratio. Among other colours, the Evo VI came in either red (Tommi Mäkinen Edition only), white, blue, black or silver with optional special decals.

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8 Starion

Mitsubishi Starion mod
via SpeedHunters

Drivers who are old enough might also remember this model with different badges on the bonnet. The Starion was marketed in North America under the model name Conquest, and sold by Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth.

Contemporary of models like the Mazda RX-7 and the Toyota Supra, Starion’s sales never truly picked up, even though it was the second Japanese sports car to be equipped with electronic fuel injection on a turbocharged engine.

Mitsubishi Starion side
via: Pinterest

The model was available in two body options (narrow and wide-body) but only one engine in North America, the famed 2.6-liter G54B which was also used by Chrysler on their K-Platform models.

7 Eclipse

2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT
via: Mitsubishi

This is not the current Eclipse Cross SUV. After the Lancer Evolution, the Eclipse is the longest-running sports model in Mitsubishi history. Built from 1989 until 2011 this compact sports car spanned four generations, was assembled at Mitsubishi factory in Illinois and was also sold under Eagle and Plymouth badges.

Mitsubishi Eclipse
via: Mitsubishi

The first generation set the pace as a small, light, easy to handle and fun-to-drive car which was also easy to modify. The Eclipse was available in a coupe and Cabrio versions.

The last generation to leave Diamond-Star engines factory had two engines to chose from – a 2.4-liter with 162hp and the more powerful 3.2-liter providing 263hp.

6 Galant VR-4

Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 front side via Reddit
via Reddit

Built as the road-going version of the WRC Group A model, the VR-4 was the top of the range Galant version for three generations of the Japanese car. The model comes with a rally pedigree as well, winning six WRC rallies in three years, including the 1000 Lakes in Finland.

Mitsubishi Galant VR4
via: Carscoops

The first iteration of the VR-4 was powered by an inline-four 2.0-liter engine derived from the competition version, capable of generating 237hp, but the remaining VR-4s to hit the streets came with V6 powertrains. The 2.0L 24 valves gave drivers the same 237hp of the previous generation, but the 2.5-liter had a peak power of 279hp.

5 3000GT VR-4

Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4
via: Pinterest

When the 3000GT was introduced by Mitsubishi in 1990 it was received with awe and surprise. The Japanese Grand Tourer came packed with supercar features like full-time four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, active aerodynamics with adjusting front and rear spoilers or electronically controlled suspension, and that sweet DOHC 24v 3.0-liter V6 engine with 222hp.

Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4, Red
via: Pinterest

But the VR-4 went a step further when Mitsubishi gave this version a bit more emotion. The engineers decided to add a twin-turbo to the V6 powertrain giving the VR-4 300hp. The second generation of the 3000GT introduced a spyder version and a new engine boasting 20hp more than its predecessor, which lasted until the model was finally retired in 2000.

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4 Pajero Evolution

mitsubishi pajero evolution in desert
via: Dyler

The Pajero Evolution is a 4x4 wolf in sheep clothing. Built as the homologation model for the competition Pajero which Mitsubishi used to win the Dakar a record number of times.

Built for only two years and limited to 2500 units come fully equipped with an amazing array of specs drivers could only find in a competition model. The 3.5-liter 24v V6 engine produced 275hp and was housed under the bonnet of the 2-door racing-inspired short wheelbase body.

Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution Paris Dakar
via: Motor1

Skid plates, mud flaps, large fender flares, multi-link double-wishbone independent suspension on the front and rear and Torsen differentials, made this model absolutely unique in the Pajero line, never to be seen again.

3 Minica Dangan ZZ

Mitsubishi Minica Dangan ZZ
via: Reddit

Sold only in the Japanese domestic market, the Minica Dangan ZZ is a true Kei-car pocket rocket. Faithful to the Kei car principle, the Dangan ZZ has a small displacement engine of only 549cc, but it’s turbocharged and inter-cooled for better performance. The 3 cylinder DOHC powertrain is capable of producing 64hp is paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox, but thanks to its lightweight it can reach 100Mph.

Mitsubishi Minica Dangan ZZ side
via: TG Phillipines

Unfortunately, Mitsubishi only produced this tiny little devil for four years, making it the shortest-lived sports car in the manufacturer’s history.

2 Colt GTi-16 Turbo

Colt GTi-16 Turbo
via: autodata

Speaking of rockets, the compact Colt Gti 16v Turbo, though not a best-seller, was one of Europe’s favourite hot hatches for a while. With an inline-four 1.8-liter turbo engine and 16 valves capable of giving the driver 128hp, this was one of the most capable yet not the better looking of the era.

Colt GTi-16 Turbo
via: Shpock

The little Colt helped raise Mitsubishi brand awareness as a family car maker with sporty options you could use every day. The Colt Gti 16v Turbo was easy to drive and one of the most serious contenders to the likes of the Golf Gti and the smaller Peugeot 205 GTi and Renault 5 Turbo.

1 Evolution X

Mitsubishi Evo X
via: Mitsubishi

No list of Mitsubishi sports cars would be complete without the last of them all. The mighty Lancer Evolution X. The tenth – and final – instalment of the legendary model is something to be remembered by petrol-heads anywhere.

When Mitsubishi finally announced the retirement of the Evolution, fans sighed and are still longing for another Diamond Star sports car. Depending on the version, the 2.0-liter could produce between 276hp and 440hp and put this power to all four wheels through a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed double-clutch gearbox.

Mitsubishi Evo X side back
via: The Daily Star

The Final Edition, a limited version of the model, marked the end of production of this beloved model and can be recognized by its special badge on the front and the dark alloy 18’’ Enkei wheels.

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